Title 43 › Chapter CHAPTER 12— - RECLAMATION AND IRRIGATION OF LANDS BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER X— - PAYMENT OF CONSTRUCTION CHARGES › § 485b
The Secretary can change repayment contracts or other obligations that existed on August 4, 1939 to pay construction charges and that set payments over a fixed time. If the water users or their authorized representatives ask for a change, and the Secretary finds it practical and consistent with the program’s purpose, the Secretary may spread the construction charges not yet due (on the amendment date or a later agreed date) into fixed yearly payments over a longer period set by the Secretary. That longer period cannot be more than 40 years, excluding 1931 and later years that were postponed by Acts of Congress, and is counted from the date the first installment originally became due. Also, the new remaining term cannot be longer than twice the number of years left under the original contract on the amendment date.
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Public Lands — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
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43 U.S.C. § 485b
Title 43 — Public Lands
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73