Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 50 Part 1.djvu/894

 75'r CONGRESS, 1ST SESSION-CHS. 869, 870-AUGUST 28, 1937 869 Whereas t he General Ass embly of the State of Ohio by act approv ed the 18th day of May 1937 ratified and approved said compact or agreement : Now, therefore Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the United States o f America in Congress assembled, That the aforesaid compact or agreement be, and the same is hereby, approved pursuant to the provisions of a joint resolution of Congress approved the 8th day of June 1936. Approved, August 28, 1937. Compact approved. 49 Stat. 1490. 33U.S.C.,Supp. II, ° 367a. [CHAPTER 870] AN ACT An~tst28, 1937 To promote conservation in the arid and semiarid areas of the United States by 	[8 .28631 aiding in the development of facilities for water storage and utilization, and for [Public, No. 399] other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representativ es of the United States o f America in Congress assembled, That it is hereby recognized that the wastage and inadequate utilization of water resources on farm, grazing, and forest lands in the arid and semiarid areas of the United States resulting from inadequate facilities for water storage and utilization contribute to the destruction of natural resources, injuries to public health and public lands, dro ughts periodic floods, crop failures, decline in standards of living, and excessive dependence upon public relief, and thereby menace the national welfare. It is therefore hereby declared to be the policy of Congress to assist in providing facilities for water storage and utiliza- tion in the arid and semiarid areas of the United States. SEC. 2. In order to effectuate this policy and promote proper land use in the said areas, the Secretary of Agriculture is hereby author- ized, fro m time to time - (1) To formulate and keep current a program of projects for the construction and maintenance in the said areas of ponds, reservoirs, wells, check-dams, p umping install ations, and other facilities for water storage or utilization, together with appurtenances to such fac ilit ies. The facilities to be included within such program shall be located where they will promote the proper utilization of lands and no such facilities shall be located where they will encourage the cultivation of lands which are submarginal and which should be devo ted to other uses in the pu blic i nterest ; (2) To construct and to sell or lease, with or without aa money consideration, under such terms and conditions as will advance the purposes of this Act, the facilities mentioned in section 2 (1) and included within the program there provided for, including the lands upon which such facilities are located if they have been acquired or reserved for the purposes of this Act ; (3) To cooperate or enter into agreements with, or to furnish fi nanc ial or o ther aid to, any age ncy, gov ernm enta l or oth erwi se, or any person, subject to such conditions as he may deem necessary for the purposes of this Act ; and (4) To obtain options upon and to acquire lands, or rights or interests therein, or rights to the use of water, by purchase, lease, gift, exchange, condemnation, or otherwise, only when necessary for the purposes of this Act. SEC. 3. The facilities included in the program provided for in section 2 (1) may be located- (a) On lands owned or controlled by the United States or any of its agencies, with the cooperation of the agency having jurisdiction thereof ; and Conservation in arid and semiarid areas. Policy declared. Powers of Secretary of Agr icultur e. Program of projects for water-storage fa- cilities. Location of facilities. Sale or lease. Cooperation, etc ., with agencies, etc. Acquisition of lan d, inte res ts, etc. Location of facilities. Feder al, etc ., lan ds.