Title 43Public LandsRelease 119-73

§561 Survey and subdivision of land for town sites; reservation for public purposes

Title 43 › Chapter CHAPTER 12— - RECLAMATION AND IRRIGATION OF LANDS BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER XV— - TOWN SITES, PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS, AND SCHOOL SITES › § 561

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Under the Reclamation Act (June 17, 1902), the Secretary may survey and divide up to 160 acres into town lots with land set aside for public use; he may allow more if in the public interest.

Full Legal Text

Title 43, §561

Public Lands — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Secretary of the Interior may in connection with irrigation projects under the reclamation Act of June seventeenth, nineteen hundred and two, not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres in each case, survey and subdivide the same into town lots, with appropriate reservations for public purposes: Provided, That, whenever, in the opinion of the Secretary of the Interior, it shall be advisable for the public interest, he may dispose of town sites in excess of one hundred and sixty acres.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The reclamation Act of June seventeenth, nineteen hundred and two, referred to in text, is act June 17, 1902, ch. 1093, 32 Stat. 388, popularly known as the Reclamation Act, which is classified generally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 371 of this title and Tables. Codification Introductory provisions are from the first section of act Apr. 16, 1906. The proviso is from part of the proviso of section 4 of act
June 27, 1906. Another part of the proviso of section 4 of act
June 27, 1906, is classified to section 568 of this title. The remainder of section 4 of act
June 27, 1906, was classified to former section 594 of this title.

Amendments

1976—Pub. L. 94–579 struck out provisions authorizing withdrawal from public entry any lands needed for town-site purposes.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1976 Amendment Pub. L. 94–579, title VII, § 704(a), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2792, provided that the amendment made by section 704(a) is effective on and after Oct. 21, 1976.

Savings Provision

Amendment by Pub. L. 94–579 not to be construed as terminating any valid lease, permit, patent, etc., existing on Oct. 21, 1976, see section 701 of Pub. L. 94–579, set out as a note under section 1701 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

43 U.S.C. § 561

Title 43Public Lands

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73