§499a. Transfer of title to movable property; use of appropriations

Whenever an irrigation district, municipality, or water users' organization assumes operation and maintenance of works constructed to furnish or distribute a water supply pursuant to a contract entered into with the United States in accordance with the Federal reclamation laws (Act of June 17, 1902, 32 Stat. 388, and Acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto), the Secretary of the Interior may transfer to said district, municipality, or organization title to movable property which has been purchased with funds advanced by the district, municipality, or organization or which, in the case of property purchased with appropriated funds, is necessary to the operation and maintenance of such works and the value of which is to be repaid under a contract with the district, municipality, or organization. In order to encourage the assumption by irrigation districts, municipalities, and water users' organizations of the operation and maintenance of works constructed to furnish or distribute a water supply, the Secretary is authorized to use appropriated funds available for the project involved to acquire movable property for transfer under the terms and conditions hereinbefore provided, at the time operation and maintenance is assumed.

(July 29, 1954, ch. 616, 68 Stat. 580 ; Aug. 2, 1956, ch. 884, 70 Stat. 940 ; Pub. L. 89–48, §1, June 24, 1965, 79 Stat. 172 .)

References in Text

Act of June 17, 1902, referred to in text, is popularly known as the Reclamation Act, which is classified generally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 371 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

1965-Pub. L. 89–48 extended provisions to municipalities and broadened their scope, previously limited to operation and maintenance of irrigation works, to cover operation and maintenance of works constructed to furnish or distribute a water supply.

1956-Act Aug. 2, 1956, authorized Secretary to use appropriated funds for a project to acquire movable property for transfer to irrigation districts and other water users' organizations to encourage them to take over operation and maintenance of reclamation projects as soon as they are completed.

Short Title

This section is popularly known as the "Title to Movable Property Act."