### Question
How does the law define public lands?


### Answer
Under *43 U.S.C. § 1702*, **public lands** is defined as:

> any land and interest in land owned by the United States within the several States and administered by the Secretary of the Interior through the Bureau of Land Management, without regard to how the United States acquired ownership, except—


(1) lands located on the Outer Continental Shelf

#### Citation:
  - *43 U.S.C. § 1702*
  - Heading: **CHAPTER 34-TRANS-ALASKA PIPELINE > SUBCHAPTER I-GENERAL PROVISIONS**

