Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-102

§1962b–1 Membership of Commissions; Appointment of Chairman

Title 42 › CHAPTER 19B — WATER RESOURCES PLANNING › SUBCHAPTER II — RIVER BASIN COMMISSIONS › § 1962b–1

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Each river basin commission must have members chosen this way. The President picks a chairman who also leads the federal members and speaks for the federal government with the states. While serving, the chairman cannot hold any other federal job except as a retired federal officer or retired civilian employee. There must be one member from each federal department or agency that the President finds has a big interest; that person is named by the head of that department or agency. Each State partly or fully in the basin gets one member, picked under that State’s laws or by the Governor if the State has no rules. One member comes from any interstate agency created by a Congress-approved compact covering the basin. If the President thinks it is appropriate, the President may also appoint one member from the U.S. side of any international treaty commission that covers the basin.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §1962b–1

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Each river basin commission shall be composed of members appointed as follows:

(a)A chairman appointed by the President who shall also serve as chairman and coordinating officer of the Federal members of the commission and who shall represent the Federal Government in Federal-State relations on the commission and who shall not, during the period of his service on the commission, hold any other position as an officer or employee of the United States, except as a retired officer or retired civilian employee of the Federal Government;

(b)One member from each Federal department or independent agency determined by the President to have a substantial interest in the work to be undertaken by the commission, such member to be appointed by the head of such department or independent agency and to serve as the representative of such department or independent agency;

(c)One member from each State which lies wholly or partially within the area, river basin, or group of river basins for which the commission is established, and the appointment of each such member shall be made in accordance with the laws of the State which he represents. In the absence of governing provisions of State law, such State members shall be appointed and serve at the pleasure of the Governor;

(d)One member appointed by any interstate agency created by an interstate compact to which the consent of Congress has been given, and whose jurisdiction extends to the waters of the area, river basin, or group of river basins for which the river basin commission is created;

(e)When deemed appropriate by the President, one member, who shall be appointed by the President, from the United States section of any international commission created by a treaty to which the consent of the Senate has been given, and whose jurisdiction extends to the waters of the area, river basin, or group of river basins for which the river basin commission is established.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 1962b–1

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102