Title 43 › CHAPTER 12 — RECLAMATION AND IRRIGATION OF LANDS BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT › SUBCHAPTER I–A — RECLAMATION REFORM › § 390bb
The subchapter defines key words used in its rules. Contract means a written repayment or water-service agreement between the United States and a district that covers construction charges and normal operation, maintenance, and replacement costs under Federal reclamation law. District means a person or legal entity set up under State law that has or can have a contract with the Secretary for irrigation water. Full cost means an annual charge set by the Secretary to recover construction costs for irrigation facilities, amortized over the required periods, with interest accruing from October 12, 1982 for costs outstanding then or from the date incurred for later costs; operation, maintenance, and replacement charges required under Federal reclamation law must be collected in addition. For expenditures on or before October 12, 1982, the Treasury Secretary sets the interest rate using the weighted average yield of marketable Treasury issues sold in that fiscal year, but not less than 7½% per year. For expenditures after October 12, 1982, the Treasury Secretary sets the interest rate as the arithmetic average of (i) the rate at the start of the fiscal year based on the computed average interest rate on Treasury marketable obligations not due or callable for 15 years from issuance, and (ii) the weighted average yield on marketable Treasury issues sold in the prior fiscal year. Individual means a natural person, including spouse and dependents within the meaning of 26 U.S.C. 152. Irrigation water means water made available for farming from reclamation project facilities under a contract with the Secretary. Landholding means the total irrigable acres owned or operated (including leases) and served under a contract; the Secretary must add any indirect holdings in proportion to the benefit. Limited recipient means a legal entity that benefits more than 25 natural persons. Project means any reclamation or irrigation project authorized or built under Federal reclamation law or by the Bureau of Reclamation, or one tied to a repayment or water-service contract. Qualified recipient means a U.S. citizen or resident alien, or a legal entity that benefits 25 or fewer natural persons. Recordable contract means a written, recordable agreement between the Secretary and a landowner for sale or disposition of lands held in excess of Federal ownership limits under reclamation law. Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.
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Public Lands, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
43 U.S.C. § 390bb
Title 43, Public Lands
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102