CHAPTER 518

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a new section numbered
7-1.1 to Chapter 1, Title 7, to establish the jurisdiction and ownership
of the Commonwealth over offshore waters along the coasts of the
Commonwealth and the lands lying thereunder. CH 473)

Approved March 31, 1960

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia be amended by adding to Chapter 1, Title 7,
a new section numbered 7-1.1 as follows:

§ 7-1.1. (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) The marginal sea to its outermost limits as said limits may from
time to time be defined or recognized by the United States of America by
international treaty or otherwise. ee

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 agree-
ment, international or otherwise, to which the United States of America
or this state may be party.

(c) All submerged lands, including the subsurface thereof, lying under
said aforementioned waters.

(2) The ownership of the waters and submerged lands enumerated or
described in § (1) of this act 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:

(a) The jurisdiction of this State over any person or with respect to
any subject within or without the State which jurisdiction is exercisable by
rie of citizenship, residence or for any other reason recognized by law;
an

(b) The 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.

(4) Nothing in this act shall alter the geographic area to which any
statute of this State applies if such statute specifies such area precisely in
miles or by some other numerical designation of distance or position. How-
ever, nothing in any such statute or in this act shall be construed as a
waiver or relinquishment of jurisdiction or ownership by this State over or
in any area to which such jurisdiction or ownership extends by virtue of
this act or any other provision or rule of law.