Title 43 — Public LandsRelease 119-73not60

§499b Transfer to Municipal Corporations or Other Organizations of Care, Operation, and Maintenance of Works Supplying Water for Municipal, Domestic, or Industrial Use

Title 43 › Chapter 12— RECLAMATION AND IRRIGATION OF LANDS BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT › Subchapter XI— MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF WORKS GENERALLY › § 499b

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

When a city or other group that gets water for municipal, home, or industrial use under a U.S. reclamation contract asks for it, the Secretary of the Interior can transfer to that group (or someone it names) the job of running and taking care of the facilities that supply the water. The Secretary can transfer all or just part of the works if he thinks it makes sense, and he can set the terms and conditions for the transfer.

Full Legal Text

Title 43, §499b

Public Lands — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Whenever a municipal corporation or other organization to which water for municipal, domestic, or industrial use is furnished or distributed under a contract entered into with the United States pursuant to the Federal reclamation laws so requests, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to transfer to it or its nominee the care, operation, and maintenance of the works by which such water supply is made available or such part of those works as, in his judgment, is appropriate in the circumstances, subject to such terms and conditions as he may prescribe.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Federal reclamation laws, referred to in text, probably means the Act of

June 17, 1902, ch. 1093, 32 Stat. 388, popularly known as the Reclamation Act, and Acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto. The Act of

June 17, 1902, is classified generally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 371 of this title and Tables.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

43 U.S.C. § 499b

Title 43 — Public Lands

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60