United States v. Louisiana

Background

This case is a dispute between the State of Louisiana and the federal government over ownership of submerged lands off Louisiana’s coast. The Court entered a final decree describing two coordinate segments as the boundary lines and issued supplemental decrees to give its conclusions effect. The dispute concerned which lands, minerals and natural resources seaward of the ordinary low-water mark belong to Louisiana or to the United States.

Reasoning

The central question was who is entitled to the coastal seabed, minerals and other natural resources in the areas defined by the Court’s coordinates. The Court held that Louisiana is entitled, as against the United States, to all lands, minerals and other natural resources lying more than one foot landward of the described lines and seaward of the ordinary low-water mark, but noted exceptions provided by § 5 of the Submerged Lands Act. The decree also states that the United States is not entitled to any interest in those described lands against Louisiana, subject to the same statutory exceptions.

Real world impact

The Court ordered that sums previously impounded from leases of lands wholly within the awarded area are released to Louisiana, and Louisiana may lease those lands and directly receive future lease revenues. Leases that lie partly inside and partly outside the area remain unaffected for the moment and revenues from them may remain impounded under the existing interim agreement until further order. The decree preserves other claims about remaining disputed areas and maritime lateral boundaries with neighboring states and keeps the Court’s jurisdiction open to enforce these orders.