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Title 43 — Public LandsRelease 119-73not60

§485b Amendment of Existing Repayment Contracts

Title 43 › Chapter 12— RECLAMATION AND IRRIGATION OF LANDS BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT › Subchapter X— PAYMENT OF CONSTRUCTION CHARGES › § 485b

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Allows the Secretary to change repayment agreements that existed on August 4, 1939, if the water users ask and the Secretary decides it is practical and fits the program. The change can take the unpaid construction charges (as of the amendment date or a later agreed date) and spread them into fixed yearly payments over a longer set period chosen by the Secretary. The longer period cannot be more than 40 years, not counting 1931 and later years that were put on hold by Acts of Congress. Also, the remaining time after the change cannot be more than twice the years that were left on the original repayment schedule at the time of the amendment.

Full Legal Text

Title 43, §485b

Public Lands — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In connection with any repayment contract or other form of obligation, existing on August 4, 1939, to pay construction charges, providing for repayment on the basis of a definite period, the Secretary is authorized, upon request by the water users involved or their duly authorized representatives for amendment under this section of said contract or other form of obligation, and if in the Secretary’s judgement such amendment is both practicable and in keeping with the general purpose of this subchapter, to amend said contract or other form of obligation so as to provide that the construction charges remaining unaccrued on the date of the amendment, or any later date agreed upon, shall be spread in definite annual installments on the basis of a longer definite period fixed in each case by the Secretary: Provided, That for any construction charges said longer period shall not exceed forty years, exclusive of 1931 and subsequent years to the extent of moratoria or deferments of construction charges due and payable for such years effected pursuant to Acts of Congress, from the date when the first installment of said construction charges become due and payable under the original obligation to pay said construction charges and in no event shall the unexpired part of said longer period exceed double the number of remaining years, as of the date of the amendment made pursuant to this subchapter, in which installments of said construction charges would become due and payable under said existing repayment contract or other form of obligation to pay construction charges.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Extension of Date of Modification of Repayment ContractsAct Mar. 6, 1952, ch. 94, 66 Stat. 16, as amended by acts Aug. 31, 1954, ch. 1168, 68 Stat. 1044; Pub. L. 85–156, Aug. 21, 1957, 71 Stat. 390; Pub. L. 85–611, § 3, Aug. 8, 1958, 72 Stat. 543; Pub. L. 86–308, § 2, Sept. 21, 1959, 73 Stat. 585, provided that the authority vested in the Secretary of the Interior by section 485b and 485f of this title should be extended through Dec. 31, 1960.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

43 U.S.C. § 485b

Title 43 — Public Lands

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60