This Court having stated its conclusions in its opinions
announced on May 31, 1960, as to the respective rights of the
United States and the States of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi,
Alabama, and Florida, under the Submerged Lands Act, in the lands,
minerals and other natural resources underlying the waters of the
Gulf of Mexico off the coasts of such States, and having considered
the positions of the respective parties as to the terms of a
decree, now enters its final decree in the case.
Opinions reported: 363 U.S.
363 U. S. 1,
363 U. S. 121.
FINAL DECREE
This cause having come on to be heard on the motion of the
plaintiff for judgment and to dismiss the cross-bill of the State
of Alabama, and having been argued by counsel, and this Court
having stated its conclusions in its opinions announced on May 31,
1960, 363 U.S.
363 U. S. 1,
363 U. S. 121, and
having considered the positions of the respective parties as to the
terms of this decree, it is ordered, adjudged and decreed as
follows:
1. As against the respective defendant States, the United States
is entitled to all the lands, minerals and other natural resources
underlying the Gulf of Mexico more than three geographic miles
seaward from the coast lines of Louisiana, Mississippi, and
Alabama, and more than three leagues seaward from the coast lines
of Texas and Florida, and extending seaward to the edge of the
Continental Shelf. None of the States of Louisiana, Texas,
Mississippi, Alabama, or Florida is entitled to any interest in
such lands, minerals or resources, and each of said States, their
privies, assigns, lessees and other persons claiming under any of
them are hereby enjoined from
Page 364 U. S. 503
interfering with the rights of the United States in such lands,
minerals and resources. As used in this decree, the term "coast
line" means the line of ordinary low water along that portion of
the coast which is in direct contact with the open sea and the line
marking the seaward limit of inland waters.
2. As against the United States, the defendant States are
respectively entitled to all the lands, minerals and other natural
resources underlying the Gulf of Mexico, extending seaward from
their coast lines for a distance of three leagues in the case of
Texas and Florida and three geographic miles in the case of
Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, and the United States is not
entitled, as against any of such States, to any interest in such
lands, minerals or resources, with the exceptions provided by § 5
of the Submerged Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. § 1313.
3. Whenever the location of the coast line of any of the
defendant States shall be agreed upon or determined, such State
shall thereupon promptly render to the United States a true, full,
accurate and appropriate account of any and all sums of money
derived by such State since June 5, 1950, either by sale, leasing,
licensing, exploitation or otherwise from or on account of any of
the lands or resources described in paragraph 1 hereof which lie
opposite to such coast line so agreed upon or determined, and,
after said account has been rendered and filed with and approved by
the Court, shall promptly pay to the United States a sum equal to
such amounts shown by said account as so derived by said State;
provided, however, that as to the State of Louisiana the
allocation, withdrawal and payment of any funds now impounded under
the Interim Agreement between the United States and the State of
Louisiana, dated October 12, 1956, shall, subject to the terms
hereof, be made in accordance with the appropriate provisions of
said Agreement.
Page 364 U. S. 504
4. The cross-bill of the State of Alabama is dismissed.
5. All motions to take depositions and present evidence are
denied without prejudice to their renewal in such further
proceedings as may be had in connection with matters left open by
this decree.
6. The motion of the State of Texas for severance is
dismissed.
7. The motion of the State of Louisiana to transfer the case to
a district court is denied.
8. Jurisdiction is reserved by this Court to entertain such
further proceedings, enter such orders and issue such writs as may
from time to time be deemed necessary or advisable to give proper
force and effect to this decree.
THE CHIEF JUSTICE and MR. JUSTICE CLARK took no part in the
formulation of this decree.