Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 111 Part 3.djvu/157

 >J*S^--'' PUBLIC LAW 105-105—NOV. 20, 1997 111 STAT. 2245 SEC. 4. RESERVATIONS. To ensure participation of Federal agencies during the development of the allocation formula and participation in all technical working groups and meetings in which the terms and conditions of the allocation formula are negotiated and to preserve Federal discretion under law, the consent of Congress to, and participation of the United States in, the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa River Basin Compact, is subject to the following conditions and reservations: (1) Representatives of any Federal agency may attend any and all meetings of the Commission. (2) Upon the request of the Federal Commissioner, representatives of any Federal agency may participate in any meetings of technical committees, if any, of the Commission at which the basis or terms and conditions of the allocation formula or modifications to the allocation formula are to be discussed or negotiated. (3) The Federal Commissioner shall be given notice of any meeting of the Commission or any meeting of technical committees, if any, of the Commission at which compliance with the allocation formula by one or more officers, agencies, or instrumentalities of the United States is to be discussed. (4) Under the provisions of Article Vll(a), the Federal Commissioner may submit a letter of concurrence with the allocation formula unanimously adopted by the State Commissioners within 255 days of such adoption. (5) No mediator shall be selected under Article Xlll(b) or Article XIII(c) without the concurrence of the Federal Commissioner and no resolution of a dispute under Article XIII(c) shall be made binding on the United States without the concurrence of the Federal Commissioner. (6) The obligations of employees, agencies, and instrumentalities of the United States pursuant to Articles Vll(b), X(a), and X(c) to exercise their discretion, to the maximum extent practicable, in a manner consistent with the allocation formula shall not be construed to interfere with the ability of such employees, agencies, and instrumentalities to take actions during emergency situations. (7) As among water right holders within any one State, nothing in this Compact shall be construed as affecting or intending to affect or in any way to interfere with the laws of the respective signatory States relating to riparian rights of the United States in and to the waters of the Alabama- Coosa-Tallapoosa River Basin. SEC. 5. EFFECTUATION. (a) FEDERAL AGENCY AUTHORITY.—TO carry out the purposes of this Compact, Federal agencies are authorized, as they may deem appropriate— (1) to engage in cooperative relationships with the Commission; (2) to conduct studies and monitoring programs in cooperation with the Commission; (3) to enter into agreements to indemnify private landowners against liability that may arise from studies and monitoring programs undertaken in cooperation with the Commission; and

�