Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 69.djvu/287

 69

STAT.]

245

PUBLIC LAW 130-JULY 4, 1955

SEC. 2. To assist financially in the construction of the aforesaid local irrigation distribution systems by irrigation districts and other public agencies the Secretary is authorized, on application therefor by such irrigation districts or other public agencies, to make funds available on a loan basis from moneys appropriated for the construction of such distribution systems to any irrigation district or other public agency in an amount equal to the estimated construction cost of such system, contingent upon a finding by the Secretary that the loan can be returned to the United States in accordance with the general repayment provisions of sections 2(d) and 9 (d) of the Reclamation Project Act of August 4, 1939, and upon a showing that such district or agency already holds or can acquire all lands and interests in land (except public and other lands or interests in land owned by the United States which are within the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary and subject to disposition by him) necessary for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the project. The Secretary shall, upon approval of the loan, enter into a repayment contract which includes such provisions as the Secretary shall deem necessary and proper to provide assurance of prompt repayment of the loan. The term "irrigation district or other public agency" shall for the purposes of this Act mean any conservancy district, irrigation district, water users' organization, or other organization, which is organized under State law and which has capacity to enter into contracts with the United States pursuant to the Federal reclamation laws. SEC. 3. The Secretary shall require as a condition to any such loan, that the water users' organization contribute in money or materials, labor, lands, or interests in land, computed at their reasonable value, a portion, not in excess of ten per centum, of the construction cost of such project (including all costs of acquiring lands, and interests in land), and that the plans for the distribution system are in accord with sound engineering practices and will achieve the purposes for which the system was authorized. Organizations contracting for repayment of the loans shall operate and maintain such works in conformity with reasonable contractual requirements determined to be appropriate for the protection of the United States, and when full repayment has been made to the United States, the Secretary shall relinquish all claims under said contracts. Title to distribution works constructed pursuant to this Act shall at all times be in the contracting water users' organizations. I n addition to any other authority the Secretary may have to grant rights-of-way, easements, flowage rights, or other interests in lands for project purposes, the Secretary or the head of any other executive department may sell and convey to any irrigation district or other public agency at fair value lands and rights-of-way owned by the United States (other than lands being administered for national park, national monument, or wildlife purposes) which are reasonablv necessary to the construction, operation, and maintenance of an irrigation distribution system under the provisions of this Act. No benefits or privileges under reclamation laws including repayment provisions shall be denied an irrigation distribution system because such system has been constructed pursuant to this Act. The provisions of this Act shall apply only to irrigation purposes, including incidental domestic and stock water, and loans hereunder shall be interest free. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to repeal or limit the procedural and substantive requirements of section 8 of the Act of June 17, 1902. SEC. 4. Except as herein otherwise provided, the provisions of the Federal reclamation laws, and Acts amendatory thereto, are continued in full force and effect. Approved July 4, 1955.

L o a n s for construction.

5 3 Stat. 1187,, 1195. 43 USC 485a, 485h.

Conditions,

32 Stat. 390. 43 USC 3 7 2, 3 8 3.

43 USC 371.

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