16 U.S.C. § 669f: Payment of funds to States…

Summary

The Secretary of the Interior must pay the money set aside for a project to the proper state authority after he finds the project finished or, for wildlife research, being carried out according to the approved plans. He may make partial payments as work goes on, but the total paid can never exceed the United States’ pro rata share. If a State has an approved comprehensive fish and wildlife plan under option (1) of subsection (a) of section 669e, the Secretary may advance funds to cover the agreed U.S. share under rules he sets. All construction and labor in each State must follow that State’s laws and be directly supervised by the State fish and game department. The Secretary can inspect and must approve the work under the chapter’s rules. The Secretary and the State fish and game department together decide when and how much to pay. Payments are made by the Secretary of the Treasury on warrants signed by the Secretary of the Interior to the officials or banks the State fish and game department names and that are allowed by State law to receive public funds.

Title 16, §669f

Conservation, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)When the Secretary of the Interior shall find that any project approved by him has been completed or, if involving research relating to wildlife, is being conducted, in compliance with said plans and specifications, he shall cause to be paid to the proper authority of said State the amount set aside for said project. The Secretary of the Interior may, in his discretion, from time to time, make payments on said project as the same progresses; but these payments, including previous payments, if any, shall not be more than the United States pro rata share of the project in conformity with said plans and specifications. If a State has elected to avail itself of the benefits of this chapter by preparing a comprehensive fish and wildlife plan as provided for under option (1) of subsection (a) of section 669e of this title, and this plan has been approved by the Secretary of the Interior, then the Secretary may, in his discretion, and under such rules and regulations as he may prescribe, advance funds to the State for financing the United States pro rata share agreed upon between the State fish and game department and the Secretary.

(b)Any construction work and labor in each State shall be performed in accordance with its laws and under the direct supervision of the State fish and game department, subject to the inspection and approval of the Secretary of the Interior and in accordance with rules and regulations made pursuant to this chapter. The Secretary of the Interior and the State fish and game department of each State may jointly determine at what times and in what amounts payments shall be made under this chapter. Such payments shall be made by the Secretary of the Treasury, on warrants drawn by the Secretary of the Interior against the said fund to such official or officials, or depository, as may be designated by the State fish and game department and authorized under the laws of the State to receive public funds of the State.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1970—Pub. L. 91–503 divided existing provisions into subsecs. (a) and (b), permitted advance payments to the States for work which has been adequately defined in a comprehensive fish and wildlife plan, and struck out reference to progress payments in provision covering joint determination of time and amounts of payments.

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

Reorg. Plan No. II of 1939, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, transferred functions of Secretary of Agriculture relating to conservation of wildlife, game, and migratory birds to Secretary of the Interior.

§669f Payment of Funds to States; Laws Governing Construction and Labor