Title 16ConservationRelease 119-73

§831q Eminent domain; contracts for relocation of railroads, highways, industrial plants, etc.

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 12A— - TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY › § 831q

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Gives the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Interior, or the Board the power to use the government’s right to take land for public use (eminent domain) to get the land, easements, rights of way, and reservoir flowage rights needed for Cove Creek Dam. They may make contracts with states, counties, cities, railroads, utilities, and private companies to move tracks, roads, bridges, mills, ferries, power plants, and other things needed to build the project. After the Cove Creek Dam, the transmission line, and the power house are finished, the Corporation will take control and operate them as part of the Tennessee Valley project to help control floods and support navigation on the Tennessee River.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §831q

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In order to enable and empower the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Interior, or the Board to carry out the authority conferred in this chapter, in the most economical and efficient manner, he or it is authorized and empowered in the exercise of the powers of national defense in aid of navigation, and in the control of the flood waters of the Tennessee and Mississippi Rivers, constituting channels of interstate commerce, to exercise the right of eminent domain for all purposes of this chapter, and to condemn all lands, easements, rights of way, and other area necessary in order to obtain a site for said Cove Creek Dam, and the flowage rights for the reservoir of water above said dam, and to negotiate and conclude contracts with States, counties, municipalities, and all State agencies and with railroads, railroad corporations, common carriers, and all public utility commissions and any other person, firm, or corporation, for the relocation of railroad tracks, highways, highway bridges, mills, ferries, electric-light plants, and any and all other properties, enterprises, and projects whose removal may be necessary in order to carry out the provisions of this chapter. When said Cove Creek Dam, transmission line, and power house shall have been completed, the possession, use, and control thereof shall be intrusted to the Corporation for use and operation in connection with the general Tennessee Valley project, and to promote flood control and navigation in the Tennessee River.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2004—Pub. L. 108–447 substituted “Board” for “board” in first sentence.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Department of War designated Department of the Army and title of Secretary of War changed to Secretary of the Army by section 205(a) of act
July 26, 1947, ch. 343, title II, 61 Stat. 501. section 205(a) of act
July 26, 1947, was repealed by section 53 of act Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 641. section 1 of act Aug. 10, 1956, enacted “Title 10, Armed Forces” which in sections 3010 to 3013 continued military Department of the Army under administrative supervision of Secretary of the Army.

Effective Date

of 2004 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 108–447 effective on the later of the date on which at least three persons nominated under section 604(a) of Pub. L. 108–447 take office or May 18, 2005, see section 604(b) of Pub. L. 108–447, set out in an Appointments;

Effective Date

Transition note under section 831a of this title. Completion of DamThe site for the Cove Creek Dam has been obtained and the dam completed.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 831q

Title 16Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73