FloridaOil.org
“Freedom Favors the Bold”
For more information: Don Baldauf
941-538-8547 Don@FloridaOil.org
Florida Oil.org Seeks to Exercise “Territorial Submerged Lands” Act
First Step in Responsible Drilling to Secure Foreign Oil Independence
June 8, 2009—Bradenton, FL--FloridaOil.org today announced its first
step in introducing Florida State Constitutional Amendment for the 2010
ballot, with the release of information regarding legal precedents allowing
a state sovereignty over its coastal waters.
“In passing the Submerged Lands Act, Congress sought to return the title
to submerged lands to the states and promote the exploration and
development of petroleum deposits in coastal waters,” said Don Baldauf,
chairman of FloridaOil.org.
“Because activities in the waters surrounding the State of Florida have a
substantially greater impact on the state rather than the interior territories
of the country, the people of the State of Florida can exercise their right to
greater controls of submerged territories, according to federal law,” said
Baldauf.
FloridaOil.org plans to claim as ‘Territorial Submerged Lands’ for the
State of Florida those submerged lands extending out to 125 miles from
the Florida Coast, with the exception when that would interfere with
territory of another sovereign nation, at which point the distance would be
half the distance to that other nation,.
Background on the Submerged Lands Act (SLA), Citation: 43 U.S.C.
§§1301-1315 (2002).
The Submerged Lands Act was enacted in response to litigation that
effectively transferred ownership of the first three miles of a state’s
coastal submerged lands to the federal government. In the case United
States v. California (1947), the United States successfully argued that the
three nautical miles seaward of California belonged to the federal
government, primarily finding that the federal government’s responsibility
for the defense of the marginal seas and the conduction of foreign
relations outweighed the interests of the individual states.
In response, Congress adopted the SLA in 1953, granting title to the
natural resources located within three miles of their coastline (three
marine leagues for Texas and the Gulf coast of Florida). For purposes of
the SLA, the term “natural resources” includes oil, gas, and all other
minerals.
Title II addresses the rights and claims by the States to the
lands and resources beneath navigable waters within their
historic boundaries and provides for their development by the
States.
Ҥ 1312. Seaward boundaries of States.
The seaward boundary of each original coastal State is hereby approved
and confirmed as a line three geographical miles distant from its coast line
or, in the case of the Great Lakes, to the international boundary. Any
State admitted subsequent to the formation of the Union which has not
already done so may extend its seaward boundaries to a line three
geographical miles distant from its coast line, or to the international
boundaries of the United States in the Great Lakes or any other body of
water traversed by such boundaries. Any claim heretofore or hereafter
asserted either by constitutional provision, statute, or otherwise, indicating
the intent of a State so to extend its boundaries is hereby approved and
confirmed, without prejudice to its claim, if any it has, that its boundaries
extend beyond that line. Nothing in this section is to be construed as
questioning or in any manner prejudicing the existence of any State's
seaward boundary beyond three geographical miles if it was so provided
by its constitution or laws prior to or at the time such State became a
member of the Union, or if it has been heretofore approved by Congress.”
The SLA was upheld in 1954 by the U.S. Supreme Court (Alabama v.
Texas) emphasizing that Congress could relinquish to the states the
federal government's property rights over the submerged lands without
interfering with U.S. national sovereign interests.
About FloridaOil.org
FloridaOil.org is a grassroots organization, founded and operated by
Florida citizens interested in ensuring that American’s are not dependent
on foreign oil. FloridaOil.org will be introducing two constitutional
amendments on the ballot in Florida. The first will require the state to
issue leases to U.S. Companies to drill and recover the oil in the Gulf of
Mexico, in the 25 – 125 mile range, for U.S. Domestic use only. The
second will require the state to permit and promote the building of at least
one new refinery in the State of Florida. For more information, visit www.
FloridaOil.org
For more information: Don Baldauf
941-538-8547 Don@FloridaOil.org
Florida Oil.org Seeks to Exercise “Territorial Submerged Lands” Act
First Step in Responsible Drilling to Secure Foreign Oil Independence
June 8, 2009—Bradenton, FL--FloridaOil.org today announced its first
step in introducing Florida State Constitutional Amendment for the 2010
ballot, with the release of information regarding legal precedents allowing
a state sovereignty over its coastal waters.
“In passing the Submerged Lands Act, Congress sought to return the title
to submerged lands to the states and promote the exploration and
development of petroleum deposits in coastal waters,” said Don Baldauf,
chairman of FloridaOil.org.
“Because activities in the waters surrounding the State of Florida have a
substantially greater impact on the state rather than the interior territories
of the country, the people of the State of Florida can exercise their right to
greater controls of submerged territories, according to federal law,” said
Baldauf.
FloridaOil.org plans to claim as ‘Territorial Submerged Lands’ for the
State of Florida those submerged lands extending out to 125 miles from
the Florida Coast, with the exception when that would interfere with
territory of another sovereign nation, at which point the distance would be
half the distance to that other nation,.
Background on the Submerged Lands Act (SLA), Citation: 43 U.S.C.
§§1301-1315 (2002).
The Submerged Lands Act was enacted in response to litigation that
effectively transferred ownership of the first three miles of a state’s
coastal submerged lands to the federal government. In the case United
States v. California (1947), the United States successfully argued that the
three nautical miles seaward of California belonged to the federal
government, primarily finding that the federal government’s responsibility
for the defense of the marginal seas and the conduction of foreign
relations outweighed the interests of the individual states.
In response, Congress adopted the SLA in 1953, granting title to the
natural resources located within three miles of their coastline (three
marine leagues for Texas and the Gulf coast of Florida). For purposes of
the SLA, the term “natural resources” includes oil, gas, and all other
minerals.
Title II addresses the rights and claims by the States to the
lands and resources beneath navigable waters within their
historic boundaries and provides for their development by the
States.
Ҥ 1312. Seaward boundaries of States.
The seaward boundary of each original coastal State is hereby approved
and confirmed as a line three geographical miles distant from its coast line
or, in the case of the Great Lakes, to the international boundary. Any
State admitted subsequent to the formation of the Union which has not
already done so may extend its seaward boundaries to a line three
geographical miles distant from its coast line, or to the international
boundaries of the United States in the Great Lakes or any other body of
water traversed by such boundaries. Any claim heretofore or hereafter
asserted either by constitutional provision, statute, or otherwise, indicating
the intent of a State so to extend its boundaries is hereby approved and
confirmed, without prejudice to its claim, if any it has, that its boundaries
extend beyond that line. Nothing in this section is to be construed as
questioning or in any manner prejudicing the existence of any State's
seaward boundary beyond three geographical miles if it was so provided
by its constitution or laws prior to or at the time such State became a
member of the Union, or if it has been heretofore approved by Congress.”
The SLA was upheld in 1954 by the U.S. Supreme Court (Alabama v.
Texas) emphasizing that Congress could relinquish to the states the
federal government's property rights over the submerged lands without
interfering with U.S. national sovereign interests.
About FloridaOil.org
FloridaOil.org is a grassroots organization, founded and operated by
Florida citizens interested in ensuring that American’s are not dependent
on foreign oil. FloridaOil.org will be introducing two constitutional
amendments on the ballot in Florida. The first will require the state to
issue leases to U.S. Companies to drill and recover the oil in the Gulf of
Mexico, in the 25 – 125 mile range, for U.S. Domestic use only. The
second will require the state to permit and promote the building of at least
one new refinery in the State of Florida. For more information, visit www.
FloridaOil.org
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