
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 43USC2211]

 
                         TITLE 43--PUBLIC LANDS
 
         CHAPTER 40--RECLAMATION STATES EMERGENCY DROUGHT RELIEF
 
                      SUBCHAPTER I--DROUGHT PROGRAM
 
Sec. 2211. Assistance during drought; water purchases


(a) Construction, management, and conservation

    Consistent with existing contractual arrangements and applicable 
State and applicable Federal law, and without further authorization, the 
Secretary is authorized to undertake construction, management, and 
conservation activities that will minimize, or can be expected to have 
an effect in minimizing, losses and damages resulting from drought 
conditions. Any construction activities undertaken pursuant to the 
authority of this subsection shall be limited to temporary facilities 
designed to minimize losses and damages from drought conditions, except 
that wells drilled to minimize losses and damages from drought 
conditions may be permanent facilities.

(b) Assistance to willing buyers and sellers

    In order to minimize losses and damages resulting from drought 
conditions, the Secretary may provide nonfinancial assistance to willing 
buyers in their purchase of available water supplies from willing 
sellers.

(c) Water purchases by Bureau

    In order to minimize losses and damages resulting from drought 
conditions, the Secretary may purchase water from willing sellers, 
including, but not limited to, water made available by Federal 
Reclamation project contractors through conservation or other means with 
respect to which the seller has reduced the consumption of water. Except 
with respect to water stored, conveyed or delivered to Federal and State 
wildlife habitat, the Secretary shall deliver such water pursuant to 
temporary contracts under section 2212 of this title: Provided, That any 
such contract shall require recovery of any costs, including interest if 
applicable, incurred by the Secretary in acquiring such water.

(d) Water banks

    In order to respond to a drought, the Secretary is authorized to 
participate in water banks established by a State.

(Pub. L. 102-250, title I, Sec. 101, Mar. 5, 1992, 106 Stat. 53.)

                       References in Text

    The Bureau, referred to in heading for subsec. (c), probably means 
the Bureau of Reclamation.


                       Termination of Authorities

    For provisions directing that authorities established under this 
subchapter shall terminate ten years after Mar. 5, 1992, see section 
2214(c) of this title.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 2212 of this title.
