SUBCHAPTER III—INSTITUTION AND CONSTRUCTION OF PROJECTS
§411. Surveys for, location, and construction of irrigation works generally
The Secretary of the Interior is authorized and directed to make examinations and surveys for, and to locate and construct, as herein provided, irrigation works for the storage, diversion, and development of waters, including artesian wells.
(June 17, 1902, ch. 1093, §2,
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Herein, referred to in text, means in act June 17, 1902, popularly known as the Reclamation Act, which is classified generally to this chapter. For complete classification of act June 17, 1902, to the Code, see Short Title note set out under
Prior Provisions
Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in acts Mar. 2, 1889, ch. 411, §1,
Amendments
1946—Act Aug. 7, 1946, struck out provisions requiring annual reports to Congress as to results of those examinations and surveys.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Section as Unaffected by Submerged Lands Act
Provisions of this section as not amended, modified or repealed by the Submerged Lands Act, see
§411a. Repealed. Feb. 28, 1929, ch. 374, §2, 45 Stat. 1406
Section, act June 28, 1926, ch. 704,
§411a–1. Authorization of appropriations for investigations of feasibility of reclamation projects
The sum of $125,000 annually is authorized to be appropriated for cooperative and miscellaneous investigations of the feasibility of reclamation projects.
(Feb. 21, 1923, ch. 101,
§411b. Employment of engineers, geologists, appraisers and economists for reclamation consultation work; compensation; retired Army and Navy officers as consulting engineers
The Secretary of the Interior is authorized, in his judgment and discretion, to employ for consultation purposes on important reclamation work ten consulting engineers, geologists, appraisers, and economists, at rates of compensation to be fixed by him, but not to exceed $50 per day for any engineer, geologist, appraiser, or economist so employed: Provided, That the total compensation paid to any engineer, geologist, appraiser, or economist during any fiscal year shall not exceed $5,000: Provided further, That notwithstanding the provisions of any other Act, retired officers of the Army or Navy may be employed by the Secretary of the Interior as consulting engineers in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(Feb. 28, 1929, ch. 374, §1,
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1966—
1944—Act Dec. 23, 1944, inserted third proviso.
1940—Act Apr. 22, 1940, provided for employment of appraisers and increased the number to be employed from five to ten.
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of the Interior, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of the Interior, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1950, §§1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174,
§412. Prerequisites to initiation of project or division of project
After December 5, 1924, no new project or new division of a project shall be approved for construction or estimates submitted therefor by the Secretary until information in detail shall be secured by him concerning the water supply, the engineering features, the cost of construction, land prices, and the probable cost of development, and he shall have made a finding in writing that it is feasible, that it is adaptable for actual settlement and farm homes, and that it will probably return the cost thereof to the United States.
(Dec. 5, 1924, ch. 4, §4, subsec. B,
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Definitions
The definitions in
§413. Approval of project by President
After June 25, 1910, no irrigation project contemplated by the Act of June 17, 1902, shall be begun unless and until the same shall have been recommended by the Secretary of the Interior and approved by the direct order of the President of the United States.
(June 25, 1910, ch. 407, §4,
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Act of June 17, 1902, referred to in text, is act June 17, 1902, ch. 1093,
Codification
Section is comprised of second clause of section 4 of act June 25, 1910. First clause of such section 4 is classified to
§414. Appropriation for projects essential
Expenditures shall not be made for carrying out the purposes of the reclamation law except out of appropriations made annually by Congress therefor, and there shall annually, in the Budget, be submitted to Congress estimates of the amount of money necessary to be expended for carrying out any or all of the purposes authorized by the reclamation law, including the extension and completion of existing projects and units thereof and the construction of new projects. The annual appropriations made hereunder by Congress for such purposes shall be paid out of the reclamation fund provided for by the reclamation law.
(Aug. 13, 1914, ch. 247, §16,
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The reclamation law, referred to in text, is defined in
Codification
Words "there shall annually, in the Budget, be submitted to Congress" substituted for "the Secretary of the Interior shall annually in the regular Book of Estimates, submit to Congress" in view of the Budget and Accounting Act, 1921, act June 10, 1921, ch. 18,
§415. Receipts applicable to project generally
All moneys heretofore or hereafter refunded or received in connection with operations under the reclamation law, except repayments of construction and operation and maintenance charges, shall be a credit to the appropriation for the project or operation from or on account of which the collection is made and shall be available for expenditure in like manner as if said sum had been specifically appropriated for said project or operation.
(June 12, 1917, ch. 27,
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The reclamation law, referred to in text, is identified in act June 12, 1917, ch. 27,
§416. Laws applicable to withdrawn lands; restoration to entry
All lands entered and entries made under the homestead laws within areas so withdrawn during such withdrawal shall be subject to all the provisions, limitations, charges, terms, and conditions of this Act; that said surveys shall be prosecuted diligently to completion, and upon the completion thereof, and of the necessary maps, plans, and estimates of cost, the Secretary of the Interior shall determine whether or not said project is practicable and advisable, and if determined to be impracticable or unadvisable he shall thereupon restore said lands to entry.
(June 17, 1902, ch. 1093, §3,
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This Act, referred to in text, is act June 17, 1902, popularly known as the Reclamation Act, which is classified generally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under
Said surveys, referred to in text, mean the surveys for contemplated irrigation works authorized by
Codification
Section is comprised of part of section 3 of act June 17, 1902. Remainder of such section 3 is classified to
Amendments
1976—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1976 Amendment
Savings Provision
Amendment by
Section as Unaffected by Submerged Lands Act
Provisions of this section as not amended, modified or repealed by the Submerged Lands Act, see
§417. Reservation of easements in public lands for reclamation projects
Where, in the opinion of the Secretary, a right of way or easement of any kind over public land is required in connection with a project the Secretary may reserve the same to the United States by filing in the Bureau of Land Management and in the appropriate local land office copies of an instrument giving a description of the right of way or easement and notice that the same is reserved to the United States for Federal irrigation purposes under sections 371, 376, 377, 412, 417, 433, 438,1 462, 463,1 466, 473,1 474,1 478, 493, 494, 500, 501, and 526 of this title, in which event entry for such land and the patent issued therefor shall be subject to the right of way or easement so described in such instrument; and reference to each such instrument shall be made in the appropriate tract books and also in the patent.
(Dec. 5, 1924, ch. 4, §4, subsec. P,
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Definitions
The definitions in
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of the Interior, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of the Interior, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1950, §§1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174,
"Bureau of Land Management" substituted for "General Land Office" on authority of section 403 of Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1946, set out as a note under
1 See References in Text note below.
§418. Private lands within project; agreement as to disposal of excess over farm unit
Before any contract is let or work begun for the construction of any reclamation project adopted after August 13, 1914, the Secretary of the Interior shall require the owners of private lands thereunder to agree to dispose of all lands in excess of the area which he shall deem sufficient for the support of a family upon the land in question, upon such terms and at not to exceed such price as the Secretary of the Interior may designate; and if any landowner shall refuse to agree to the requirements fixed by the Secretary of the Interior, his land shall not be included within the project if adopted for construction.
(Aug. 13, 1914, ch. 247, §12,
§419. Contract for irrigation project; notice as to lands irrigable, unit of entry, and construction charges
Upon the determination that any irrigation project is practicable, the Secretary of the Interior may cause to be let contracts for the construction of the same, in such portions or sections as it may be practicable to construct and complete as parts of the whole project, providing the necessary funds for such portions or sections are available, and thereupon he shall give public notice of the lands irrigable under such project, and limit of area per entry, which limit shall represent the acreage which, in the opinion of the Secretary, may be reasonably required for the support of a family upon the lands in question; also of the charges which shall be made per acre upon the said entries, and upon lands in private ownership which may be irrigated by the waters of the said irrigation project, and the number of annual installments in which such charges shall be paid and the time when such payments shall commence: Provided, That in all construction work eight hours shall constitute a day's work.
(June 17, 1902, ch. 1093, §4,
Editorial Notes
Codification
Section is comprised of part of section 4 of act June 17, 1902. Remainder of such section 4 is classified to
Amendments
1956—Act May 10, 1956, substituted a period for the comma after "work" in proviso, and struck out "and no Mongolian labor shall be employed thereon."
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Section as Unaffected by Submerged Lands Act
Provisions of this section as not amended, modified, or repealed by the Submerged Lands Act, see
§420. Use of earth, timber, etc., from other public lands
In carrying out the provisions of the national irrigation law approved June 17, 1902, and in constructing works thereunder, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to use and to permit the use by those engaged in the construction of works under said law, under rules and regulations to be prescribed by him, such earth, stone, and timber from the public lands of the United States as may be required in the construction of such works, and the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to permit the use of earth, stone, and timber from the national forests of the United States for the same purpose, under rules and regulations to be prescribed by him.
(Feb. 8, 1905, ch. 552,
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The national irrigation law approved June 17, 1902, referred to in text, is act June 17, 1902, ch. 1093,
Codification
Act Mar. 4, 1907 redesignated "forest reserves" as "national forests".
§421. Acquisition of lands for irrigation project; eminent domain
Where, in carrying out the provisions of this Act, it becomes necessary to acquire any rights or property, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to acquire the same for the United States by purchase or by condemnation under judicial process, and to pay from the reclamation fund the sums which may be needed for that purpose, and it shall be the duty of the Attorney General of the United States upon every application of the Secretary of the Interior, under this Act, to cause proceedings to be commenced for condemnation within thirty days from the receipt of the application at the Department of Justice.
(June 17, 1902, ch. 1093, §7,
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This Act, referred to in text, is act June 17, 1902, popularly known as the Reclamation Act, which is classified generally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Section as Unaffected by Submerged Lands Act
Provisions of this section as not amended, modified, or repealed by the Submerged Lands Act, see
§421a. Construction of distribution and drainage systems by irrigation districts or public agencies
Distribution and drainage systems authorized to be constructed under the Federal reclamation laws may, in lieu of construction by the Secretary of the Interior (referred to in
(July 4, 1955, ch. 271, §1,
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1972—
§421b. Loans for construction of distribution and drainage systems; repayment contract; time period for repayment of loan; "irrigation district or other public agency" defined
To assist financially in the construction of the aforesaid local distribution and drainage systems by irrigation districts and other public agencies the Secretary is authorized, on application therefor by such irrigation districts or other public agencies, to make funds available on a loan basis from moneys appropriated for the construction of such distribution and drainage systems to any irrigation district or other public agency in an amount equal to the estimated construction cost of such system, contingent upon a finding by the Secretary that the loan can be returned to the United States in accordance with the general repayment provisions of
(July 4, 1955, ch. 271, §2,
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Act of June 3, 1960, referred to in text, is
Amendments
1972—
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Sale of Bureau of Reclamation Loans
"(a)
"(b)
"(1) except to the extent that prepayment may have been authorized heretofore, relieve the borrower from the application of the provisions of Federal Reclamation law (Act of June 17, 1902 [
"(2) authorize the transfer of title to any federally owned facilities funded by the loans specified in subsection (a) of this section without a specific Act of Congress.
"(c)
"(d)
§421c. Conditions of loan for distribution and drainage systems; reconveyance by Secretary of lands, interests in lands, and distribution works heretofore conveyed to the United States; conditions of reconveyance; rights of way
The Secretary shall require, as conditions to any such loan, that the borrower contribute in money or materials, labor, lands, or interests in land, computed at their reasonable value, a portion not in excess of 10 per centum, of the construction cost of the distribution and drainage system (including all costs of acquiring lands and interests in land), that the plans for the system be in accord with sound engineering practices and be such as will achieve the purposes for which the system was authorized, and that the borrower agree to account in full in regard to all disbursements of borrowed funds and to return at once for application toward amortization of the loan all funds which are not expended in the construction of the distribution and drainage system. Every organization contracting for repayment of a loan under
(July 4, 1955, ch. 271, §3,
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The references in text to
Codification
"
Amendments
1991—
1972—
1956—Act May 14, 1956, provided that the Secretary, as conditions to loan, require borrower to account for disbursements of borrowed funds and return for application toward amortization of the loan all funds not expended in the construction of the distribution system, required, prior to the consummation of any loan, the transfer to the United States of titles to lands or interests in lands held by the borrower, and that titles to such lands, interests, and distribution works remain in United States until repayment, and provided for issuance of revocable permits for the use of lands owned by United States, in lieu of the formerly authorized actual conveyance to the districts of the rights-of-way.
1 See References in Text note below.
§421d. Effect on existing laws
Except as otherwise provided in
(July 4, 1955, ch. 271, §4,
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1972—
§421e. Municipal and industrial water supply delivery and distribution; allocation of loan funds; loan repayment contract requirements; rate of interest
Unless otherwise provided in the Act authorizing construction of the project, the delivery and distribution of municipal and industrial water supplies shall be deemed to be an authorized project purpose under
(July 4, 1955, ch. 271, §5, as added
§421f. Existing loan contracts; negotiation by Secretary of amendments
The Secretary is hereby authorized to negotiate amendments to existing water service and irrigation distribution system loan contracts to conform said contracts to the provisions of
(July 4, 1955, ch. 271, §6, as added
§421g. Existing rights unaffected
Nothing in
(July 4, 1955, ch. 271, §7, as added
§421h. Procedural and substantive requirements applicable to works financed by loans pursuant to sections 421a to 421h of this title
Works financed by loans made under
(July 4, 1955, ch. 271, §8, as added
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, referred to in text, is act Mar. 10, 1934, ch. 55,
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, referred to in text, is act June 30, 1948, ch. 758, as amended generally by
The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, referred to in text, is
§422. Construction of dams across Yellowstone River
Where, in carrying out projects under the provisions of the national reclamation Act it shall be necessary to construct dams in or across the Yellowstone River in the State of Montana, the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized to construct and use and operate the same in the manner and for the purposes contemplated by said reclamation Act.
(Mar. 3, 1905, ch. 1476,
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The national reclamation Act, referred to in text, probably means act June 17, 1902, ch. 1093,