§701m Insufficient Congressional Authorization; Preparations for and Modification of Project

Summary

The Chief of Engineers may plan and spend money to get any project Congress has approved or will approve ready, even when the project's total authorization is not enough to finish the full plans. Preparations can include buying land and rights, moving or adjusting roads, rail lines, and utilities, removing towns, cemeteries, and homes from reservoir sites, and building foundations. He may also choose to make an authorized dam or other work smaller so it can be completed with the available authorization. The smaller structure must be placed so it can be enlarged later to allow full use of the site for flood control, navigation, reclamation, hydroelectric power, and pollution cleanup.