Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 70.djvu/1118

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PUBLIC LAW 996-AUG. 6, 1956 Public Law 996

August 6, 1956 [H. R. 7596]

Waterways, canalized. Disposition.

Appropriations.

Conveyance to local interests.

Preference.

[70

STAT.

CHAPTER 984

AN ACT To provide for the disposal of federally owned property at obsolescent canalize^ waterways and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, (a) whenever the Secretary of the Army, upon recommendation of the Chief of Engineers, determines that any of the following listed Federal project structures and appurtenances, including real property acquired therefor, no longer economically serve the purpose for which they were constructed or acquired, such property may be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of existing law: Upper White River, Arkansas (three locks and d a m s); Big Sandy River, Kentucky (five locks and d a m s); Rough River, Kentucky (one lock and d a m); Osage River, Missouri (one lock and d a m); Muskingum River, Ohio (eleven locks and d a m s); Yamhill River, Oregon (one lock and d a m); Congaree River, South Carolina (one lock and d a m); Little Kanawha River, West Virginia (five locks and d a m s): Provided, That the provisions of this section shall not be effective with respect to the J3ig Sandy River, Kentucky, and the Rough River, Kentucky, pending and until a determination has been made by the Secretary of the Army that the project structures and appurtenances including real property will not be required in connection with any improvements for navigation or other allied purposes under consideration in surveys o l the Big Sandy River and Rough River now authorized. (b) If any of the project structures and appurtenances (including real property) listed in subsection (a) will be rendered inoperable by flooding caused by current construction by the United States, disposal of such structures and appurtenances under this Act shall be deferred so long as local interests defray the costs of maintenance and operation of such project structures and appurtenances (including real property) under arrangements satisfactory to the Secretary of the Army. SEC. 2. There is hereby authorized to be expended from appropriations heretofore or hereafter made for civil functions administered by the Department of the Army, such funds as may be necessary to restore drainage and otherwise prepare the project structures for abandonment with a minimum of adverse effect on adjacent areas: Provided, That in lieu of preparing dam numbered 3 on the Big Sandy River for abandoning such funds may be expended for modification of the lock and restoration for said dam either as a movable or fixed type dam but not to (exceed $50,000, contingent upon local interests furnishing such additional funds as may be necessary and agreeing to accept the property and take over operation and maintenance of the said structure. SEC. 3. The Administrator of General Services is hereby authorized to transfer or to convey by quitclaim deed to local interests defraying the cost (in whole or in part) of maintaining and operating such project structures and appurtenances (including real property). States, political subdivisions thereof, adjacent property owners, or others, all or any part of the right, title, and interest of the United States in and to such property upon such terms and conditions as the Administrator may determine to be in the public interest, after making allowance for any capital investment which local interests maintaining and operating such project structures and appurtenances (including real property) may nave made, regardless of any other provision of law: Provided, however, That preference shall be given first, to local interests who, on the date of enactment of this Act, are defraying the cost (in

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