Part 5—Public Property

§3781. Assets and liabilities of Panama Canal Company

All property and other assets of the Panama Canal Company shall revert to the United States on October 1, 1979, and, except as otherwise provided by law, the United States shall assume the liabilities, including contractual obligations, of the Panama Canal Company then outstanding. The Commission may use such property, facilities, and records of the Panama Canal Company as are necessary to carry out its functions.

(Pub. L. 96–70, title I, §1501, Sept. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 487.)

§3782. Transfers and cross-servicing between agencies

(a) Transfers of facilities, buildings, structures, improvements, stocks and equipment located in the Republic of Panama

In the interest of economy and maximum efficiency in the utilization of property and facilities of the United States, there are authorized to be transferred between departments and agencies of the United States, with or without reimbursement, such facilities, buildings, structures, improvements, stock, and equipment located in the Republic of Panama, and used for their activities therein, as may be mutually agreed upon by the departments and agencies involved and approved by the President of the United States or his designee.

(b) Cross-servicing agreements

The Commission may enter into cross-servicing agreements with any other department or agency of the United States for the use of facilities, furnishing of services, or performance of functions.

(c) Transfer of records to Government of Republic of Panama

The Commission, any department or agency of the United States, or any United States court in the Republic of Panama is authorized to transfer to the Government of the Republic of Panama any record of such Commission, department, agency, or court, or copy thereof, including any record acquired from the Canal Zone Government or Panama Canal Company (including any vital statistics record), to any other department, agency, or court of the United States if such action is determined by the Commission, the head of the department or agency concerned, or the judge of the court concerned to be in the interest of the United States. Transfer of any record or copy thereof under this section to the Government of the Republic of Panama shall be made under the coordination of and with the approval of the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Panama.

(d) Applicability to Smithsonian Institution

The provisions of this section shall apply to the Smithsonian Institution.

(Pub. L. 96–70, title I, §1502, Sept. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 488.)

Executive Documents

Delegation of Functions

Functions vested in President by subsec. (a) of this section delegated to Secretary of Defense, see section 1–106 of Ex. Ord. No. 12215, May 27, 1980, 45 F.R. 36043, set out as a note under section 3601 of this title.

§3783. Disposition of property of United States

No property of the United States located in the Republic of Panama may be disposed of except pursuant to law enacted by the Congress.

(Pub. L. 96–70, title I, §1503, Sept. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 488.)

§3784. Transfer of property to Republic of Panama

(a) Conveyance of Panama Railroad

(1) On October 1, 1979, the Secretary of State may convey to the Republic of Panama the Panama Railroad and such property located in the area which, immediately before such date, comprised the Canal Zone and which is not within the land and water areas the use of which is made available to the United States pursuant to the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related agreements.

(2) Property transferred pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection may not include buildings and other facilities, except housing, located outside such areas, the use of which is retained by the United States pursuant to the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related agreements.

(b) Transfer of certain property pursuant to Panama Canal Treaty of 1977; report to Congress

With respect to the transfer of all other property (not described in subsection (a)(1) of this section) to be transferred in accordance with the terms of the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and related agreements, the Secretary of State may convey such property from time to time in accordance with the terms of such Treaty and related agreements. Before the transfer of any such property, the President must submit a written report to the Congress—

(1) precisely identifying and describing the particular property to be transferred;

(2) certifying the state of compliance by the Republic of Panama with such Treaty and related agreements; and

(3) setting forth the reasons for the conveyance being made at the particular time.

(c) Restriction on transfer of Panama Canal and certain other property

The Panama Canal, and such other property referred to in paragraph 2(d) of Article XIII of the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 that has not been previously transferred in accordance with paragraphs 2(a), 2(b), and 2(c) of such Article, shall not be transferred to the Republic of Panama prior to December 31, 1999.

(Pub. L. 96–70, title I, §1504, Sept. 27, 1979, 93 Stat. 488; Pub. L. 99–223, §7, Dec. 28, 1985, 99 Stat. 1740.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1985—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–223 substituted "Before" for "At least 180 days before".

Executive Documents

Delegation of Functions

Functions vested in President by subsec. (b) delegated to Secretary of State, see section 1–402 of Ex. Ord. No. 12215, May 27, 1980, 45 F.R. 36044, set out as a note under section 3601 of this title.