Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 106 Part 1.djvu/85

 PUBLIC LAW 102-250—MAR. 5, 1992 106 STAT. 53 Public Law 102-250 102d Congress An Act To provide emergency drought relief to the Reclamation States, and for other ptirposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 'Reclamation States Emergencv SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the Drought Relief Act of 1991". SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Act: (1) The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior. (2) The term "Federal Reclamation laws" mesins the Act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 388) and Acts supplementary thereto and amendatory thereof. (3) The term "Federal Reclamation project" means any project constructed or funded under Federal Reclamation law. Such term includes projects having approved loans under the Small Reclamation Projects Act of 1956 (70 Stat. 1044). TITLE I—DROUGHT PROGRAM SEC. 101. ASSISTANCE DURING DROUGHT; WATER PURCHASES. (a) CONSTRUCTION, MANAGEMENT, AND CONSERVATION.— Consistent with existing contractual arrangements and applicable State and applicable Federal law, and without further authorization, the Secretary is authorized to undertake construction, management, and conservation activities that will minimize, or can be expected to have an effect in minimizing, losses and damages resulting from drought conditions. Any construction activities undertaken pursuant to the authority oi this subsection shall be limited to temporary facilities designed to minimize losses and damages from drought conditions, except that weUs drilled to minimize losses and damages from drought conditions may be permEment facilities. (b) ASSISTANCE TO WILLING BUYERS AND SELLERS. —In order to minimize losses and damages resulting from drought conditions, the Secretary may provide nonfin£incial assistance to willing buyers in their p\irchase of available water supplies from willing sellers. (c) WATER PURCHASES BY BUREAU. — In order to minimize losses and damages resulting from drought conditions, the Secretary may purchase water from willing sellers, including, but not limited to, water made available by Federal Reclamation project contractors through conservation or other means with respect to which the seller has reduced the consumption of water. Except with respect to water stored, conveyed or delivered to Federal and State wildlife habitat, the Secretary sheill deliver such water pursuant to temporary contracts \mder section 102: Provided, That any such con- Mar. 5, 1992 [H.R. 355] Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991. Conservation. Disaster assistance. 43 USC 2201 note. 43 USC 2201. 43 USC 2211.

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