---
kind: "section"
citation: "43 U.S.C. § 411b"
title: "43"
title_heading: "Public Lands"
number: "411b"
heading: "Employment of engineers, geologists, appraisers and economists for reclamation consultation work; compensation; retired Army and Navy officers as consulting engineers"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/43/411b"
units:
  - "Chapter 12 — Reclamation and Irrigation of Lands by Federal Government"
  - "Subchapter III — Institution and Construction of Projects"
---

# §411b. Employment of engineers, geologists, appraisers and economists for reclamation consultation work; compensation; retired Army and Navy officers as consulting engineers


The [Secretary](/usc/43/31b.md?p=7) of the Interior is authorized, in his judgment and discretion, to employ for consultation purposes on important reclamation work ten consulting engineers, geologists, appraisers, and economists, at rates of compensation to be fixed by him, but not to exceed $50 per day for any engineer, geologist, appraiser, or economist so employed: Provided, That the total compensation paid to any engineer, geologist, appraiser, or economist during any fiscal year shall not exceed $5,000: Provided further, That notwithstanding the provisions of any other Act, retired officers of the Army or Navy may be employed by the [Secretary](/usc/43/31b.md?p=7) of the Interior as consulting engineers in accordance with the provisions of this section.


## Source credit

(Feb. 28, 1929, ch. 374, § 1, 45 Stat. 1406; Apr. 22, 1940, ch. 125, 54 Stat. 148; Dec. 23, 1944, ch. 708, 58 Stat. 915; Pub. L. 89–554, § 8(a), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 652.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1966—Pub. L. 89–554 struck out provisions which authorized employment of retired personnel of the Department of the Interior as consultants.

1944—Act Dec. 23, 1944, inserted third proviso.

1940—Act Apr. 22, 1940, provided for employment of appraisers and increased the number to be employed from five to ten.

### Executive Documents

### Transfer of Functions

For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of the Interior, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of the Interior, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1950, §§ 1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1262, set out under section 1451 of this title.