---
kind: "section"
citation: "43 C.F.R. § 423.23"
title: "43"
number: "423.23"
heading: "Abandonment and impoundment of personal property."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/43/423.23"
---

# §423.23. Abandonment and impoundment of personal property.

- (a) You must not abandon personal property of any kind in or on Reclamation facilities, lands, or waterbodies.
- (b) You must not store or leave unattended personal property of any kind.
  - (1) **Unattended personal property is presumed to be abandoned—**
    - (i) After a period of 24 hours;
    - (ii) At any time after a posted closure takes effect under [subpart B](/cfr/43/subpartB.md) of this part 423; or
    - (iii) **At any time for reasons of security, public safety, or resource protection.**
  - (2) If personal property is presumed abandoned, an authorized official may impound it, store it, and assess a reasonable impoundment fee.
  - (3) The impoundment fee must be paid before the authorized official will return the impounded property to you.
- (c) An authorized official may impound or destroy unattended personal property at any time if it:
  - (1) Interferes with safety, operation, or management of Reclamation facilities, lands, or waterbodies; or
  - (2) **Presents a threat to persons or Reclamation project resources.**
- (d) An authorized official may dispose of abandoned personal property in accordance with the procedures contained in [title 41 CFR](/cfr/41.md) and applicable Reclamation and Department of the Interior policy.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 43 U.S.C. 373a and 373b.

### Source

Source: 73 FR 75349, Dec. 11, 2008, unless otherwise noted.