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Title 43, Public LandsRelease 119-102

§509 Authorization of Appropriations; Report to Congress

Title 43 › CHAPTER 12 — RECLAMATION AND IRRIGATION OF LANDS BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT › SUBCHAPTER XI–A — RECLAMATION SAFETY OF DAMS › § 509

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Money can be provided for fiscal year 1979 and later years as needed. In addition, starting Oct. 1, 1983, up to $650,000,000 (Oct. 1, 1983 price levels); starting Oct. 1, 2000, up to $95,000,000 (Oct. 1, 2000 price levels); starting Oct. 1, 2001, up to $32,000,000 (Oct. 1, 2001 price levels); starting Oct. 1, 2003, up to $540,000,000 (Oct. 1, 2003 price levels); and starting Oct. 1, 2015, up to $1,100,000,000 (Oct. 1, 2003 price levels) may be added. These amounts can be increased or decreased for normal changes in construction costs shown by engineering cost indexes. The money can remain available until it is spent if the appropriations law allows. No more than $20,000,000 (Oct. 1, 2003 price levels), adjusted for normal cost changes, may be obligated for actual construction to modify an existing dam until 30 days after the Secretary of the Interior sends a report to the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The Secretary’s report must say that safety modifications are needed and include a technical report with the need, the fix required, other options considered, the estimated cost, and any environmental effects. For modification spending between $1,800,000 and $20,000,000 (Oct. 1, 2015 price levels), the Secretary must give written notice to those two committees at least 30 days before the money is spent, summarizing the project, its cost, and any alternatives.

Full Legal Text

Title 43, §509

Public Lands, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

There are hereby authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 1979 and ensuing fiscal years such sums as may be necessary and, effective October 1, 1983, not to exceed an additional $650,000,000 (October 1, 1983, price levels), and, effective October 1, 2000, not to exceed an additional $95,000,000 (October 1, 2000, price levels), and, effective October 1, 2001, not to exceed an additional $32,000,000 (October 1, 2001, price levels), and, effective October 1, 2003, not to exceed an additional $540,000,000 (October 1, 2003, price levels), and effective October 1, 2015, not to exceed an additional $1,100,000,000 (October 1, 2003, price levels), plus or minus such amounts, if any, as may be justified by reason of ordinary fluctuations in construction costs as indicated by engineering cost indexes applicable to the types of construction involved herein, to carry out the provisions of this subchapter to remain available until expended if so provided by the appropriations Act: Provided, That no funds exceeding $20,000,000 (October 1, 2003, price levels), as adjusted to reflect any ordinary fluctuations in construction costs indicated by applicable engineering cost indexes, shall be obligated for carrying out actual construction to modify an existing dam under authority of this subchapter prior to 30 calendar days from the date that the Secretary has transmitted a report on such existing dam to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate. The report required to be submitted by this section will consist of a finding by the Secretary of the Interior to the effect that modifications are required to be made to insure the safety of an existing dam. Such finding shall be accompanied by a technical report containing information on the need for structural modification, the corrective action deemed to be required, alternative solutions to structural modification that were considered, the estimated cost of needed modifications, and environmental impacts if any resulting from the implementation of the recommended plan of modification. For modification expenditures between $1,800,000 and $20,000,000 (October 1, 2015, price levels), the Secretary of the Interior shall, at least 30 days before the date on which the funds are expended, submit written notice of the expenditures to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate that provides a summary of the project, the cost of the project, and any alternatives that were considered.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2015—Pub. L. 114–113, § 204(b), in proviso, substituted “$20,000,000” for “$1,250,000” and “Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate” for “Congress” and inserted at end “For modification expenditures between $1,800,000 and $20,000,000 (
October 1, 2015, price levels), the Secretary of the Interior shall, at least 30 days before the date on which the funds are expended, submit written notice of the expenditures to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate that provides a summary of the project, the cost of the project, and any alternatives that were considered.” Pub. L. 114–113, § 204(a), which directed insertion of “and effective
October 1, 2015, not to exceed an additional $1,100,000,000 (
October 1, 2003, price levels),” after “(
October 1, 2003, price levels),” in first sentence, was executed by making the insertion after “(
October 1, 2003, price levels),” first time appearing to reflect the probable intent of Congress. 2004—Pub. L. 108–439 inserted “and, effective
October 1, 2003, not to exceed an additional $540,000,000 (
October 1, 2003, price levels),” after “(
October 1, 2001, price levels),” and substituted “$1,250,000 (
October 1, 2003, price levels), as adjusted to reflect any ordinary fluctuations in

Construction

costs indicated by applicable engineering cost indexes,” for “$750,000”. 2002—Pub. L. 107–117 inserted “and, effective
October 1, 2001, not to exceed an additional $32,000,000 (
October 1, 2001, price levels),” after “(
October 1, 2000, price levels),”. 2000—Pub. L. 106–377 inserted “and, effective
October 1, 2000, not to exceed an additional $95,000,000 (
October 1, 2000, price levels),” after “(
October 1, 1983, price levels),” and substituted “30 calendar days” for “sixty days (which sixty days shall not include days on which either the House of Representatives or the Senate is not in session because of an adjournment of more than three calendar days to a day certain)”. 1984—Pub. L. 98–404 substituted “and, effective
October 1, 1983, not to exceed an additional $650,000,000 (
October 1, 1983, price levels), plus or minus such amounts, if any, as may be justified by reason of ordinary fluctuations in

Construction

costs as indicated by engineering cost indexes applicable to the types of

Construction

involved herein, to carry out the provisions of this subchapter to remain available until expended if so provided by the appropriations Act: Provided, That no funds exceeding $750,000” for “, but not to exceed $100,000,000, to carry out the provisions of this subchapter of this title to remain available until expended if so provided by the appropriations Act: Provided, That no funds”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

43 U.S.C. § 509

Title 43, Public Lands

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102