N.Y. State Law § 7-a: Jurisdiction and ownership of offshore waters and lands thereunder

§ 7-a. Jurisdiction and ownership of offshore waters and lands

thereunder. 1. The jurisdiction of this state shall extend to and over,

and be exercisable with respect to, waters offshore from the coasts of

this state as follows:

(a) Those portions of the Great Lakes lying within the territorial

limits of this state.

(b) The marginal sea to a line three geographical miles distant from

the coast line and to any other line farther seaward therefrom

hereinafter defined or recognized by the United States of America by

international treaty or otherwise.

(c) The high seas to whatever extent jurisdiction therein may be

claimed by the United States of America, or to whatever extent may be

recognized by the usages and customs of international law or by any

agreement, international or otherwise, to which the United States of

America or this state may be party.

(d) all submerged lands, including the subsurface thereof, lying under

said aforementioned waters.

2. The ownership of the waters and subsurface lands enumerated or

described in subdivision one of this section shall be in this state

unless it shall be, with respect to any given parcel or area, in any

other person or entity by virtue of a valid and effective instrument of

conveyance or by operation of law.

3. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to limit or restrict in

any way (1) the jurisdiction of this state over any person or with

respect to any subject within or without the state which jurisdiction is

exercisable by reason of citizenship, residence or for any other reason

recognized by law; (2) jurisdiction or ownership of or over any other

waters or lands thereunder, within or forming part of the boundaries of

this state. Nor shall anything herein be construed to impair the

exercise of legislative jurisdiction by the United States of America

over any area to which such jurisdiction has been validly ceded by this

state and which remains in the ownership of the United States of

America.