---
kind: "section"
citation: "43 U.S.C. § 497"
title: "43"
title_heading: "Public Lands"
number: "497"
heading: "Action to recover operation charge and penalty"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/43/497"
units:
  - "Chapter 12 — Reclamation and Irrigation of Lands by Federal Government"
  - "Subchapter XI — Maintenance and Operation of Works Generally"
---

# §497. Action to recover operation charge and penalty


In the discretion of the [Secretary](/usc/43/485a.md?p=b) of the Interior suit or action may be brought for the amounts of operation or maintenance charges in default and penalties in like manner as provided in [section 481 of this title](/usc/43/481.md).


## Source credit

(Aug. 13, 1914, ch. 247, § 6, 38 Stat. 688.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section is comprised of third sentence of section 6 of act Aug. 13, 1914. First and second sentences of such section 6 are classified to sections 479, 493, 494, 495, and 496 of this title, respectively.