--- kind: "section" citation: "43 U.S.C. § 485f" title: "43" title_heading: "Public Lands" number: "485f" heading: "Negotiation of equitable contracts by Secretary" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/43/485f" units: - "Chapter 12 — Reclamation and Irrigation of Lands by Federal Government" - "Subchapter X — Payment of Construction Charges" --- # §485f. Negotiation of equitable contracts by Secretary - (a) **Existing project contract unit—** The [Secretary](/usc/43/485a.md?p=b) is authorized and directed to investigate the repayment problems of any existing [project contract unit](/usc/43/485a.md?p=f) in connection with which, in his judgment, a contract under section [485b](/usc/43/485b.md) or [485c](/usc/43/485c.md)[^1] of this title would not be practicable nor provide an economically sound adjustment, and to negotiate a contract which, in his judgment, both would provide fair and equitable treatment of the repayment problems involved and would be in keeping with the general purpose of this subchapter. - (b) **New projects or projects under construction; public lands; development periods—** For any [project](/usc/43/485a.md?p=c), [division of a project](/usc/43/485a.md?p=h), [development unit](/usc/43/485a.md?p=i) of a [project](/usc/43/485a.md?p=c), or supplemental works on a [project](/usc/43/485a.md?p=c), under construction on August 4, 1939, or for which appropriations had been made, and in connection with which a [repayment contract](/usc/43/485a.md?p=e) had not been executed, allocations of costs may be made in accordance with the provisions of [section 485h of this title](/usc/43/485h.md) and a [repayment contract](/usc/43/485a.md?p=e) may be negotiated, in the discretion of the [Secretary](/usc/43/485a.md?p=b), (1) pursuant to the authority of [subsection (a)](#a) of this section or (2) in accordance, as near as may be, with the provisions in section [485h(d)](/usc/43/485h.md?p=d) or [485h(e)](/usc/43/485h.md?p=e) of this title. In connection with any such [project](/usc/43/485a.md?p=c), division, or [development unit](/usc/43/485a.md?p=i), on which the majority of the lands involved are public lands of the United States, the [Secretary](/usc/43/485a.md?p=b), prior to entering into a [repayment contract](/usc/43/485a.md?p=e), may fix a development period for each [irrigation block](/usc/43/485a.md?p=j), if any, of not to exceed ten years from and including the first year in which water is delivered for the lands in said block: Provided, That in the event a development period is fixed prior to execution of a [repayment contract](/usc/43/485a.md?p=e), execution thereof shall be a condition precedent to delivery of water after the close of the development period. During any such development period water shall be delivered to the lands in the [irrigation block](/usc/43/485a.md?p=j) involved only on a toll-charge basis, at a charge per annum per acre-foot to be fixed by the [Secretary](/usc/43/485a.md?p=b) each year and to be collected in advance of delivery of water. Pending negotiation and execution of a [repayment contract](/usc/43/485a.md?p=e) for any other such [project](/usc/43/485a.md?p=c), division, or [development unit](/usc/43/485a.md?p=i), water may be delivered for a period of not more than five years from August 4, 1939, on the same toll-charge basis. Any such toll charges collected and which the [Secretary](/usc/43/485a.md?p=b) determines to be in excess of the cost of operation and maintenance during the toll-charge period shall be credited to the construction cost of the [project](/usc/43/485a.md?p=c) in the manner determined by the [Secretary](/usc/43/485a.md?p=b). - (c) **Report of proposed contracts to Congress; approval; amendment after approval—** The [Secretary](/usc/43/485a.md?p=b) from time to time shall report to the Congress on any proposed contracts negotiated pursuant to the authority of subsection [(a)](#a) or (b)(1) of this section, and he may execute any such contract on behalf of the United States only after approval thereof has been given by Act of Congress. Contracts, so approved, however, may be amended from time to time by mutual agreement and without further approval by Congress if such amendments are within the scope of authority granted prior to or after April 24, 1945, to the [Secretary](/usc/43/485a.md?p=b) under any Act, except that amendments providing for repayment of [construction charges](/usc/43/485a.md?p=d) in a period of years longer than authorized by this subchapter, as it may be amended, shall be effective only when approved by Congress. ## Footnotes [^1]: See References in Text note below. ## Source credit (Aug. 4, 1939, ch. 418, § 7, 53 Stat. 1192; Apr. 24, 1945, ch. 94, § 2, 59 Stat. 76.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### References in Text Section 485c of this title, referred to in subsec. (a), was repealed by Pub. L. 85–611, § 3, Aug. 8, 1958, 72 Stat. 543. ### Amendments 1945—Subsec. (c). Act Apr. 24, 1945, added second sentence. ### Extension of Secretary’s Authority To Enter Into Amendatory Contracts Secretary’s authority extended through Dec. 31, 1960, see section 485b–1 of this title.