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compacts; and (4) comprehensive regulatory and project development compacts (Muys, 1973). , Intersta te compacting procedures are fairly straightforward, even if the compact negotiations themselves are sometimes not. When two or more states desire to conclude a compact between themselves, the legislature of each participating state expresses its desire in law, specifying the general purpose of the compact and appointing members to a compact negotiating commission. Authorization is then generally sought from Congress to negotiate the compact for the specified purpose. If the states request, or if Congress itself decides it is in the federal interest, Congress may appoint a federal representative to participate in the compact negotiations. In the case of the Colorado River Compact, the federal representative was the then Secretary of Commerce, Herbert Hoover. Following initial congressional approval for the states to negotiate the compact, the negotiations proceed until agreement on the compact terms is reached. The state legislatures again ratify the completed compact and it is submitted to Congress for final ratification. The terms of the ratified compact become law in each signatory state and are thus binding upon it. In case the Federal Government is a signatory, it too is bound by the compact's terms. Some types of interstate compacts can apparently be concluded, and be valid and enforceable, without receiving congressional consent. The scope of these compacts must be well defined and not ". . . tend to the increase of political power in the states, which may encroach upon or interfere with the just supremacy of the United States" (Virginia v. Tennessee 148 U.S. 503, 518- 19 (1893). However, in interstate compacts concerning major water bodies or -20-