Title 43, Public LandsRelease 119-102
§561 Survey and Subdivision of Land for Town Sites; Reservation for Public Purposes
Title 43 › CHAPTER 12 — RECLAMATION AND IRRIGATION OF LANDS BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT › SUBCHAPTER XV — TOWN SITES, PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS, AND SCHOOL SITES › § 561
Summary
Under the Reclamation Act (June 17, 1902) the Secretary may survey and divide up to 160 acres as town lots, reserve public land, and dispose of larger sites in the public interest.
Full Legal Text
Title 43, §561
Public Lands, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The Secretary of the Interior may in connection with irrigation projects under the reclamation Act of June seventeenth, nineteen hundred and two, not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres in each case, survey and subdivide the same into town lots, with appropriate reservations for public purposes: Provided, That, whenever, in the opinion of the Secretary of the Interior, it shall be advisable for the public interest, he may dispose of town sites in excess of one hundred and sixty acres.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The reclamation Act of June seventeenth, nineteen hundred and two, referred to in text, is act June 17, 1902, ch. 1093, 32 Stat. 388, popularly known as the Reclamation Act, which 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. Codification Introductory provisions are from the first section of act Apr. 16, 1906. The proviso is from part of the proviso of section 4 of act
June 27, 1906. Another part of the proviso of section 4 of act
June 27, 1906, is classified to section 568 of this title. The remainder of section 4 of act
June 27, 1906, was classified to former section 594 of this title.
Amendments
1976—Pub. L. 94–579 struck out provisions authorizing withdrawal from public entry any lands needed for town-site purposes.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1976 Amendment Pub. L. 94–579, title VII, § 704(a), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2792, provided that the amendment made by section 704(a) is effective on and after Oct. 21, 1976.
Savings Provision
Amendment by Pub. L. 94–579 not to be construed as terminating any valid lease, permit, patent, etc., existing on Oct. 21, 1976, see section 701 of Pub. L. 94–579, set out as a note under section 1701 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
43 U.S.C. § 561
Title 43, Public Lands
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102