Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 77.djvu/281

 77 STAT. ]

PUBLIC LAW 88-140-OCT. 16, 1963

249

Public Law 88-140 AN ACT

October 16, 1963

Defining the interest of local public agencies in water reservoirs constructed by the Government which have been financed partially by such agencies.

[H. R. 1696]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, cognizant that water reservoirs. many States and local interests have in the past contributed to the ^ ^^'^^'^^t of locai ^^

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agencies, defini-

Crovernment, or have contracted to pay to the (jovernment over a tion. specified period of years, money equivalent to the cost of providing for them water storage space at Government-owned dams and reservoirs, constructed by the Corps of Engineers of the United States Army, and that such practices will continue, and, that no law defines the duration of their interest in such storage space, and realizing that such States and local interests assume the obligation of paying substantially their portion of the cost of providing such facilities, their right to use may be continued during the existence of the facility as hereinafter provided. SEC. 2. That this Act be applicable to all dams and reservoirs heretofore or hereafter constructed by the United States Government (acting through the Corps of Engineers of the United States Army) wherein either a part of the construction cost thereof shall have been contributed or may be contributed by States or local interests (hereinafter called "local interests") or local interests have acquired or may acquire rights to utilize certain storage space thereof by making payments during the period of such use as specified in the agreement with the Government and wherein the amount of money paid, exclusive of interest, is equivalent to the cost of providing that part of such dam and reservoir which is allocated to such use, whether such share of cost shall have been determined by the "incremental cost" method or by the "separable costs-remaining benefits" method or by any other method. Included among the dams and reservoirs affected by this Act are those constructed by the Corps of Engineers of the Department of the Army, but nothing in this Act shall be construed to affect or modify section 8 of the Flood Control Act of 1944. ss Stat.agi. SEC. 3. The right thus acquired by any such local interest is hereby "^^ "^*^ 3^°declared to be available to the local interest so long as the space designated for that purpose may be physically available, taking into account such equitable reallocation of reservoir storage capacities among the purposes served by the project as may be necessary due to sedimentation, and not limited to the term of years which may be prescribed in any lease agreement or other agreement with the Government, but the enjoyment of such right will remain subject to performance of its obligations prescribed in such lease agreement or agreement executed in reference thereto. Such obligations will include continued payment of annual operation and maintenance costs allocated to water supply. I n addition, local interests shall bear the costs allocated to the water supply of any necessary reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of project features which may be required to continue satisfactory operation of the project. Any affected local interest may utilize such facility so long as it is operated b ^ the Government. I n the event that the Government concludes that it can no longer usefully and economically maintain and operate such facility, the responsible department or agency of the Government is authorized to negotiate a contract

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