
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 43USC1332]

 
                         TITLE 43--PUBLIC LANDS
 
                       CHAPTER 29--SUBMERGED LANDS
 
              SUBCHAPTER III--OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF LANDS
 
Sec. 1332. Congressional declaration of policy

    It is hereby declared to be the policy of the United States that--
        (1) the subsoil and seabed of the outer Continental Shelf 
    appertain to the United States and are subject to its jurisdiction, 
    control, and power of disposition as provided in this subchapter;
        (2) this subchapter shall be construed in such a manner that the 
    character of the waters above the outer Continental Shelf as high 
    seas and the right to navigation and fishing therein shall not be 
    affected;
        (3) the outer Continental Shelf is a vital national resource 
    reserve held by the Federal Government for the public, which should 
    be made available for expeditious and orderly development, subject 
    to environmental safeguards, in a manner which is consistent with 
    the maintenance of competition and other national needs;
        (4) since exploration, development, and production of the 
    minerals of the outer Continental Shelf will have significant 
    impacts on coastal and non-coastal areas of the coastal States, and 
    on other affected States, and, in recognition of the national 
    interest in the effective management of the marine, coastal, and 
    human environments--
            (A) such States and their affected local governments may 
        require assistance in protecting their coastal zones and other 
        affected areas from any temporary or permanent adverse effects 
        of such impacts;
            (B) the distribution of a portion of the receipts from the 
        leasing of mineral resources of the outer Continental Shelf 
        adjacent to State lands, as provided under section 1337(g) of 
        this title, will provide affected coastal States and localities 
        with funds which may be used for the mitigation of adverse 
        economic and environmental effects related to the development of 
        such resources; and
            (C) such States, and through such States, affected local 
        governments, are entitled to an opportunity to participate, to 
        the extent consistent with the national interest, in the policy 
        and planning decisions made by the Federal Government relating 
        to exploration for, and development and production of, minerals 
        of the outer Continental Shelf.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\ So in original. The period probably should be a semicolon.

        (5) the rights and responsibilities of all States and, where 
    appropriate, local governments, to preserve and protect their 
    marine, human, and coastal environments through such means as 
    regulation of land, air, and water uses, of safety, and of related 
    development and activity should be considered and recognized; and
        (6) operations in the outer Continental Shelf should be 
    conducted in a safe manner by well-trained personnel using 
    technology, precautions, and techniques sufficient to prevent or 
    minimize the likelihood of blowouts, loss of well control, fires, 
    spillages, physical obstruction to other users of the waters or 
    subsoil and seabed, or other occurrences which may cause damage to 
    the environment or to property, or endanger life or health.

(Aug. 7, 1953, ch. 345, Sec. 3, 67 Stat. 462; Pub. L. 95-372, title II, 
Sec. 202, Sept. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 634; Pub. L. 99-272, title VIII, 
Sec. 8002, Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 148.)


                               Amendments

    1986--Par. (4)(B), (C). Pub. L. 99-272 added subpar. (B) and 
redesignated former subpar. (B) as (C).
    1978--Pub. L. 95-372 redesignated subsecs. (a) and (b) as pars. (1) 
and (2) and added pars. (3) to (6).
