§1336 Controversies Over Jurisdiction; Agreements; Payments; Final Settlement or Adjudication; Approval of Notice Concerning Oil and Gas Operations in Gulf of Mexico

Summary

The Secretary, with the Attorney General's agreement, may make deals with a State (or its local units, grantees, or lessees) when the United States and the State disagree about whether certain lands fall under this subchapter. Those deals can cover work on existing mineral leases, how rents, royalties, and other payments are paid or held, or whether new leases may be issued while the dispute is being settled. This authority applies despite section 1335(a) and (b) and does not reduce other powers the Secretary has. Payments under such agreements count as meeting section 1335(a)(4). If the dispute ends and the land is found to be subject to the subchapter, the lessee must follow section 1335(a) if they have not already, and then section 1335(b) will govern the lease. The Secretary’s notice “Oil and Gas Operations in the Submerged Coastal Lands of the Gulf of Mexico” dated December 11, 1950 (15 F.R. 8835), as amended and supplemented by the notices dated January 26, 1951 (16 F.R. 953); February 2, 1951 (16 F.R. 1203); March 5, 1951 (16 F.R. 2195); April 23, 1951 (16 F.R. 3623); June 25, 1951 (16 F.R. 6404); August 22, 1951 (16 F.R. 8720); October 24, 1951 (16 F.R. 10998); December 21, 1951 (17 F.R. 43); March 25, 1952 (17 F.R. 2821); June 26, 1952 (17 F.R. 5833); and December 24, 1952 (18 F.R. 48) is approved.