Title 49 — TransportationRelease 119-84

§304 COMPOSITION OF COMMISSION.

Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE V— - RAIL PROGRAMS › Part PART E— - MISCELLANEOUS › Chapter CHAPTER 281— - LAW ENFORCEMENT › § 304

Last updated Apr 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Set up a 24-member commission. Twelve members are named by the U.S. President and twelve by the Government of Canada. The members should, as much as possible, reflect local communities (including local governments), Indigenous peoples, businesses affected by the rail link, and a wide mix of experts in areas like economics, engineering, resource and environmental science, social science, fish and game management, and transportation. The President must pick the 12 U.S. members this way: two who represent Alaska communities and local governments; one nominated by the Governor to represent the State of Alaska; one who represents Native Alaskans in the affected area; three business representatives from Alaska (one must be from the Alaska Railroad Corporation); one for U.S. Class I rail carriers; one for U.S. rail labor; and three experts, including at least one engineer with subarctic transportation experience and at least one expert on environmental effects. Canada’s 12 members must cover broad Canadian interests in the same representative way.

Full Legal Text

Title 49, §304

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

“(a)“(1)The Agreement should provide for the Commission to be composed of 24 members, of which 12 members are appointed by the President and 12 members are appointed by the Government of Canada.

“(2)The Agreement should provide for the membership of the Commission, to the maximum extent practicable, to be representative of—

“(A)the interests of the local communities (including the governments of the communities), aboriginal peoples, and businesses that would be affected by the connection of the rail system in Alaska to the North American continental rail system; and

“(B)a broad range of expertise in areas of knowledge that are relevant to the significant issues to be considered by the Commission, including economics, engineering, management of resources, social sciences, fish and game management, environmental sciences, and transportation.

“(b)If the United States and Canada enter into an agreement providing for the establishment of the Commission, the President shall appoint the United States members of the Commission as follows:

“(1)Two members from among persons who are qualified to represent the interests of communities and local governments of Alaska.

“(2)One member representing the State of Alaska, to be nominated by the Governor of Alaska.

“(3)One member from among persons who are qualified to represent the interests of Native Alaskans residing in the area of Alaska that would be affected by the extension of rail service.

“(4)Three members from among persons involved in commercial activities in Alaska who are qualified to represent commercial interests in Alaska, of which one shall be a representative of the Alaska Railroad Corporation.

“(5)One member representing United States Class I rail carriers and one member representing United States rail labor.

“(6)Three members with relevant expertise, at least one of whom shall be an engineer with expertise in subarctic transportation and at least one of whom shall have expertise on the environmental impact of such transportation.

“(c)The Agreement should provide for the Canadian membership of the Commission to be representative of broad categories of interests of Canada as the Government of Canada determines appropriate, consistent with subsection (a)(2).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

49 U.S.C. § 304

Title 49 — Transportation

Last Updated

Apr 22, 2026

Release point: 119-84