United States v. State of Maine, 423 U.S. 1 (1975)
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Scribd Government DocsUnited States v. State of Maine, 423 U.S. 1 (1975)
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Scribd Government Docs423 U.S.
1
96 S.Ct. 23
46 L.Ed.2d 1
UNITED STATES, Plaintiff,
v.
State of MAINE et al.
No. 35, Orig.
Supreme Court of the United States
October 6, 1975
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On Joint Motion for Entry of Decree.
DECREE
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Oct. 6, 1975.
The joint motion for entry of a decree is granted.
For the purpose of giving effect to the decision and opinion of this Court
announced in this case on March 17, 1975, 420 U.S. 515, 95 S.Ct. 1155, 43
L.Ed.2d 363, it is Ordered, Adjudged, and Decreed as Follows:
1. As against the defendant States of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, the United States is entitled to all the
lands, minerals, and other natural resources underlying the Atlantic Ocean more
than three geographic miles seaward from the coastlines of those States and
extending seaward to the edge of the Continental Shelf. None of the defendant
States is entitled to any interest in such lands, minerals, and resources. As used
in this decree, the term 'coastline' 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, each defendant State is entitled to all the lands,
minerals, and other natural resources underlying the Atlantic Ocean extending
seaward from its coastline for a distance of three geographic miles, and the
United States is not entitled, as against any of the defendant States, to any
interest in such lands, minerals, or resources, with the exceptions provided by
5 of the Submerged Lands Act of 1953, 67 Stat. 32, 43 U.S.C. 1313.
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3. Jurisdiction is reserved by this Court to entertain such further proceedings,
including proceedings to determine the coastline of any defendant State, to
enter such orders, and to issue such writs as may from time to time be deemed
necessary or advisable to give proper force and effect to this decree. The United
States or any defendant State may invoke the jurisdiction so reserved by filing a
motion in this Court for supplemental proceedings.
