Title 43 — Public LandsRelease 119-73not60

§451c Cancellation of Charges or Liens; Credits

Title 43 › Chapter 12— RECLAMATION AND IRRIGATION OF LANDS BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT › Subchapter VII— EXCHANGE AND AMENDMENT OF FARM UNITS › § 451c

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

After approving a farm exchange, the Secretary can cancel or release all or part of any debts, charges, or liens that are under his control against the person exchanging or against the farm they gave up. He must consider other claims and the rights of other lien holders and act in a fair way. A person who exchanges may get credit for land development charges paid on the original farm toward the new farm. A resident owner (or a widow, widower, heir, or devisee who paid through a spouse or ancestor) may get credit for purchase money paid on the old farm toward the purchase price of the new farm; that credit can also apply to irrigation construction charges as allowed elsewhere in the law.

Full Legal Text

Title 43, §451c

Public Lands — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)After his approval of any application for an exchange as provided in this subchapter, the Secretary may cancel and release, in whole or in part, any and all charges or liens against the entryman or against the relinquished farm unit which are within his administrative jurisdiction. In administering the provisions of this subsection the Secretary shall take into consideration other charges and liens and the rights and interests of other lien holders as to him may seem just and equitable.

(b)An entryman making an exchange under the provisions of this subchapter may be given credit by the Secretary upon any land development charges made by the United States in connection with the lieu farm unit for any such charges paid to the United States in connection with the original unit. A resident owner making an exchange under the provisions of this subchapter may, to the extent, to which he or, in the case of a widow, widower, heir, or devisee, his spouse or ancestor, as the case may be, has paid to the United States the purchase price of the original farm unit, be given credit by the Secretary upon the purchase price of his lieu farm unit; such credit may also be applied in the manner and circumstances provided in section 451b of this title upon irrigation construction charges for or properly assignable to his lieu farm unit.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

43 U.S.C. § 451c

Title 43 — Public Lands

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60