An Act granting the consent of Congress to the Breaks Interstate Park Compact
PL 83-543 (H.R.8549), enacted 07/27/1954

68 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 543-JULY 27, 1954 
S^ 
July 27, 1954 
TH. R. 8549] 
Public Law 543 
CHAPTER 588 
AN ACT 
Granting the consent of Congress to the Breaks Interstate Park Compact. 
B r e a k s I n t e r -
s t a t e Park 
Coar 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That the consent of 
the Congress is hereby given to the Breaks Interstate Park Compact P°c*'n^^*t°"f c'*A-
between the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Commonwealth of gress. 
Virginia. Such compact reads as follows: 
"BREAKS INTERSTATE PARK COMPACT 
"Pursuant to authority granted by an Act of the 83rd Congress of 
the United States, being Public Law 275, approved August 14, 1953, 
^^ ^*°*' 5
®
"
*
-
the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Commonwealth of Virginia 
do hereby covenant and agree as follows: 
"ARTICLE I. 
"The Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Commonwealth of Vir-
ginia agree to create, develop and operate an interstate park to be 
known as the Breaks Interstate Park, which shall be located along 
the Russell Fork of the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River and on 
adjacent areas in Pike County, Kentucky, and Dickenson and 
Buchanan Counties, Virginia. Said park shall be of such area and 
of such character as may be determined by the commission created 
by this Compact. 
"ARTICLE II. 
"There is hereby created the Breaks Interstate Park Commission, 
w^hich shall be a body corporate with the powers and duties set forth 
herein and such additional powers as may be conferred upon it by 
subsequent action of the appropriate authorities of Kentucky and 
Virginia. The commission shall consist of three commissioners from 
each of the two states, each of w^iom shall be a citizen of the state he 
shall represent. Members of the commission shall be appointed by 
the Governor. Vacancies shall be filled by the Governor for the unex-
pired term. The term of one of the first commissioners appointed 
shall be for two years, the term of another for three years, and the 
term of the third for four years. Their successors shall be appointed 
for terms of fpur years each. 
Each commissioner shall hold office 
until his successor is appointed and qualified. An officer or employee 
of the state, a political subdivision or the United States government 
may be appointed a commissioner under this Act. 
"ARTICLE III. 
"The commission created herein shall be a joint corporate instru-
mentality of both the Commonw^ealth of Kentucky and the Common-
wealth of Virginia for the purpose of effecting the objects of this 
compact, and shall be deemed to be performing governmental func-
tions of the tw^o states in the performance of its duties hereunder. 
The commission shall have power to sue and be sued, to contract 
and be contracted with, to use a common seal and to make and adopt 
suitable by-laws, rules and regulations. The commission shall have 
the authority to acquire by gift, purchase or otherwise real estate 
and other property, and to dispose of such real estate and other 
property. Each Commonwealth agrees that it will exercise the right 
of eminent domain to acquire property located within each Common-
572 
PUBLIC LAW 543-JULY 27, 1954 
[68 STAT. 
wealth required by the Commission to effectuate the purposes of this 
Compact. 
"ARTICLE 
IV. 
"The commission shall select from among its members a chairman 
and a vice-chairman, and may select from among its members a secre-
tary and treasurer or may designate other persons to fill these posi-
tions. It may appoint, and at its pleasure remove or discharge, such 
officers and legal, clerical, expert and other assistants and employees 
as may be required to carry the provisions of this compact into effect, 
and shall fix and determine their duties, qualifications and compensa-
tion. It may establish and maintain one or more offices for the trans-
action of its business, and may meet at any time or place. A majority 
of the commissioners present shall constitute a quorum for the trans-
action of business. The commissioners shall serve without compensa-
tion, but shall be paid their expenses incurred in and incident to the 
performance of their duties. They shall take the oath of office required 
of officers of their respective states. 
"ARTICLE V. 
"Each Commonwealth agrees that the officers and departments of 
each will be authorized to do all things falling within their respective 
jurisdictions necessary or incidental to the carrying out of the com-
pact in every particular. 
The Commission shall be entitled to the 
services of any state officer or agency in the same manner as any 
other department or agency of this state. The Commission shall keep 
accurate records, showing in full its receipts and disbursements, and 
said records shall be open at any reasonable time to the inspection 
of such representatives of the two Commonwealths as may be duly 
constituted for that purpose. The Commission shall submit annually 
and at other times as required such reports as may be required by the 
laws of each Commonwealth or by the Governor thereof. 
"ARTICLE 
VI. 
"The cost of acquiring land and other property required in the devel-
opment and operation of the Breaks Interstate Park and constructing, 
maintaining and operating improvements and facilities therein and 
equipping same may be defrayed by funds received from appropria-
tions, gifts, the use of money received as fees or charges for the use 
of said park and facilities, or by the issuance of revenue bonds, or by 
a combination of such sources of funds. The commission may charge 
for admission to said park, or make other charges deemed appropriate 
by it and shall have the use of funds so received for park purposes. 
The commission is authorized to issue revenue bonds, which shall not 
be obligations of either state, pursuant to procedures which shall be in 
substantial compliance with the provisions of laws of either or both 
states governing the issuance of revenue bonds by governmental 
agencies. 
"ARTICLE 
VII. 
"All money, securities and other property, real and personal, re-
ceived by way of gift or otherwise or revenue received from its opera-
tions may be retained by the commission and used for the development, 
maintenance and operation of the Park or for other Park purposes. 
"The commission shall not pledge the credit of either Common-
wealth except by and with the authority of the General Assembly 
thereof. 
68 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 544-JULY 27, 1954 
573 
"ARTICLE VIII. 
"This compact may be amended from time to time by the concurrent 
action of the two Commonwealths parties hereto." 
SEC. 2. The right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is expressly 
reserved. 
Approved July 27, 1954. 
Public Law 544 
CHAPTER 589 
AN ACT 
July 27, 1954 
To provide for the development of the Priest Rapids site on the Columbia River, 
[H. R. 7664] 
Washington, under a license issued pursuant to the Federal Power Act. 
P r i e s t 
Rapids 
Dam, Wash. 
4 1 Stat. 10 6 3 ; 
49 Stat. 863. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That the Flood Con-
trol Act of 1950 (64 Stat. 170, 179), insofar as it adopted and author-
ized to be prosecuted the Priest Rapids Dam on the Columbia River, 
Washington, substantially in accordance with the plans recommended 
in the report of the Chief of Engineers dated June 28, 1949, contained 
in House Document Numbered 531, Eighty-first Congress, second 
session, is hereby modified to permit the development of the Priest 
Rapids site by Public Utility District Number 2, of Grant County, 
Washington, or such district or its successor in combination with such 
other utilities as it may legally affiliate with or by any division, sub-
division, agency, or commission of the State of Washington under 
and in accordance with the terms and conditions of a license duly 
issued pursuant to the Federal Power Act and in accordance with this 
A c t . 
"l6'usc"79'la 
SEC. 2, The Priest Rapids Reservoir site shall be developed to utilize 
appUcation!^ * "^ * 
the optimum capabilities of the site as a part of the comprehensive 
plan for economically feasible control and utilization of the water 
resources for flood control, navigation, power, and other beneficial pur-
poses. Before a license is issued, an applicant for a license shall sub-
mit a report on the details of its plans for development to the Federal 
Power Commission with particular reference to the integration of the 
proposed Priest Rapids development as a part of the comprehensive 
plan. 
SEC. 3. The Department of the Army shall review any plans sub- 
Review o
f plans, 
mitted to the Federal Power Commission for the purpose of acquiring 
a license to develop the Priest Rapids site or any other site in connec-
tion therewith and shall make recommendations Avith respect to such 
plans to the Commission with particular regard to flood control and 
navigation. 
SEC. 4. The license may provide for the addition of navigation locks 
fi,^Tc^on°?orf^ 
and flood-control features by the Department of the Army at Federal 
ciuties. 
expense, either as a part of the initial construction or at a later date. 
In the event that nonpower features are to be provided as part of the 
initial construction, an allocation of costs to such features shall be 
approved by the Federal Power Commission taking into consideration 
recommendations by the Department of the Army and licensee, and 
funds to cover such costs may be appropriated and may be transferred 
by the Chief of Engineers to the licensee. If such navigation and 
flood-control 
facilities are not provided initially the licensee shall 
provide at its own expense the basic features for future installation 
of navigation and flood-control facilities. 
SEC. 5. Upon request by the licensee the Corps of Engineers under 
agenc'^,^ Lt ".''*'"*^ 
direction of the Secretary of the Army shall be authorized to receive 
contributed funds and act as constructing agency for part or all of the