---
kind: "section"
citation: "43 U.S.C. § 481"
title: "43"
title_heading: "Public Lands"
number: "481"
heading: "Action to recover construction charges and penalties"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/43/481"
units:
  - "Chapter 12 — Reclamation and Irrigation of Lands by Federal Government"
  - "Subchapter IX — Construction Charges"
---

# §481. Action to recover construction charges and penalties


If the [Secretary](/usc/43/31b.md?p=7) of the Interior shall so elect, he may cause suit or action to be brought for the recovery of the amount of the construction charges in default and penalties; but if suit or action be brought, the right to declare a cancellation and forfeiture of the entry or water-right application as provided in [section 480 of this title](/usc/43/480.md) shall be suspended pending such suit or action.


## Source credit

(Aug. 13, 1914, ch. 247, § 3, 38 Stat. 687.)