Mississippi River Corridor Study Commission Act of 1989
PL 101-398 (H.R.2174), enacted 09/28/1990

PUBLIC LAW 101-398—SEPT. 28, 1990 
104 STAT. 855 
Public Law 101-398 
101st Congress 
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, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the "Mississippi River Corridor Study 
Commission Act of 1989". 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
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 contain-
ing 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 sub-
divisions of such States, and volunteer eissociations 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 £is provided for by this 
Act will— 
(A) focus attention on the unique and nationally signifi-
cant 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 eco-
nomic opportunities in this region. 
Sept. 28, 1990 
[H.R. 2174] 
Mississippi 
River Corridor 
Study 
Commission Act 
of 1989. 
49-139 O - 90 (398) 
104 STAT. 856 
PUBLIC LAW 101-398—SEPT. 28, 1990 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
For purposes of this Act: 
(1) The term "Commission" means the Mississippi River Cor-
ridor 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, Min-
nesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, or Wisconsin. 
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION. 
There is established a Commission to be known as the Mississippi 
River Corridor Study Commission. 
SEC. 5. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) STUDY.—The Commission shall study and make recommenda-
tions 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 consist-
ent 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, enjoy-
ment, and utilization potential of the historic, economic, natu-
ral, recreational, scenic, cultural, and scientific resources of the 
Corridor; 
(2) collect information 
dealing with ongoing activities, 
management plans, and opportunities regarding historic, eco-
nomic, 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 Commis-
sion, the Upper Mississippi River Basin Association, the Great 
River Road Association, the Lower Mississippi Delta Develop-
ment 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 preserva-
tion, 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 
PUBLIC LAW 101-398—SEPT. 28, 1990 
104 STAT. 857 
Mississippi River as a natural resource 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 subsec-
tion (a); and 
(2) containing— 
(A) a description of the Mississippi River Corridor and the 
proposed boundaries of a Mississippi River National Herit-
age 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 re-
sources 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 fur-
therance 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. 
SEC. 6. ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMISSION. 
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The Commission shall be com-
posed 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 Serv-
ice (or designee). 
(5) The Chief of Engineers of the Army Corps of Engineers (or 
designee). 
(6) One member from ea6h 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. 
104 STAT. 858 
PUBLIC LAW 101-398—SEPT. 28, 1990 
(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 Govern-
ment service are allowed travel expenses under section 5703 of title 
5, United States Code. 
(g) QUORUM.—(1) Nine members of the Commission shall con-
stitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may hold hear-
ings. 
(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 meet-
ing 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). 
SEC. 7. STAFF OF COMMISSION; EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS; PERSON-
NEL OF FEDERAL 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. 
SEC. 8. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION. 
(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. 
PUBLIC LAW 101-398—SEPT. 28, 1990 
104 STAT. 859 
(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 depart-
ments 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. 
SEC. 9. SUBMISSION OF REPORTS. 
(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 Presi-
dent of the Senate, and the Governor of each Mississippi River State 
the report required by section 5(c). 
SEC. 10. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION. 
Notwithstanding section 14(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Commit-
tee 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). 
SEC. 
1
1
. 
CONSENT 
TO 
NEGOTIATE 
PROPOSED 
COMPACTS. 
The Ck)ngress 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. 
SEC. 12. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
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. 
Approved September 28, 1990. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2174: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 101-525 (Comm. on Interior and Insular Affairs). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 101-423 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 136 (1990): 
June 12, considered and passed House. 
Sept. 11, considered and passed Senate.