Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 120.djvu/1595

 120 STAT. 1564

PUBLIC LAW 109–304—OCT. 6, 2006

‘‘(g) EXPENSES AND RECEIPTS RELATED TO CHARTER OPERATIONS.—The Fund is available for expenses incurred in activating, repairing, and deactivating merchant vessels chartered under the jurisdiction of the Secretary. Receipts from charter operations of Government-owned vessels under the jurisdiction of the Secretary shall be credited to the Fund. ‘‘§ 50302. Port development ‘‘(a) GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.—With the objective of promoting, encouraging, and developing ports and transportation facilities in connection with water commerce over which the Secretary of Transportation has jurisdiction, the Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of the Army, shall— ‘‘(1) investigate territorial regions and zones tributary to ports, taking into consideration the economies of transportation by rail, water, and highway and the natural direction of the flow of commerce; ‘‘(2) investigate the causes of congestion of commerce at ports and applicable remedies; ‘‘(3) investigate the subject of water terminals, including the necessary docks, warehouses, and equipment, to devise and suggest the types most appropriate for different locations and for the most expeditious and economical transfer or interchange of passengers or property between water carriers and rail carriers; ‘‘(4) consult with communities on the appropriate location and plan of construction of wharves, piers, and water terminals; ‘‘(5) investigate the practicability and advantages of harbor, river, and port improvements in connection with foreign and coastwise trade; and ‘‘(6) investigate any other matter that may tend to promote and encourage the use by vessels of ports adequate to care for the freight that naturally would pass through those ports. ‘‘(b) SUBMISSION OF FINDINGS TO SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD.—After an investigation under subsection (a), if the Secretary of Transportation believes that the rates or practices of a rail carrier subject to the jurisdiction of the Surface Transportation Board are detrimental to the objective specified in subsection (a), or that new rates or practices, new or additional port terminal facilities, or affirmative action by a rail carrier is necessary to promote that objective, the Secretary may submit findings to the Board for action the Board considers appropriate under existing law. ‘‘§ 50303. Operating property and extending term of notes ‘‘(a) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of Transportation may— ‘‘(1) operate or lease docks, wharves, piers, or real property under the Secretary’s control; and ‘‘(2) make extensions and accept renewals of— ‘‘(A) promissory notes and other evidences of indebtedness on property; and ‘‘(B) mortgages and other contracts securing the property. ‘‘(b) TERMS OF TRANSACTIONS.—A transaction under subsection (a) shall be on terms the Secretary considers necessary to carry

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