Mississippi § 65-1-20 - Office of Intermodal Planning.

§ 65-1-20. Office of Intermodal Planning.

The Office of Intermodal Planning in the Mississippi Department of Transportation shall have the following responsibilities with respect to all ports in this state that are not state ports: Study and coordinate efforts designed to promote the development of the navigable waters in the State of Mississippi for water transportation. Encourage and coordinate the development of river and deep-sea ports and harbor facilities, both new and existing. Recommend to the proper officials recreational restrictions in critical commercial navigation areas in order to promote public safety and expedite water transportation. Intercede on behalf of and represent the State of Mississippi in matters pertaining to the application of fees, tolls or user charges levied or contemplated to be levied against the water transportation industry engaged in either intrastate or interstate water commerce. Receive and use any federal, state or private funds, donations and grants made available for the development, use and expansion of water transportation resources of this state; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to deny or prohibit any municipal, county, port authority or commission or other governmental or private agency or authority from accepting such donations and grants they are now authorized by law to receive. Assist all state agencies such as the Department of Economic and Community Development, the Department of Environmental Quality, and others on any matters pertaining to and concerning the water transportation industry. Compile and provide, where necessary, the capabilities of the Mississippi ports and harbor facilities with respect to equipment, systems or types of products handled, economic benefits, job creation, capital investments, and other pertinent data, including studies and planning for the expansion to further the development of the facilities and the water transportation industry in general. Provide, where necessary, any and all information and data, both individually and/or collectively, to the Legislature, through the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Transportation, for the ports and waterways industry within the state. Assist in the formation and presentation of any legislation to promote the development and growth of the waterway industry in the State of Mississippi. No provision of this section shall be construed to give any state agency control over local port commissions or authorities or change any existing laws that such port commissions or authorities presently enjoy to conduct and develop the water transportation industry, and such existing laws shall not be preempted by this section. No provision of this section shall be construed to authorize any diversion from local port commissions or authorities of fees, funds, donations, grants or monies to which such commissions or authorities are otherwise entitled.