Joint resolution consenting to an interstate compact to conserve oil and gas
PL 84-185 (S.J.Res.38), enacted 07/28/1955

69 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 1 8 5 - J U L Y 28, 1955 
385 
Public Law 185 
CHAPTER 420 
J O I N T RESOLUTION 
July 28, 1955 
Consenting to an interstate compact to conserve oil and gas. 
[S. J. Res. 38] 
Oil and gas con-
servation. 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled^ That the consent of Congress 
is hereby given to an extension and renewal for a period of four years 
consent of con-
from September 1, 1955, of the interstate compact to conserve oil and ff^c^oWacf. 
gas, which was signed in the city of Dallas, Texas, the 16th day of 
February 1935 by the representatives of Oklahoma, Texas, California, 
and New Mexico, and at the same time and place was signed by the 
representatives, as a recommendation for approval to the Governors 
and Legislatures of the States of Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, 
and Michigan, and prior to August 27, 1935, said compact was pre-
sented to and approved by the Legislatures and Governors of the States 
of New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Colorado, and Texas, 
which said compact so approved by the six States last above named 
was deposited in the Department of State of the United States, and 
thereafter such compact was, by the President, presented to the Con-
gress, and the Congress gave consent to such compact by H. J. Res. 407, 
approved August 27, 1935 (Public Resolution Numbered 64, Seventy-
fourth (^ongress), and which said compact was thereafter extended 
49 stat. 939. 
and renewed for a period of two years from September 1, 1937, by an 
agreement executed as of the 10th day of May 1937 by the representa-
tives of the States of Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Illinois, 
and Colorado, and was deposited in the Department of State of the 
United States, and thereafter such extended and renewed compact was, 
by the President, presented to the Congress and the Congress gave 
consent to such extended and renewed compact by S. J. Res. 183, 
approved August 10, 1937 (Public Resolution Numbered 57, Seventy-
fiftli (^oiigi'ess), and which said compact was thereafter extended 
so stat. 517. 
and renewed for a period of two years from September 1, 1939, by an 
agreement duly executed and ratified by the States of Oklahoma, 
Texas, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, and Michigan, and was depos-
ited in the Department of State of the United States, and thereafter 
such extended and renewed compact was, by the President, presented 
to the Congress and the Congress gave consent to such extended and 
renewed compact by H. J. Res. 329, approved July 20, 1939 (Public 
Resolution Numbered 31, Seventy-sixth Congress), and which said 
S3 stat. 1071. 
compact was thereafter extended and renewed for a period of two years 
from September 1,1941, by an agreement duly executed and ratified by 
the States of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, 
Illinois, Michigan, Arkansas, Louisiana, New York, and Pennsylvania, 
and was deposited in the Department of State of the United States, 
and tliereafter such extended and renewed compact was, by the Presi-
dent, presented to Congress and the Congress gave consent to such 
extended and renewed compact by IT. J. Res. 228, approved August 21, 
1941 (Public Law 246, Seventy-seventh Congress), and which compact 
55 stat. 666. 
was thereafter extended and renewed for a period of four years from 
September 1, 1943, by an agreement executed and ratified by repre-
sentatives of the States of Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, New 
Mexico, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Kentucky, and was deposited in the 
Department of State of the United States, and thereafter such extended 
and renewed compact was, by the President of the United States, 
presented to Congress and the Congress gave consent to such extended 
and renewed compact by H. J. Res. 139, approved July 7,1943 (Public 
Law 117, Seventy-eighth Congress) and thereafter the representatives 
57 stat. 383. 
of the States of Montana, West Virginia, Alabama, Illinois, Michigan, 
New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, Tennessee, and Indiana 
54402 O - 55 - 25 
386 
PUBLIC LAW 185-JULY 28, 1955 
[69 S T A T . 
executed counterparts of said aj^reement, and said counterparts so 
executed were deposited in the Department of State of the United 
States; and which compact w'as thereafter extended and renewed for a 
period of four years from the 1st day of September 1947 by an agree-
ment executed and ratified by the representatives of the States of 
Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, 
New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Ten-
nessee, West Virginia, and Indiana, which was deposited in the Depart-
ment of State of the United States, and such extended and renewed 
61 Stat. 316. 
compact was, by the President of the United States, presented to 
Congress, and Congress gave its consent to such extended and renewed 
compact by S. J. Res. 122 (Public Law^ 184, Eightieth Congress); and 
thereafter the representatives of the States of Kentucky, Illinois, 
Mississippi, and Michigan executed counterparts of said agreement, 
which executed counterparts were deposited in the Department of 
State of the United States; and w^hich compact was thereafter 
extended and renewed for a period of four years from the 1st day of 
September 1951, by an agreement executed and ratified by the repre-
sentatives of the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, 
Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, New 
Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, 
and West Virginia, which was deposited in the Department of State of 
the United States and such extended and renewed compact was, by the 
President of the United States, presented to Congress and Congress 
gave its consent to such extended and renewed compact by S. J. Res. 42 
65 Stat. 199. 
(Eighty-secoud Congress, first session); and thereafter the representa-
tives of the states of Illinois, Kansas, North Dakota, and Nebraska 
executed counterparts of said agreement which executed counterparts 
were deposited in the Department of State of the United States. 
The agreement to extend and renew said compact for a period of 
four years from September 1,1955, to September 1,1959, duly executed 
by the representatives of the States of Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, 
Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, 
Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, 
Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia, has 
been deposited in the Department of State of the United States, and 
reads as follows: 
. 
_ 
AN AGREEMENT TO EXTEND T H E INTERSTATE 
COMPACT TO CONSERVE OIL AND GAS 
Whereas, on the 16th day of February, 1935, in the City of Dallas, 
Texas, there was executed "An Interstate Compact to Conserve Oil 
and Gas" which was thereafter formally ratified and approved by 
the States of Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Illinois, Colorado, and 
Kansas, the original of which is now on deposit wnth the Department 
Text o
f compact, ^f g^^^g ^f ^^iB United States, a true copy of which follows: 
" A N INTERSTATE COMPACT TO CONSERVE OIL AND GAS 
"ARTICLE I 
"This agreement may become effective within any compacting state 
at any time as prescribed by that state, and shall become effective 
within those states ratifying it whenever any three of the states of 
Texas, Oklahoma, California, Kansas, and New Mexico have ratified 
and Congress has given its consent. Any oil-producing state may 
^
^ 
become a party hereto as hereinafter provided. 
69 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 185-JULY 28, 1955 
387 
(( 
ARTICLE II 
"The purpose of this compact is to conserve oil and gas by the pre-
vention of physical waste thereof from any cause. 
"ARTICLE III 
"Each state bound hereby agrees that within a reasonable time it 
will enact laws, or if laws have been enacted, then it agrees to con-
tinue the same in force, to accomplish within reasonable limits the 
prevention of: 
"(a) The operation of any oil well with an inefficient gas-oil ratio. 
"(b) The drowning with water of any stratum capable of producing 
oil or gas, or both oil and gas, in paying quantities. 
"(c) The avoidable escape into the open air or the wasteful burn-
ing of gas from a natural gas well. 
"(d) The creation of unnecessary fire hazards. 
"(e) The drilling, equipping, locating, spacing or operating of a 
well or wells so as to bring about physical waste of oil or gas or loss 
in the ultimate recovery thereof. 
"(f) The inefficient, excessive or improper use of the reservoir 
energy in producing any well. 
"The enumeration of the foregoing subjects shall not limit the scope 
of the authority of any state. 
"ARTICLE IV 
"Each state bound hereby agrees that it will, within a reasonable 
time, enact statutes, or if such statutes have been enacted then that it 
will continue the same in force, providing in effect that oil produced 
in violation of its valid oil and/or gas conservation statutes or any 
valid rule, order or regulation promulgated thereunder, shall be 
denied access to commerce; and providing for stringent penalties for 
the waste of either oil or gas. 
"ARTICLE V 
"It is not the purpose of this compact to authorize the states joining 
herein to limit the production of oil or gas for the purpose of stabiliz-
ing or fixing the price thereof, or create or perpetuate monopoly, or 
to promote regimentation, but is limited to the purpose of conserving 
oil and gas and preventing the avoidable Avaste thereof within rea-
sonable limitations. 
"ARTICLE VI 
"Each State joining herein shall appoint one representative to a 
commission hereby constituted and designated as the Interstate Oil 
Compact Commission, the duty of which said commission shall be to 
make inquiry and ascertain from time to time such methods, practices, 
circumstances and conditions as may be disclosed for bringing about 
conservation and the prevention of physical waste of oil and gas, and 
at such intervals as said commission deems beneficial it shall report 
its findings and recommendations to the several States for adoption 
or rejection. 
"The Commission shall have power to recommend the coordination 
of the exercise of the police powers of the several states within their 
several jurisdictions to promote the maximum ultimate recovery from 
the petroleum reserves of said states, and to recommend measures for 
the maximum ultimate recovery of oil and gas. Said Commission shall 
organize and adopt suitable rules and regulations for the conduct 
of its business. 
388 
PUBLIC LAW 185-JULY 28, 1955 
[69 STAT. 
"No action shall be taken by the Commission except: (1) by the 
affirmative votes of the majority of the whole number of the com-
pacting States represented at any meeting, and (2) by a concurring 
vote of a majority in interest of the compacting States at said meeting, 
such interest to be determined as follows: such vote of each State 
shall be in the decimal proportion fixed by the ratio of its daily aver-
age production during the preceding calendar half-year to the daily 
average production of the compacting States during said period. 
u 
ARTICLE VII 
"No State by joining herein shall become financially obligated to 
any other State, nor shall the breach of the terms hereof by any State 
subject such State to financial responsibility to the other States joining 
herein. 
"ARTICLE VIII 
"This compact shall expire September 1,1937. But any State join-
ing herein, may upon sixty (60) days notice, withdraw herefrom. 
"The representatives of the signatory States have signed this agree-
ment in a single original which shall be deposited in the archives of 
the Department of State of the United States, and a duly certified 
copy shall be forwarded to the Governor of each of the signatory 
States. 
"This compact shall become effective when ratified and approved 
as provided in Article I. Any oil-producing State may become a 
party hereto by affixing its signature to a counterpart to be similarly 
deposited, certified, and ratified." 
Whereas, the said Interstate Compact to Conserve Oil and Gas 
has heretofore been duly renewed and extended with the consent of the 
Congress to September 1, 1955; and, 
AVhereas, it is desired to renew and extend the said Interstate Com-
pact to Conserve Oil and Gas for a period of four (4) years from 
September 1, 1955, to September 1, 1959; 
Now, Therefore, This Writing Witnesseth: 
It is hereby agreed that the Compact entitled "An Interstate Com-
pact to Conserve Oil and Gas" executed in the City of Dallas, Texas, 
on the 16th day of February, 1935, and now on deposit with the 
Department of State of the United States, a correct copy of which 
appears above, be, and the same hereby is, extended for a period of 
four (4) years from September 1, 1955, its present date of ex])iration. 
This agreement shall become effective when executed, ratified, and 
approved as provided in Article I of the original Compact. 
T?he signatory states have executed this agreement in a single orig-
inal which is deposited in the archives of the Department of State of 
the United States and a duly certified copy thereof shall be forwarded 
to the Governor of each of the signatory states. Any oil-producing 
state may become a party hereto by executing a counterpart of this 
agreement to be similarly deposited, certified, and ratified. 
Executed by the several undersigned states, at their several state 
capitols, through their proper officials on the dates as shown, as duly 
authorized by statutes and resolutions, subject to the limitations and 
qualifications of the acts of the respective State Legislatures. 
T H E STATE OF ALABAMA 
By GORDON PERSONS, Governor 
Dated: 6-29-54 
Attest: Mrs, Agnes Baggett 
Secretary of State 
(SEAL) 
69 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 185-JULY 28, 1955 
T H E STATE OF ARKANSAS 
By FRANCIS CHERRY., Governor 
Dated: 6-14-54 
Attest :C. G. Hall 
Secretary of State 
(SEAL) 
T H E STATE OF COLORADO 
By DAN THORNTON, Governor 
Dated: 5-3-54 
Attest: Homer M. Bruce 
Secretary of State 
(SEAL) 
T H E STATE O F FLORIDA 
By CHARLEY E . JOHNS, Governor 
Dated: 9-13-54 
Attest: R. A. Gray 
Secretary of State 
(SEAL) 
T H E STATE OF ILLINOIS 
By 
, Governor 
Dated: 
Attest: 
Secretary of State 
(SEAL) 
T H E STATE OF INDIANA 
By GEORGE N . CRAIG, Governor 
Dated: 5-21-54 
Attest: Crawford F. Parker 
Secretary of State 
(SEAL) 
T H E STATE OF KANSAS 
By EDWARD F . ARN, Governor 
Dated: 11-18-54 ^ 
Attest: Paul R. Slianahan 
Secretary of State 
(SEAL) 
T H E STATE OF KENTUCKY 
l^y LAWRENCE W . WETHERBY, (lovernor 
Dated: 10-19-54 
Attest: Charles K. O'Connell 
Secretary of State 
(SEAL) 
T H E STATE OF LOUISIANA 
By ROBERT F . KENNON, Governor 
Dated: 7-5-54 
Attest: J. R. Nelson 
Assistant Secretary of State 
(SEAL) 
T H E STATE OF MICHIGAN 
]^y (x. MENNEN WILLIAMS, Governor 
Dated: 12-14-54 
Attest: Owen J. Cleary 
Secretary of State 
(SEAL) 
T H E STATE OF MISSISSIPPI 
]^y HUGH L . WHITE, Governor 
Dated: 8-19-54 
Attest: Heber Ladner 
Secretary of State 
(SEAL) 
390 
PUBLIC LAW 185~JULY 28, 1955 
[69 S T A T . 
T H E STATE OF MONTANA 
By J. HUGO ARONSON, Governor 
Dated: 5-26-54 
Attest: Sam W. Mitchell 
Secretary of State 
>
f ^ -
By: Clifford L. Walker 
Deputy 
^ 
(SEAL) 
T H E STATE O F NEBRASKA 
By ROBERT B . CROSBY, Governor 
Dated: 6-22-54 
Attest: Frank Marsh 
Secretary of State 
(SEAL) 
THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO 
By EDWIN L . MECHEM, Governor 
Dated: 5-12-54 
> ,, 
«- . 
Attest: Beatrice B. Roach 
Secretary of State 
T H E STATE OF NEW YORK 
By THOMAS E . DEWEY, Governor 
Dated: 10-7-54 
Attest: Ruth M. Miner 
. 
< 
• - - ^r' 
Executive Deputy 
/ :
* 
(For Secretary of State) 
(SEAL) 
T H E STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA 
By C. NORMAN BRUNSDALE, Governor 
Dated: 8-16-54 
Attest: Thomas Hall 
Secretary of State 
By: Frank Diettman 
Deputy 
(SEAL) 
..,..-r 
T H E STATE OF OHIO 
By FRANK J. LAUSCHE, Governor 
Dated: 7-26-54 
Attest: Ted W. Brown 
! 
Secretary of State 
(SEAL) 
T H E STATE O F OKLAHOMA 
By JOHNSTON MURRAY, Governor 
Dated: 4-1-54 
Attest: John D. Conner 
? 
Secretary of State 
(SEAL) 
T H E STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA 
Bv JOHN S . FINE, Governor 
Dated: 8-27-54 
Attest: Gene D. Smith 
'\ 
Secretary of State 
(SEAL) 
^..-^,.r 
T H E STATE OF TENNESSEE 
By FRANK G . CLEMENT, Governor 
Dated: 8-10-54 
Attest: G. Edward Friar 
Secretary of State 
(SEAL) 
•
*
* 
69 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 187-JULY 28, 1955 
391 
Dated: 4-27-54 
Attest: Howard Carney 
Secretary of State 
THE STATE OF TEXAS 
J^y ALLAN SHIVERS, Governor 
T H E STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA 
By WILLIAM C . MARLAND, Governor 
11-1-54 
D. Pitt O'Brien 
Secretary of State 
(SEAL) 
Dated: 
Attest; 
(SEAL) 
SEC. 2. The Attorney General of the United States shall make an 
annual report to the Congress for the duration of the Interstate Com-
pact to Conserve Oil and Gas as to whether or not the activities of the 
States under the provisions of such compact have been consistent witli 
the purpose as set out in article V of such compact. 
Approved July 28, 1955. 
Report 
gress. 
t o Coiv-
Public Law 186 
CHAPTER 421 
AN ACT 
To authorize the transfer to the Department of Agriculture, for agricultural 
purposes, of certain real property in Saint Croix, Virgin Islands. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Virgin 
Islands Corporation is authorized and directed to transfer and convey 
to the Imited States of America upon request of the Secretary of 
Agriculture, without cost, the real property comprising sixty acres 
more or less, together with the buildings and improvements thereon, 
occupied and in use by the Department of Agriculture, which property 
is adjacent to the southwest corner of the intersection of Centerline 
Road and Airport Road on the Island of St. Croix, Virgin Islands: 
Provided^ Upon the transfer and conveyance of such property by the 
Virgin Islands Corporation to the United States, the interest-bearing 
investment of the United States in the Corporation shall be reduced 
by the net book value of such property. 
Approved July 28, 1955. 
July 28, 1955 
[S. 209 7] 
Saint Croix, V.I. 
Property transf (sr 
to U. S. 
Public Law W 
CHAPTER 422 
AN ACT 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled. That, notwithstand-
ing the Act entitled "An Act to authorize the leasing of Indian lands 
situated within the State of Washington for business and other pur-
poses", approved August 9, 1946 (25 U. S. C , sees. 403b and 403c), or 
any other provision of law, the Yakima Tribe acting through its tribal 
council may lease to the State of Washington that land more particu-
larly described in section 4 for the purpose of developing, maintaining, 
and preserving Fort Simcoe (Mool-Mool) for historical and for park 
purposes. 
July 28, 1955 
To authorize the leasing of certain lands of the Yakima Tribe to the State of 
[H. R. I802] 
Washington for historical and for park purposes. 
Ft. Simcoe.Wasli. 
Indian land lease. 
60 Stat. 962.