--- kind: "section" citation: "16 U.S.C. § 544c" title: "16" title_heading: "Conservation" number: "544c" heading: "Columbia River Gorge Commission" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/544c" units: - "Chapter 2 — National Forests" - "Subchapter II — Scenic Areas" --- # §544c. Columbia River Gorge Commission - (a) **Establishment and membership of Commission—** - (1) To achieve the purposes of sections [544](/usc/16/544.md) to [544p](/usc/16/544p.md) of this title and to facilitate cooperation among the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) of Oregon and Washington, and with the United States of America, the consent of Congress is given for an agreement described in sections [544](/usc/16/544.md) to [544p](/usc/16/544p.md) of this title pursuant to which, within one year after November 17, 1986— - (A) the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) of Oregon and Washington shall establish by way of an interstate agreement a regional agency known as the Columbia River Gorge [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c), and shall incorporate sections [544](/usc/16/544.md) to [544p](/usc/16/544p.md) of this title by specific reference in such agreement. The [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) shall carry out its functions and responsibilities in accordance with the provisions of the interstate agreement and of sections [544](/usc/16/544.md) to [544p](/usc/16/544p.md) of this title and shall not be considered an agency or instrumentality of the United States for the purpose of any Federal law; - (B) the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) of Oregon and Washington shall provide to the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c), [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) agencies, and the [counties](/usc/16/544.md?p=d) under [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) law the authority to carry out their respective functions and responsibilities in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection; and - (C) the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) of Oregon and Washington shall appoint members of the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) as provided in clauses [(i)](#a-1-C-i) through [(iii)](#a-1-C-iii), subject to applicable [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) law: Provided, That the Governor of either [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) may extend the time for appointment of [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) members ninety days to provide more time for the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r) and [counties](/usc/16/544.md?p=d) to make such appointments. Membership of the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) shall be as follows: - (i) six members, comprised of one resident from each of the following [counties](/usc/16/544.md?p=d): Hood River, Multnomah, and Wasco [Counties](/usc/16/544.md?p=d), Oregon, and Clark, Klickitat, and Skamania [Counties](/usc/16/544.md?p=d), Washington, to be appointed by the governing body of each of the respective [counties](/usc/16/544.md?p=d): Provided, That in the event the governing body of a county fails to make such appointment, the Governor of the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) in which the county is located shall appoint such member; - (ii) three members who reside in the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Oregon, at least one of whom shall be a resident of the [scenic area](/usc/16/544.md?p=o), to be appointed by the Governor of Oregon; - (iii) three members who reside in the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Washington, at least one of whom shall be a resident of the [scenic area](/usc/16/544.md?p=o), to be appointed by the Governor of Washington; and - (iv) one ex officio, nonvoting member who shall be an employee of the Forest Service, to be appointed by the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1). - (2) The agreement shall [take](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) effect and the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) may exercise its authorities pursuant to the agreement upon the appointment of four initial members from each [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a), subject to applicable [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) law, and the date of such an agreement shall be the date of establishment of the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c). Such agreement is hereby consented to by the Congress. - (3) Either [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) or any county may fill any vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term of any member originally appointed by that [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) or county. Each member appointed to the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) shall serve a term of four years, except that, with respect to members initially appointed pursuant to [paragraph (1)(C)(i)](#a-1-C-i), each Governor shall designate one member to serve for a term of five years and one to serve for a term of six years, and one member from each [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) initially appointed pursuant to paragraph [(1)(C)(ii)](#a-1-C-ii) and (iii) shall be designated by the Governor to serve a term of five years, and one to serve a term of six years. Neither the Governors nor the governing bodies of any of the [counties](/usc/16/544.md?p=d) may appoint Federal, [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a), or local elected or appointed officials to the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c). - (4) A majority of the members of the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) shall constitute a quorum. The members of the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) shall select from among themselves a Chairman by majority vote of the members appointed from each [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a). - (5) Except for the ex-officio member appointed pursuant to [paragraph (1)(C)(iv)](#a-1-C-iv), the members and officers and employees of the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) shall not be officers or employees of the United States for any purpose. The [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) shall appoint, fix compensation for, and assign and delegate duties to such officers and employees as the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) deems necessary to fulfill its functions under sections [544](/usc/16/544.md) to [544p](/usc/16/544p.md) of this title. The compensation of [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) members shall be fixed by [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) law. The compensation of [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) members, officers, and employees and the expenses of the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) shall be paid from funds provided to the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) by the [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r). - (b) **Applicable law—** For the purposes of providing a uniform system of laws, which, in [addition](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2) to sections [544](/usc/16/544.md) to [544p](/usc/16/544p.md) of this title, are applicable to the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c), the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) shall adopt regulations relating to administrative procedure, the making of contracts, conflicts-of-interest, financial disclosure, open meetings of the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c), [advisory committees](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=1), and disclosure of information consistent with the more restrictive statutory provisions of either [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a). Regulations applicable to financial disclosure under this subsection shall be applied to members of the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) without regard to the duration of their service on the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) or the amount of compensation received for such service. No contract, obligation, or other action of the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) shall be an obligation of the United States or an obligation secured by the full faith and credit of the United States. - (c) **Assistance to Commission—** Upon the request of the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) and other Federal agencies are authorized to provide information, personnel, property, and services on a reimbursable basis, and the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) is authorized to provide technical assistance on a nonreimbursable basis, to the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) to assist it in carrying out its functions and responsibilities pursuant to sections [544](/usc/16/544.md) to [544p](/usc/16/544p.md) of this title. - (d) **Advisory committees—** The [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) shall establish voluntary technical and citizen [advisory committees](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=1) to assist the [Commission](/usc/16/544.md?p=c) in carrying out its functions and responsibilities pursuant to sections [544](/usc/16/544.md) to [544p](/usc/16/544p.md) of this title. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 99–663, § 5, Nov. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 4277.)