An Act granting the consent of Congress to the Falls of the Ohio Interstate Park Compact
PL 91-390 (H.R.13971), enacted 08/28/1970

832 
PUBLIC LAW 91-390-AUG. 28, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
Public Law 91-390 
August 28, 1970 
AN A C T 
[H.R. 13971] 
Granting the consent of Congress to the Falls of the Ohio Interstate Park 
Compact. 
Be it enacted by the t:^enate and House of Representatives 
of the 
Falls o
f the 
United. States of America in Congress assembled, That the consent of 
Park c'om^pact! 
(^ongrcss IS hereby given to the Falls of the Ohio Interstate Park 
Consent of 
(^ompact in substantially the following form: 
Congress. 
"SECTION 1. The State of Indiana and the Commonwealth of Ken-
tucky agree to create, develop and operate an interstate park to be 
known as Falls of the Ohio Interstate Park, which shall be located 
along the Ohio River at the Falls of the Ohio and on adjacent areas 
in Clark and Floyd Counties, Indiana, and Jefferson County, Ken-
tucky. Said park shall be of such area and of such character as may 
be determined by the commission created by this compact. 
"SEC. 2. There is hereby created the Falls of the Ohio Interstate 
Park Commission, which shall be a body corporate with the powers 
and duties set forth herein and such additional powers as may be con-
ferred upon it by subsequent action of the appropriate authorities of 
Indiana and Kentucky. The commission shall consist of three (3) com-
missioners from each of the two (2) states, each of whom shall be a 
citizen of the state he shall represent. Members of the commission shall 
be appointed hj the governor. Vacancies shall be filled by the governor 
for the unexpired term. The term of one of the first commissioners 
appointed shall be for two (2) years, the term of another for three (3) 
years, and the term of the third for four (4) years. Their successors 
shall be appointed for terms of four (4) years each. Each commis-
sioner 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. 
"SEC. 3. The commission created herein shall be a joint corporate 
instrumentality of both the State of Indiana and the Commonwealth 
of Kentucky for the purpose of effecting the objects of this compact, 
and shall be deemed to be performing governmental functions of the 
two 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 bylaws, rules and 
regulations. The commission shall have the authority to acquire by 
gift, purchase, or otherwise real estate and other property, and to 
ispose of such real estate and other property. Each state agrees that 
it will exercise the right of eminent domain to acquire property located 
within each state required by the commission to effectuate the purposes 
of this compact. 
"SEC. 4. The commission shall select from among its members a 
chairman and a vice-chairman, and may select from among its mem-
bers a secretary and treasurer or may designate other persons to fill 
these positions. It may appoint, and at its pleasure remove or dis-
charge, 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 
compensation. It may establish and maintain one or more offices for 
the transaction of its business, and may meet at any time or place. A 
majority of the commissioners present shall constitute a quorum for 
the transaction of business. The commissioners shall serve withotit 
compensation, but shall be paid their expenses incurred in and inci-
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-390-AUG. 28, 1970 
833 
dent to tlie performance of their duties. Tliey shall take the oath of 
office required of officers of their respective states. 
"SEC, 5. Each state agrees that the officers and dej)artments of each 
will be authorized to do all things falling within their respective juris-
dictions necessary or incidental to the carrying out of the compact 
in every particular. The commission shall be entitled to the services 
of any state officer or agency in the same manner as any other depart-
ment or agency of this state. The commission shall keep accurate rec-
ords, showing in full its receipts and disbursements, and said records 
shall be open at any reasonable time to the inspection of such repre-
sentative of the two (2) states 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 state 
or by the governor thereof. 
"SEC. 6. The cost of acquiring land and other property required in 
the development and operation of the Falls of the Ohio Interstate Park 
and constructing, maintaining, and operating improvements and facil-
ities therein and equipping same may be defrayed by funds received 
from appropriations, 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 sliall be in substantial compliance with the pro-
visions of laws of either or both states governing the issuance of rev-
enue bonds by governmental agencies. 
"SEC. 7. All money, securities and other property, real and personal, 
received by way of gift or otherwise or revenue received from its 
operations may be retained by the commission and used for the devel-
opment, maintenance, and operation of the park or for other park 
purposes. 
"The commission shall not pledge the credit of either state except 
by and with the authority of the general assembly thereof. 
"SEC. 8. This compact may be amended from time to time by the 
concurrent action of the two (2) states parties hereto. 
"The compact approved herein shall become effective upon ratifica- 
Effective date. 
tion and approval of the compact by the general assembly of the state 
of Indiana and upon approval of this compact by the Congress of 
the United States." 
SEC. 2. The consent herein granted does not constitute consent in 
advance for amendments to the compact made pursuant to section 8 
thereof or for the conferral of additional powers upon the Falls of the 
Ohio Interstate Park Commission pursuant to section 2 of the compact. 
SEC. 3. Notwithstanding the last sentence of section 2 of the compact, 
this Act does not grant consent for the appointment to the Commis-
sion of an officer or emj)loyee of the United States whose service as a 
member of the Commission is prohibited by Federal law or regulation. 
SEC. 4. The right is hereby reserved by the Congress or any of its 
congressions.i 
^tanding conmiittees to require the disclosure and the furnishing of 
such information and data by or concerning the Falls of the Ohio 
Interstate Park Commission in its operation under the compact as is 
deemed appropriate by Congress or such committee. 
SEC, 5. Tlie right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is expressly 
reserved. 
Approved August 28, 1970. 
right to data.