
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 45USC1201]

 
                           TITLE 45--RAILROADS
 
                  CHAPTER 21--ALASKA RAILROAD TRANSFER
 
Sec. 1201. Findings

    The Congress finds that--
        (1) the Alaska Railroad, which was built by the Federal 
    Government to serve the transportation and development needs of the 
    Territory of Alaska, presently is providing freight and passenger 
    services that primarily benefit residents and businesses in the 
    State of Alaska;
        (2) many communities and individuals in Alaska are wholly or 
    substantially dependent on the Alaska Railroad for freight and 
    passenger service and provision of such service is an essential 
    governmental function;
        (3) continuation of services of the Alaska Railroad and the 
    opportunity for future expansion of those services are necessary to 
    achieve Federal, State, and private objectives; however, continued 
    Federal control and financial support are no longer necessary to 
    accomplish these objectives;
        (4) the transfer of the Alaska Railroad and provision for its 
    operation by the State in the manner contemplated by this chapter is 
    made pursuant to the Federal goal and ongoing program of 
    transferring appropriate activities to the States;
        (5) the State's continued operation of the Alaska Railroad 
    following the transfer contemplated by this chapter, together with 
    such expansion of the railroad as may be necessary or convenient in 
    the future, will constitute an appropriate public use of the rail 
    system and associated properties, will provide an essential 
    governmental service, and will promote the general welfare of 
    Alaska's residents and visitors; and
        (6) in order to give the State government the ability to 
    determine the Alaska Railroad's role in serving the State's 
    transportation needs in the future, including the opportunity to 
    extend rail service, and to provide a savings to the Federal 
    Government, the Federal Government should offer to transfer the 
    railroad to the State, in accordance with the provisions of this 
    chapter, in the same manner in which other Federal transportation 
    functions (including highways and airports) have been transferred 
    since Alaska became a State in 1959.

(Pub. L. 97-468, title VI, Sec. 602, Jan. 14, 1983, 96 Stat. 2556.)

                       References in Text

    This chapter, referred to in pars. (4) to (6), was in the original 
``this title'', meaning title VI (Sec. 601 et seq.) of Pub. L. 97-468, 
Jan. 14, 1983, 96 Stat. 2556, known as the Alaska Railroad Transfer Act 
of 1982, which is classified principally to this chapter (Sec. 1201 et 
seq.). For complete classification of title VI to the Code, see Short 
Title note below and Tables.


                               Short Title

    Section 601 of title VI of Pub. L. 97-468 provided that: ``This 
title [enacting this chapter, amending sections 231, 712, and 802 of 
this title, sections 305, 3401, 5102, 5342, and 7327 of Title 5, 
Government Organization and Employees, section 410hh-1 of Title 16, 
Conservation, section 251 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, 
section 10749 of Title 49, Transportation, and section 1655 of the 
Appendix to Title 49, repealing section 353a of Title 16, section 208a 
of Title 30, Mineral Lands and Mining, sections 975, 975a, and 975c to 
975g of Title 43, Public Lands, and section 301a of Title 48, 
Territories and Insular Possessions, and amending provisions set out as 
a note under section 1611 of Title 43] may be cited as the `Alaska 
Railroad Transfer Act of 1982'.''
