§2401 Definitions

Summary

Defines the key words used for the rural water supply program and related projects. Construction means putting in new infrastructure and upgrading existing facilities that are connected to a rural water project the Secretary recommends. Federal reclamation law means the Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 388, chapter 1093) and later laws that changed it (43 U.S.C. 371 et seq.). Indian means a person who is a member of an Indian tribe. Indian tribe has the meaning given in section 5304 of title 25. Non‑Federal project entity means a state, regional, or local authority, an Indian tribe or tribal organization, or other qualifying groups like water conservation districts or rural water districts. Operations, maintenance, and replacement costs are the expenses needed to keep a rural water project working safely and efficiently; this includes routine repairs, replacing worn parts, and rehabilitation to restore condition, but does not include construction costs. Program means the rural water supply program under section 2402 of this title. Reclamation States means the states and areas listed in the first section of the Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902 (43 U.S.C. 391). Rural water supply project means a project serving communities of not more than 50,000 people (including tribes and dispersed rural areas) for domestic, industrial, municipal, and residential water; it also covers incidental noncommercial livestock watering, noncommercial irrigation of small gardens less than 1 acre, and improvements to rural water infrastructure (pumps, pipes, wells, storage, treatment including desalination, conservation and recycling equipment, and related parts), but not commercial irrigation or major impoundment structures. Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior. Tribal organization means the tribe’s recognized governing body or a legally established Indian organization controlled, approved, or democratically chosen by that community.