71
STAT.]
623
PUBLIC LAW 85-303-SEPT. 7, 1957
Public Law 85-303 AN ACT September 7, 1957 [H. R. 6760] To grant to the Territory of Alaska title to certain lands beneath tidal waters, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of AmeHca in Congress assembled, That as used in this Act— (a) The term "natural resources" includes, without limiting the generality thereof, oil, gas, and all other minerals, but does not include fish, shrimp, oysters, clams, crabs, lobsters, sponges, kelp, and other marine animal and plant life, or waterpower, or the use of water for the production of power; and (b) The term "pierhead line" means a pierhead line established, now or in the future, by the Corps of Engineers of the Department of the Army: Provided, That the pierhead line shall be a line parallel to the existing line of mean low tide at such distance offshore from the line of mean low tide that said pierhead line shall encompass, to the landward, all stationary, manmade structures (but shall not encompass any part of breakw^aters, bridges, or piers used for vessel dockage which part extends beyond such a parallel line marking the seaward extremity of other manmade structures) which were in existence as of February 1, 1957, to the seaward of the particular townsite for which the pierhead line is being established, and shall encompass no more: And provided further, That the determination of the location of a pierhead line by the Corps of Engineers shall be conclusive. SEC, 2. (a) Except as provided in section 3, there is granted to the Territory of Alaska (hereinafter called the "Territory") all the right, title, and interest of the United States in and to all lands within the Territory of Alaska, including improvements thereon and natural resources thereof, lying offshore of surveyed townsites in the Territory, between the line of mean high tide and the pierhead line. For the purposes of this Act, the term "line of mean high tide" shall mean the meander line as heretofore established by Government survey, or, in the event that such a survey has not been made, the present line of mean high tide. Upon the acceptance by the Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter called the "Secretary") at any future time of the survey of any other townsite in the Territory, all the right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the lands, including improvements thereon and natural resources thereof, lying offshore of that surveyed townsite, between the line of mean high tide and the pierhead line, shall pass to the Territory, in the same manner and subject to the same conditions as set forth in this Act for lands lying offshore of townsites which are now surveyed. (b) The Territory may manage and dispose of any tract of land acquired by it under subsection (a) of this section, and of any revenues or proceeds therefrom, in such manner as the legislature of the Territory may direct, except that in the disposition, by sale, lease, or otherwise, of any tract which is occupied or developed for municipal, business, residential, or other beneficial purposes on the date of approval of this Act, the Territory shall afford a preference right to the occupant thereof on the date of approval of this Act, or his successor in interest, or, if the Territory deems it more advisable, shall dispose of the tract to the incorporated town or independent school district to which it is adjacent. If such an occupied or developed tract is conveyed to an incorporated town or school district, the town or district shall, in its disposition of the tract, afford a similar prefer-
Alaska. Offshore lands. "Natural sources".
re-
••Pierheadline'
G r a n t of U. S. title, etc.
" L i n e of mean high t i d e ".
Management and disposal.
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