Title 43 — Public LandsRelease 119-73not60

§509a Project Beneficiaries

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

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

When a Bureau of Reclamation facility is picked for a change, the Secretary must send project beneficiaries a written notice. The notice must explain why the change is needed, how the change will be identified and done, and summarize the related administrative and legal rules. The Secretary must let beneficiaries consult on planning, design, and construction, and must set consultation schedules with them. Before filing the reports under section 509, the Secretary must consider any written alternative a consulting beneficiary submits on time, give a timely written reply that says what will be done, and include that reply in the section 509 reports. The Secretary may waive any of these steps if doing them would harm dam safety or security.

Full Legal Text

Title 43, §509a

Public Lands — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)On identifying a Bureau of Reclamation facility for modification, the Secretary shall provide to the project beneficiaries written notice—

(1)describing the need for the modification and the process for identifying and implementing the modification; and

(2)summarizing the administrative and legal requirements relating to the modification.

(b)The Secretary shall—

(1)provide project beneficiaries an opportunity to consult with the Bureau of Reclamation on the planning, design, and construction of the proposed modification; and

(2)in consultation with project beneficiaries, develop and provide timeframes for the consultation described in paragraph (1).

(c)(1)Prior to submitting the reports required under section 509 of this title, the Secretary shall consider any alternative submitted in writing, in accordance with the timeframes established under subsection (b), by a project beneficiary that has elected to consult with the Bureau of Reclamation on a modification.

(2)The Secretary shall provide to the project beneficiary a timely written response describing proposed actions, if any, to address the recommendation.

(3)The response of the Secretary shall be included in the reports required by section 509 of this title.

(d)The Secretary may waive 1 or more of the requirements of subsections (a), (b), and (c), if the Secretary determines that implementation of the requirement could have an adverse impact on dam safety or security.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

43 U.S.C. § 509a

Title 43 — Public Lands

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60