Title 43 — Public LandsRelease 119-73

§451c Cancellation of charges or liens; credits

Title 43 › Chapter CHAPTER 12— - RECLAMATION AND IRRIGATION OF LANDS BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER VII— - EXCHANGE AND AMENDMENT OF FARM UNITS › § 451c

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

After approving a land exchange, the Secretary may remove, in whole or in part, any debts or claims against the person doing the exchange or the farm they gave up that are under his control. He must look at other debts and the rights of other claim holders and act in a fair way. The Secretary may give credit for land-development charges on the new farm for amounts already paid on the old farm. A resident owner—or a widow, widower, heir, or devisee through a spouse or ancestor—may get credit toward the new farm’s purchase price. That credit may also be used, under section 451b, for irrigation construction charges for the new farm.

Full Legal Text

Title 43, §451c

Public Lands — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)After his approval of any application for an exchange as provided in this subchapter, the Secretary may cancel and release, in whole or in part, any and all charges or liens against the entryman or against the relinquished farm unit which are within his administrative jurisdiction. In administering the provisions of this subsection the Secretary shall take into consideration other charges and liens and the rights and interests of other lien holders as to him may seem just and equitable.

(b)An entryman making an exchange under the provisions of this subchapter may be given credit by the Secretary upon any land development charges made by the United States in connection with the lieu farm unit for any such charges paid to the United States in connection with the original unit. A resident owner making an exchange under the provisions of this subchapter may, to the extent, to which he or, in the case of a widow, widower, heir, or devisee, his spouse or ancestor, as the case may be, has paid to the United States the purchase price of the original farm unit, be given credit by the Secretary upon the purchase price of his lieu farm unit; such credit may also be applied in the manner and circumstances provided in section 451b of this title upon irrigation construction charges for or properly assignable to his lieu farm unit.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

43 U.S.C. § 451c

Title 43 — Public Lands

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73