54 STAT.] 76TH CONG. , 3D SESS.-CH. 579-JULY 11, 1940 of Columbia, hereinafter designated signatory bodies, do hereby create the Potomac Valley Conservancy District, hereinafter desig- nated the Conservancy District, comprising all of the area drained by the Potomac River and its tributaries; and also, do hereby create the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, here- inafter designated the Commission, under the articles of organi- zation as set forth below. ARTICLE I The Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin shall consist of three members from each signatory body and three members appointed by the President of the United States. Said Commissioners, other than those appointed by the President, shall be chosen in a manner and for the terms provided by law of the signatory body from which they are appointed and shall serve without compensation from the Commission but shall be paid by the Commission their actual expenses incurred and incident to the performance of their duties. (A) The Commission shall meet and organize within thirty days after the effective date of this compact, shall elect from its number a chairman and vice-chairman, shall adopt suitable by-laws, shall make, adopt, and promulgate such rules and regu- lations as are necessary for its management and control, and shall adopt a seal. (B) The Commission shall appoint and, at its pleasure, remove or discharge such officers and legal, engineering, clerical, expert and other assistants as may be required to carry the provisions of this compact into effect, and shall determine their qualifications and fix their duties and compensation. Such personnel as may be employed shall be employed without regard to any civil service or other similar requirements for employees of any of the signa- tory bodies. The Commission may maintain one or more offices for the transaction of its business and may meet at any time or place within the area of the Conservancy District. (C) The Commission shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements and shall make an annual report thereof and shall in such report set forth in detail the operations and trans- actions conducted by it pursuant to this compact. The Commis- sion, however, shall not incur any obligations for administrative or other expenses prior to the making of appropriations adequate to meet the same nor shall it in any way pledge the credit of any of the signatory bodies. Each of the signatory bodies reserves the right to make at any time an examination and audit of the accounts of the Commission. (D) A quorum of the Commission shall, for the transaction of business, the exercise of any powers, or the performance of any duties, consist of at least a majority of the members of the Com- mission; provided, however, that no action of the Commission relating to policy shall be binding on any one of the signatory bodies unless at least two of the Commissioners from such signa- tory body shall vote in favor thereof. ARTICLE II The Commission shall have the power and its duties shall be: (A) To coordinate, tabulate, and summarize technical and other data now available, or as shall become available in the future from any source, on the pollution of the streams of the Conservancy District and on the character and conditions of such streams, and 749
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