Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§1962–1 Effect on existing laws

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 19B— - WATER RESOURCES PLANNING › § 1962–1

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Leaves federal and state authority over water planning, development, and control unchanged. It does not override interstate compacts, joint agencies, or Congress’s power to approve and fund projects. Federal officials keep duties, except when needed to prepare or review regional or river‑basin plans or evaluate federal water and related land projects. Other laws and international bodies listed (International Joint Commission; Columbia River Basin Treaty entities, signed January 17, 1961; International Boundary and Water Commission) are unaffected. No entity created may recommend moving water between different river basin areas.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §1962–1

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed—
(a)to expand or diminish either Federal or State jurisdiction, responsibility, or rights in the field of water resources planning, development, or control; nor to displace, supersede, limit or modify any interstate compact or the jurisdiction or responsibility of any legally established joint or common agency of two or more States, or of two or more States and the Federal Government; nor to limit the authority of Congress to authorize and fund proj­ects;
(b)to change or otherwise affect the authority or responsibility of any Federal official in the discharge of the duties of his office except as required to carry out the provisions of this chapter with respect to the preparation and review of comprehensive regional or river basin plans and the formulation and evaluation of Federal water and related land resources projects;
(c)as superseding, modifying, or repealing existing laws applicable to the various Federal agencies which are authorized to develop or participate in the development of water and related land resources or to exercise licensing or regulatory functions in relation thereto, except as required to carry out the provisions of this chapter; nor to affect the jurisdiction, powers, or prerogatives of the International Joint Commission, United States and Canada, the Permanent Engineering Board and the United States Operating Entity or Entities established pursuant to the Columbia River Basin Treaty, signed at Washington, January 17, 1961, or the International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico;
(d)as authorizing any entity established or acting under the provisions hereof to study, plan, or recommend the transfer of waters between areas under the jurisdiction of more than one river basin commission or entity performing the function of a river basin commission.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The International Joint Commission, United States and Canada, referred to in subsec. (c), was organized in 1911 pursuant to article VII of the treaty of January 11, 1909, with Great Britain, 36 Stat. 2448. Provisions relating to such Commission are contained in section 267b and 268 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 1962–1

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73