Title 43 — Public LandsRelease 119-73not60

§469 Increase in Construction Charges

Title 43 › Chapter 12— RECLAMATION AND IRRIGATION OF LANDS BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT › Subchapter IX— CONSTRUCTION CHARGES › § 469

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

After August 13, 1914, a construction charge that was announced publicly can only be raised if the Secretary of the Interior and a majority of the affected water-right applicants and entrymen agree. If they agree, the higher charge applies to everyone in the affected area. The extra cost is added to the construction charge and spread over the remaining unpaid installments, or paid as extra yearly installments, each at least as large as the biggest prior installment. Those yearly payments are due on December 1 of each year after the year the original final installment is due. All increases follow the same rules, penalties, and legal actions in sections 478, 480, and 481.

Full Legal Text

Title 43, §469

Public Lands — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

No increase in the construction charges shall, after August 13, 1914, be made, after the same have been fixed by public notice, except by agreement between the Secretary of the Interior and a majority of the water-right applicants and entrymen to be affected by such increase, whereupon all water-right applicants and entrymen in the area proposed to be affected by the increased charge shall become subject thereto. Such increased charge shall be added to the construction charge and payment thereof distributed over the remaining unpaid installments of construction charges: Provided, That the Secretary of the Interior, in his discretion, may agree that such increased construction charge shall be paid in additional annual installments, each of which shall be at least equal to the amount of the largest installment as fixed for the project by the public notice theretofore issued. And such additional installments of the increased construction charge, as so agreed upon shall become due and payable on December 1 of each year subsequent to the year when the final installment of the construction charge under such public notice is due and payable: Provided further, That all such increased construction charges shall be subject to the same conditions, penalties, and suit or action as provided in section 478, 480, and 481 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

43 U.S.C. § 469

Title 43 — Public Lands

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60