990
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PUBLIC LAW 93-236-JAN. 2, 1974 GENERAL POWERS A N D D U T I E S OF THE
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80 Stat. 460; J3 Stat. 864.
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[87 STAT.
ASSOCIATION
SEC. 202. (a) GENERAL.—To carry out the purposes of this Act, the Association is authorized to— (1) engage in the preparation and implementation of the final system plan; (2) issue obligations under section 210 of this title and make loans under section 211 of this title; (3) provide assistance to States and local or regional transportation authorities in accordance with section 403 of this Act; (4) sue and be sued, complain and defend, in the name of the Association and through its own attorneys; adopt, amend, and repeal bylaws governing the operation of the Association and such rules and regulations as are necessary to carry out the authority granted under this Act; conduct its affairs, carry on operations, and maintain offices; (5) appoint, fix the compensation, and assign the duties of such attorneys, agents, consultants, and other full- and part-time employees as it deems necessary or appropriate; except that (1) no officer of the Association, including the Chairman, may receive compensation at a rate in excess of that prescribed for level I of the Executive Schedule under section 5312 of title 5, United States Code; and (2) no individual may hold a position in violation of regulations which the Secretary shall establish to avoid conflicts of interest and to protect the interests of the public; (6) acquire and hold such real and personal property as it deems necessary or appropriate in the exercise of its responsibilities under this Act, and to dispose of any such property held by it; (7) consult with the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Engineers and request the assistance of the Corps of Engineers, and the Secretary of the Army may direct the Corps of Engineers to cooperate fully with the Association, the Corporation, or any entity designated in accordance with section 206(c)(1)(C) in order to carry out the purposes of this Act; (8) consult on an ongoing basis with the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission and the Attorney General to assess the possible anticompetitive effects of various proposals and to negotiate provisions which would, to the greatest extent practicable in accordance with the purposes of this Act and the goal set forth 7 in section 206(a)(5) of this title, alleviate any such anticompetitive effects; (9) consult with representatives of science, industry, agriculture, labor, environmental protection and consumer organizations, and other groups, as it deems advisable; and (10) enter into, without regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes of the United States (41 U.S.C. 5), such contracts, leases, cooperative agreements, or other transactions as may be necessary in the conduct of its functions and duties with any person V (including a government entity). (b) DUTIES.—In addition to its duties and responsibilities under other provisions of this Act, the Association shall— (1) prepare a survey of existing rail services in the region, including patterns of traffic movement; traffic density over identified lines; pertinent costs and revenues of lines; and plant, equipment, and facilities (includng yards and terminals); (2) prepare an economic and operational study and analysis of present and future rail service needs in the region; the nature and volume of the traffic in the region now being moved by rail or
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