§ 389. Investigation and adjustment of irrigation charges on lands within projects on Indian reservations

The Secretary of the Interior is authorized and directed to cause an investigation to be made to determine whether the owners of non-Indian lands under Indian irrigation projects and under projects where the United States has purchased water rights for Indians are unable to pay irrigation charges, including construction, maintenance, and operating charges, because of inability to operate such lands profitably by reason of lack of fertility of the soil, inadequacy of water supply, defects of irrigation works, or for any other causes. Where the Secretary finds that said landowners are unable to make payment due to the existence of such causes, he may adjust, defer, or cancel such charges, in whole or in part, as the facts and conditions warrant. In adjusting or deferring any such charges the Secretary may enter into contracts with said land owners for the payment of past due charges, but such contracts shall not extend the payment of such charges over a period in excess of ten years.

(June 22, 1936, ch. 692, § 1, 49 Stat. 1803.)

Miscellaneous

Flathead Indian Irrigation Project

Act July 26, 1947, ch. 340, 61 Stat. 494, provided that notwithstanding any provisions of sections 389 to 389e of this title, the Secretary of the Interior could defer the collection of irrigation construction charges on the Flathead Indian Irrigation Project until January 1, 1949.

Fort Peck Indian Irrigation Project

In accordance with sections 389 to 389e of this title, the order of the Secretary of the Interior canceling delinquent irrigation operation and maintenance charges of $461.40 and accrued interest thereon for certain lands adjacent to but outside the Fort Peck Indian irrigation project, $206,902.21 against lands within the Fort Peck project, and $118,266.64 of unassessed construction costs allocable against both Indian and non-Indian owned lands in the Fraiser-Wolf Point unit of the Fort Peck project, was approved by Pub. L. 90–143, Nov. 16, 1967, 81 Stat. 465.

Klamath Indian Irrigation Project

In accordance with sections 389 to 389e of this title, the order of the Secretary of the Interior canceling $401,440.55 of reimbursable irrigation costs and any accrued interest thereon chargeable to lands in the Klamath Indian irrigation project, was approved by Pub. L. 88–456, Aug. 20, 1964, 78 Stat. 554.

Oroville-Tonasket Irrigation District

Action of the Secretary of the Interior taken on May 19, 1942, pursuant to authority contained in sections 389 to 389e of this title with respect to lands within the Oroville-Tonasket Irrigation District was confirmed by Congress in act Dec. 24, 1942, ch. 816, 56 Stat. 1082.

Uintah Indian Irrigation Project

Pub. L. 91–403, §§ 1–5, Sept. 18, 1970, 84 Stat. 843, 844, authorized the Secretary of the Interior to reimburse the Ute Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation for tribal funds that were used to construct, operate, and maintain the Uintah Indian irrigation project, Utah.

Action of Secretary of the Interior taken pursuant to authority contained in sections 389 to 389e of this title with respect to lands within the Uintah Indian Irrigation Project was confirmed by Congress in act May 28, 1941, ch. 142, 55 Stat. 209.

Wapato Indian Irrigation Project

In accordance with sections 389 to 389e of this title, order of Secretary of the Interior dated Sept. 12, 1962, canceling $4,494.58 of delinquent irrigation charges, providing for the deferred payment of $10,356.03, and providing for the removal of 78.12 acres of assessable land from the Wapato Indian irrigation project, was approved by Pub. L. 88–159, Oct. 28, 1963, 77 Stat. 278.

In accordance with sections 389 to 389e of this title, order of Secretary of the Interior canceling $35,700.72 of delinquent irrigation charges, providing for the deferred payment of $13,851.98, and providing for the removal of two hundred thirty-two and fifty-six one hundredths acres of assessable land from the Wapato Indian irrigation project, was approved by Pub. L. 86–281, Sept. 16, 1959, 73 Stat. 564.

Action by the Secretary of the Interior taken Sept. 9, 1942, pursuant to authority contained in sections 389 to 389e of this title with respect to lands within the Wapato Indian irrigation project was confirmed in act Dec. 24, 1942, ch. 815, 56 Stat. 1081.

Wind River Indian Irrigation Project

In accordance with sections 389 to 389e of this title, the order of the Secretary of the Interior, canceling delinquent operation and maintenance irrigation charges of $1,134.99 and accrued interest thereon, against lands on the Wind River Indian irrigation project, and a contract for the deferred payment of delinquent charges in the amount of $2,331.59, was approved by Pub. L. 88–116, Sept. 6, 1963, 77 Stat. 151.

In accordance with sections 389 to 389e of this title, the order of the Secretary of the Interior, canceling delinquent irrigation charges of $36,439.70 and accrued interest therein, and providing for a deferred payment of $8,706.27, as shown in schedules A, B, and C of such order, was approved by Pub. L. 87–516, July 2, 1962, 76 Stat. 128, provided that the cancellation under schedule B not become effective until the landowners agree to pay the balance of such delinquent charges amounting to $1,556.40.