TITLE 33 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER IV - INTERNATIONAL BRIDGES

33 USC 535 - Congressional consent to construction, maintenance, and operation of international bridges; conditions of consent

The consent of Congress is hereby granted to the construction, maintenance, and operation of any bridge and approaches thereto, which will connect the United States with any foreign country (hereinafter in this subchapter referred to as an international bridge) and to the collection of tolls for its use, so far as the United States has jurisdiction. Such consent shall be subject to
(1)  the approval of the proper authorities in the foreign country concerned;
(2)  the provisions of sections 491 to 498 of this title, except section 496 of this title, whether or not such bridge is to be built across or over any of the navigable waters of the United States; and
(3)  of the provisions of this subchapter.

33 USC 535a - Congressional consent to State agreements with Canada and Mexico; Secretary of States approval of agreements

The consent of Congress is hereby granted for a State or a subdivision or instrumentality thereof to enter into agreements
(1) with the Government of Canada, a Canadian Province, or a subdivision or instrumentality of either, in the case of a bridge connecting the United States and Canada, or
(2) with the Government of Mexico, a Mexican State, or a subdivision or instrumentality of either, in the case of a bridge connecting the United States and Mexico,

for the construction, operation, and maintenance of such bridge in accordance with the applicable provisions of this subchapter. The effectiveness of such agreement shall be conditioned on its approval by the Secretary of State.

33 USC 535b - Presidential approval; recommendations of Federal officials

No bridge may be constructed, maintained, and operated as provided in section 535 of this title unless the President has given his approval thereto. In the course of determining whether to grant such approval, the President shall secure the advice and recommendations of
(1)  the United States section of the International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico, in the case of a bridge connecting the United States and Mexico, and
(2)  the heads of such departments and agencies of the Federal Government as he deems appropriate to determine the necessity for such bridge.

33 USC 535c - Secretary of Transportations approval; commencement and completion requirements; extension of time limits

The approval of the Secretary of Transportation, as required by section 491 of this title, shall be given only subsequent to the Presidents approval, as provided for in section 535b of this title, and shall be null and void unless the construction of the bridge is commenced within two years and completed within five years from the date of the Secretarys approval: Provided, however, That the Secretary, for good cause shown, may extend for a reasonable time either or both of the time limits herein provided.

33 USC 535d - Repealed. Pub. L. 10017, title I, 135(g), Apr. 2, 1987, 101 Stat. 174

Section, Pub. L. 92–434, § 6, Sept. 26, 1972, 86 Stat. 732, directed that tolls charged for use of an international bridge constructed or acquired under this subchapter by private individual, company, or other private entity be collected for a reasonable period for amortization of construction or acquisition costs, plus interest and reasonable return, that at end of such period the United States portion of bridge become the property of the State having jurisdiction over such United States portion, and that accurate records on expenditures and tolls collected be kept and annually reported to Secretary of Transportation, with authority for Secretary to conduct audits.

33 USC 535e - Ownership

(a) Sale, assignment, or transfer; Secretary of Transportation’s approval 
Nothing in this subchapter shall be deemed to prevent the individual, corporation, or other entity to which, pursuant to this subchapter, authorization has been given to construct, operate, and maintain an international bridge and the approaches thereto, from selling, assigning, or transferring the rights, powers, and privileges conferred by this subchapter: Provided, That such sale, assignment, or transfer shall be subject to approval by the Secretary of Transportation.
(b) State status of original applicant upon acquisition of right, title, and interest after termination of private entity licenses, contracts, or orders 
Upon the acquisition by a State or States, or by a subdivision or instrumentality thereof, of the right, title, and interest of a private individual, corporation, or other private entity, in and to an international bridge, any license, contract, or order issued or entered into by the Secretary of Transportation, to or with such private individual, corporation, or other private entity, shall be deemed terminated forthwith. Thereafter, the State, subdivision, or instrumentality so acquiring shall operate and maintain such bridge in the same manner as if it had been the original applicant, and the provisions of section 535d1 of this title shall not apply.
[1] See References in Text note below.

33 USC 535f - Applicability of provisions

This subchapter shall apply to all international bridges constructed under the authority of this subchapter. Section 535a of this title and section 129 (a)(3) of title 23, shall apply to all international bridges the construction of which has been heretofore approved by Congress, notwithstanding any conflicting provision in any Act authorizing the construction of such a bridge or in any agreement entered into by the Federal Government and a State.

33 USC 535g - Federal navigable waters and commerce jurisdiction unaffected

Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to affect, impair, or diminish any right, power, or jurisdiction of the United States over or in regard to any navigable water or any interstate or foreign commerce.

33 USC 535h - Report of Secretary of Transportations approval during fiscal year

The Secretary of Transportation shall make a report of all approvals granted by him during the fiscal year pursuant to section 535c of this title in each annual report of the activities of the Department required by section 308 (a) of title 49.

33 USC 535i - Reservation of right to alter or repeal

The right to alter, amend, or repeal this subchapter is expressly reserved.