101st CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 2174
AN ACT
To provide for the establishment of the Mississippi River Corridor Study
Commission, and for other purposes.
HR 2174 EH
101st CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 2174
AN ACT
To provide for the establishment of the Mississippi River Corridor Study
Commission, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,

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This Act may be cited as the `Mississippi River Corridor Study Commission
Act of 1989'.

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The Congress finds the following:
(1) The Mississippi River flows through 10 States from its headwaters in the
State of Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico and comprises a ribbon of commerce,
history, archeology, wildlife habitat, urban and rural communities, and
open space containing historical, recreational, natural, scenic, cultural,
economic, and scientific resources of major significance to the Nation.
(2) The national interest would be served by--
(A) preserving, protecting, and enhancing such resources for the benefit
of the people of the United States; and
(B) improving the coordination between all levels of government in such
corridor.
(3) The preservation, protection, and enhancement of such resources
has not been fully realized despite efforts by the States through which
the Mississippi River flows, political subdivisions of such States, and
volunteer associations and private businesses in such States.
(4) Most existing Federal agency programs lack sufficient coordination
with State and local planning and regulatory authorities to provide for
resource management and economic development in a manner that is consistent
with the protection and public use of the Corridor's resources.
(5) The national Government should assist in coordinating preservation and
interpretation activities of public and private entities with respect to
the significant resources associated with the Mississippi River.
(6) The establishment of a commission as provided for by this Act will--
(A) focus attention on the unique and nationally significant resources of
this region; and
(B) provide a means and a stimulus for coordinating the preservation,
protection, enhancement, enjoyment, and utilization of the resources of
this region.
(7) The establishment of such commission would provide a national entity to
gather, assess, and disseminate information on the recreational, cultural,
historic, natural, scenic, and economic opportunities in this region.

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For purposes of this Act:
(1) The term `Commission' means the Mississippi River Corridor Study
Commission.
(2) The terms `Mississippi River Corridor' and `Corridor' mean the area
included by the Commission in a proposed Mississippi River National
Heritage Corridor.
(3) The term `Mississippi River State' means any of the States of Arkansas,
Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri,
Tennessee, or Wisconsin.

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There is established a Commission to be known as the Mississippi River
Corridor Study Commission.

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(a) STUDY- The Commission shall study and make recommendations regarding--
(1) the feasibility of creating a Mississippi River National Heritage
Corridor for the Mississippi River Corridor; and
(2) the preservation, protection, enhancement, enjoyment, and utilization
of the historic, economic, natural, recreational, scenic, cultural,
and scientific resources of the Corridor consistent with the purposes of
this Act.
(b) INFORMATION COLLECTION; CONSULTATION- As part of the study conducted
under subsection (a), the Commission shall--
(1) assess the preservation, protection, enhancement, enjoyment, and
utilization potential of the historic, economic, natural, recreational,
scenic, cultural, and scientific resources of the Corridor;
(2) collect information dealing with ongoing activities, management plans,
and opportunities regarding historic, economic, natural, recreational,
scenic, cultural, and scientific resources in the Corridor;
(3) make such information available to Federal agencies, States and political
subdivisions thereof, tribal governments, educational institutions,
volunteer associations, and private businesses to assist such entities
in undertaking activities to preserve, protect, enhance, or utilize the
historic, economic, natural, recreational, scenic, cultural, or scientific
resources of the Corridor;
(4)(A) consult with the Mississippi River Parkway Commission, the Upper
Mississippi River Basin Association, the Great River Road Association,
the Lower Mississippi Delta Development Commission, and the Mississippi
River Coordinating Commission; and
(B) cooperate with such commissions and associations in the performance
of their duties;
(5) provide a forum for the consideration of resource issues relating to
the Corridor;
(6) seek and encourage the participation of affected State and local
governments, interested citizens, public officials, groups, agencies,
educational institutions, and others in the preservation, protection,
enhancement, enjoyment, and utilization of the Corridor's resources.
(7) recommend methods and means for educating the general population about
the national importance and value of the Mississippi River as a natural
resources and national treasure; and
(8) make the Commission accessible to such groups, agencies, and citizens
by holding at least one well publicized public hearing in every State
within the Corridor.
(c) REPORT- The Commission shall prepare a report--
(1) specifying the results of the study conducted under subsection (a); and
(2) containing--
(A) a description of the Mississippi River Corridor and the proposed
boundaries of a Mississippi River National Heritage Corridor (if so
recommended) showing the primary corridor and such secondary zones as may
be appropriate;
(B) an inventory and assessment of the historic, economic, natural,
recreational, scenic, cultural, and scientific resources of the Corridor;
(C) specific preservation and interpretation goals and a priority timetable
for their achievement;
(D) proposed alternative management strategies whereby the funds, data,
personnel, and authorities of public and private entities may be combined
and coordinated in furtherance of the purposes of this Act;
(E) proposed changes in Federal, State, and local laws and regulations
that are needed to accomplish the purposes of this Act, in whole or in part;
(F) proposals to improve guidance and assistance provided to Mississippi
River States and political subdivisions thereof and other entities regarding
their compliance with applicable provisions of the Clean Water Act (33
U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.),
and related laws; and
(G) such recommendations as the Commission may deem appropriate with
respect to subparagraphs (A) through (F) and with respect to public access
to and interpretation of the natural and cultural resources of the river
and related outdoor recreation opportunities.

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(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT- The Commission shall be composed of 15 members
as follows:
(1) The Director of the National Park Service (or designee).
(2) The Secretary of Transportation (or designee).
(3) The Secretary of Commerce (or designee).
(4) The Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (or
designee).
(5) The Chief of Engineers of the Army Corps of Engineers (or designee).
(6) One member from each Mississippi River State appointed by the Governor
of such State from among the members of the Mississippi River Parkway
Commission from such State.
(b) FIRST APPOINTMENTS- Members of the Commission required by subsection
(a) to be appointed shall be first appointed not later than 45 days after
the effective date of this Act.
(c) VACANCIES- A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the manner
in which the orginal appointment is made.
(d) TERMS- Members of the Commission shall be appointed for the life of
the Commission.
(e) PAY- Members of the Commission shall serve without pay.
(f) REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES- While away from their homes or regular
places of business in the performance of services for the Commission,
members of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including a
per diem allowance in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons
employed intermittently in Government service are allowed travel expenses
under section 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
(g) QUORUM- (1) Nine members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum,
but a lesser number of members may hold hearings.
(2) A member of the Commission may vote by means of a signed proxy exercised
by another member of the Commission, but any member so voting shall not
be considered present for purposes of establishing a quorum.
(h) CHAIRPERSON- As the first item of business at the first meeting of
the Commission, the members of the Commission shall elect a chairperson
of the Commission from among the members appointed under subsection (a)(6).
(i) MEETINGS- (1) The Commission shall meet at the call of the chairperson
or a majority of the members.
(2) Not later than 30 days after the members of the Commission are first
appointed, the Commission shall hold its first meeting.
(3) The Director of the National Park Service shall select the date of
the first meeting and shall serve as chairperson until the election of
the chairperson under subsection (h).

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AGENCIES.
(a) STAFF- The Commission may appoint and fix the pay of such staff as
the Commission considers appropriate subject to--
(1) the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments
in the competitive service; and
(2) the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such
title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates.
(b) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS- The Commission may procure temporary and
intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.
(c) PERSONNEL OF STATES AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS- The Commission may--
(1) accept the services of personnel detailed from a Mississippi River
State or a political subdivision thereof; and
(2) reimburse such State or such subdivision for such services.
(d) PERSONNEL OF FEDERAL AGENCIES- At the request of the Commission, the
head of any Federal agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of
the personnel of such agency to the Commission to assist the Commission
in carrying out its duties under this Act.

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(a) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS- For the purpose of carrying out this Act, the
Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places,
take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission considers
appropriate.
(b) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS- Any member or agent of the Commission may,
if so authorized by the Commission, take any action which the Commission
is authorized to take by this section.
(c) MAILS- The Commission may use the United States mails in the same
manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of
the United States.
(d) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES- The Administrator of General Services
shall provide to the Commission on a reimbursable basis such administrative
support services as the Commission may request.

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(a) INTERIM REPORT- Not later than two years after the date of the first
meeting of the Commission, the Commission shall submit to the President,
the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate,
and the Governor of each Mississippi River State a report describing the
progress of the Commission in carrying out the duties of the Commission
under section 5.
(b) FINAL REPORT- Not later than 3 years after the date of the first
meeting of the Commission, the Commission shall submit to the President,
the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate,
and the Governor of each Mississippi River State the report required by
section 5(c).

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Notwithstanding section 14(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5
U.S.C. App.), the Commission shall cease to exist 90 days after submitting
the report required by section 5(c) and submitted under section 9(b).

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The Congress hereby consents to the negotiation by any State referred to in
section 3 with one or more of any other such State of proposed interstate
agreements or compacts among such States in furtherance of the purposes of
this Act or the study referred to in section 5 or any material component
thereof.

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There is authorized to be appropriated to the Commission to carry out this
Act $500,000 for each fiscal year in which the Commission is in existence.
Passed the House of Representatives June 12, 1990.
Attest:
Clerk.

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Commission on the Mississippi River National Heritage Corridor Act of 1989 — HR. 2174

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