PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

The Commission may run, operate, and keep up the Panama Canal. It can build or buy and run the facilities it needs for that work. That includes docks and shoreline works; shops and yards; marine railways, salvage and towing, fuel handling, and motor transport; power, water, and telephone systems; construction and living buildings; warehouses, printing, and related manufacturing or service spaces; and recreational areas. The Commission may use the U.S. mail like other federal executive departments and may take actions needed to carry out its duties. It may also do and promote commercial activities tied to running the Canal, as long as those activities follow the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related agreements. The Commission may seek and accept donations of money, property, and services to support its promotional work. It must have written rules to decide whether a gift would hurt its ability to act fairly or damage the integrity or appearance of integrity of its programs or officials.

Title 22, §3612b

Foreign Relations and Intercourse, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Panama Canal management, operation, and maintenance

The Commission may manage, operate, and maintain the Panama Canal.

(b)Establishment, maintenance, and operation of activities, facilities, and appurtenances

The Commission may construct or acquire, establish, maintain, and operate such activities, facilities, and appurtenances as necessary and appropriate for the accomplishment of the purposes of this chapter, including the following:

(1)Docks, wharves, piers, and other shoreline facilities.

(2)Shops and yards.

(3)Marine railways, salvage and towing facilities, fuel-handling facilities, and motor transportation facilities.

(4)Power systems, water systems, and a telephone system.

(5)Construction facilities.

(6)Living quarters and other buildings.

(7)Warehouses, storehouses, a printing plant, and manufacturing, processing, or service facilities in connection therewith.

(8)Recreational facilities.

(c)Use of United States mails

The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as the executive departments of the Federal Government.

(d)Necessary or appropriate actions

The Commission may take such actions as are necessary or appropriate to carry out the powers specifically conferred upon it.

(e)Commercial activities

The Commission may conduct and promote commercial activities related to the management, operation, or maintenance of the Panama Canal. Any such commercial activity shall be carried out consistent with the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related agreements.

(f)Donations

(1)The Commission may seek and accept donations of funds, property, and services from individuals, foundations, corporations, and other private and public entities for the purpose of carrying out its promotional activities.

(2)The Commission shall establish written guidelines setting forth the criteria to be used in determining whether the acceptance of funds, property, or services authorized by paragraph (1) would reflect unfavorably upon the ability of the Commission (or any employee of the Commission) to carry out its responsibilities or official duties in a fair and objective manner or would compromise the integrity or the appearance of the integrity of its programs or of any official in those programs.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 96–70, Sept. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 452, known as the Panama Canal Act of 1979 which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 3601 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

1998—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 105–261 added subsec. (f). 1997—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 105–85 added subsec. (e).

§3612b Specific Powers of Commission