22 U.S.C. § 267b: International Joint…

Summary

Ask Great Britain to help create an international commission with three members from the United States and three who represent Canada. The group must study and report on the waters along the U.S.–Canada border, including all lakes and rivers that naturally flow to the Saint Lawrence and the Atlantic. They must look at water uses, how to keep and control proper water levels, how changes or diversions affect shores, structures, and navigation, and suggest ways to regulate diversions and improve navigation. They must also study whether a dam at the outlet of Lake Erie would help navigation, and if so recommend that the governments agree to build it and give a cost estimate. The President may name three U.S. members: one U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officer, one civil engineer expert in Great Lakes hydraulics, and one lawyer experienced in international and shoreline water law. The commission may hire needed staff.

Title 22, §267b

Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The President of the United States is requested to invite the Government of Great Britain to join in the formation of an international commission, to be composed of three members from the United States and three who shall represent the interests of the Dominion of Canada, whose duty it shall be to investigate and report upon the conditions and uses of the waters adjacent to the boundary lines between the United States and Canada, including all of the waters of the lakes and rivers whose natural outlet is by the River Saint Lawrence to the Atlantic Ocean; also upon the maintenance and regulation of suitable levels; and also upon the effect upon the shores of these waters and the structures thereon, and upon the interests of navigation, by reason of the diversion of these waters from or change in their natural flow; and, further, to report upon the necessary measures to regulate such diversion, and to make such recommendations for improvements and regulations as shall best subserve the interests of navigation in said waters. The said commissioners shall report upon the advisability of locating a dam at the outlet of Lake Erie, with a view to determining whether such dam will benefit navigation, and if such structure is deemed advisable, shall make recommendations to their respective Governments looking to an agreement or treaty which shall provide for the construction of the same, and they shall make an estimate of the probable cost thereof. The President, in selecting the three members of said Commission who shall represent the United States, is authorized to appoint one officer of the Corps of Engineers of the United States Army, one civil engineer well versed in the hydraulics of the Great Lakes, and one lawyer of experience in questions of international and riparian law, and said Commission shall be authorized to employ such persons as it may deem needful in the performance of the duties hereby imposed.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Establishment of CommissionThe International Joint Commission was organized in 1911 pursuant to article VII of the treaty of January 11, 1909, with Great Britain, 36 Stat. 2448.

Editorial Notes

Codification Provisions of this section relating to the payment of salaries and expenses of the International Joint Commission were omitted. For provisions relating to the payment of salaries of the United States members of the International Joint Commission, see section 268 of this title.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Water Resources PlanningJurisdiction, powers, or prerogatives of the International Joint Commission, United States and Canada, unaffected by Water Resources Planning Act, see section 1962–1 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. Passamaquoddy Tidal Power ProjectJoint Res. Jan. 31, 1956, ch. 27, 70 Stat. 9, provided for the Secretary of State to request the International Joint Commission created by the treaty between the United States and Great Britain relating to boundary waters between the United States and Canada to arrange for a final survey to be made to determine the cost of

Construction

and economic feasibility of the proposed Passamaquoddy tidal power project at Passamaquoddy Bay, authorized United States agencies to assist the Commission, authorized appropriations, and required the Secretary of State to report the results of the survey to Congress.

§267b International Joint Commission; Invitation to Establish; Personnel; Duties