§2406 Miscellaneous

Summary

The Secretary can make contracts, give financial help, sign other agreements, and create rules needed to run the program. The Secretary must work with existing federal and state rural water and wastewater programs so non‑Federal project sponsors get the most efficient help. The law does not allow moving existing water facilities or parts of them between federal and private ownership. It does not change federal reclamation law for projects already tied to it. If a contract or grant serves more than one Indian tribe, every affected tribe must approve it. Planned facilities will be owned by the non‑Federal project entity. If a community has urgent water needs, the Secretary must, as much as possible, speed up appraisal reports under section 2404 and feasibility studies under section 2405. State water laws and interstate compacts remain in force, and projects authorized before December 22, 2006 do not need new feasibility studies or extra requirements.