Iowa Code 307C.1 – Missouri river barge compact
The purposes of this compact are to provide for planning for the most efficient use of the waters of the Missouri river, to increase the amount of barge traffic on that segment of the Missouri river below Sioux City, Iowa, to take necessary steps to develop the Missouri river and its banks to handle more barge traffic than is presently handled, to encourage barge use on that segment of the Missouri river for transporting bulk goods, especially farm commodities, to insure that the intended increase in barge traffic does not impose unacceptable damage on the Missouri river in all its various uses, including agriculture, wildlife management, and recreational opportunities, to consider the effects of diversion of the waters of the Missouri river on navigation, and to promote joint action between the compact parties to accomplish these purposes. The purposes of the compact do not include lobbying activities against user fees for barge traffic and such activities under this compact are prohibited.
Terms Used In Iowa Code 307C.1
- following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute mean the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See Iowa Code 4.1
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the said district and territories. See Iowa Code 4.1
- United States: includes all the states. See Iowa Code 4.1
- User fees: Fees charged to users of goods or services provided by the government. In levying or authorizing these fees, the legislature determines whether the revenue should go into the treasury or should be available to the agency providing the goods or services.
It is the responsibility of the four states to accomplish the purposes in article I through the official in each state charged with the duty of administering the public waters and to collect and correlate through those officials the data necessary for the proper administration of the compact. Those officials may, by unanimous action, adopt rules and regulations to accomplish the purposes of this compact.
The states of Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska agree that within a reasonable time they shall fulfill the obligations of this compact and that each shall authorize the proper official or agency in its state to take the necessary steps to promote barge use and develop the Missouri river as it flows between and within the compact states for additional barge traffic.
This compact does not limit the powers granted in any other act to enter into interstate or other agreements relating to the Missouri river flowing between and within the compact states, alter the relations between the respective internal responsibilities of the government of a party state and its subdivisions, or impair or affect any rights, powers, or jurisdiction of the United States, or those acting by or under its authority, in, over, and to those waters of the Missouri river. Adoption of this compact by the general assembly shall not require the signatory states to adopt any legislation or to appropriate funds for its implementation.