---
kind: "section"
citation: "43 U.S.C. § 510a"
title: "43"
title_heading: "Public Lands"
number: "510a"
heading: "Guidelines and inspection of project facilities and technical assistance to transferred works operating entities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/43/510a"
units:
  - "Chapter 12 — Reclamation and Irrigation of Lands by Federal Government"
  - "Subchapter XI–B — Aging Infrastructure"
---

# §510a. Guidelines and inspection of project facilities and technical assistance to transferred works operating entities

- (a) **Guidelines and inspections—**
  - (1) **Development of guidelines—** Not later than 1 year after March 30, 2009, the [Secretary](/usc/43/485a.md?p=b) in consultation with [transferred works operating entities](/usc/43/510.md?p=6) shall develop, consistent with existing transfer contracts, specific [inspection](/usc/43/510.md?p=1) guidelines for [project facilities](/usc/43/510.md?p=2) which are in proximity to urbanized areas and which could pose a risk to public safety or property damage if such [project facilities](/usc/43/510.md?p=2) were to fail.
  - (2) **Conduct of inspections—** Not later than 3 years after March 30, 2009, the [Secretary](/usc/43/485a.md?p=b) shall conduct [inspections](/usc/43/510.md?p=1) of those [project facilities](/usc/43/510.md?p=2), which are in proximity to urbanized areas and which could pose a risk to public safety or property damage if such facilities were to fail, using such specific [inspection](/usc/43/510.md?p=1) guidelines and criteria developed pursuant to [paragraph (1)](#a-1). In selecting [project facilities](/usc/43/510.md?p=2) to inspect, the [Secretary](/usc/43/485a.md?p=b) shall take into account the potential magnitude of public safety and economic damage posed by each [project facility](/usc/43/510.md?p=2).
  - (3) **Treatment of costs—** The costs incurred by the [Secretary](/usc/43/485a.md?p=b) in conducting these [inspections](/usc/43/510.md?p=1) shall be nonreimbursable.
- (b) **Use of inspection data—** The [Secretary](/usc/43/485a.md?p=b) shall use the data collected through the conduct of the [inspections](/usc/43/510.md?p=1) under [subsection (a)(2)](#a-2) to—
  - (1) provide recommendations to the [transferred works operating entities](/usc/43/510.md?p=6) for improvement of operation and maintenance processes, operating procedures including operation guidelines consistent with existing transfer contracts, and structural modifications to those [transferred works](/usc/43/510.md?p=5);
  - (2) determine an appropriate [inspection](/usc/43/510.md?p=1) frequency for such nondam [project facilities](/usc/43/510.md?p=2) which shall not exceed 6 years; and
  - (3) provide, upon request of transferred work operating entities, local governments, or [State](/usc/43/31b.md?p=8) agencies, information regarding potential hazards posed by existing or proposed residential, commercial, industrial or public-use development adjacent to [project facilities](/usc/43/510.md?p=2).
- (c) **Technical assistance to transferred works operating entities—**
  - (1) **Authority of Secretary to provide technical assistance—** The [Secretary](/usc/43/485a.md?p=b) is authorized, at the request of a [transferred works operating entity](/usc/43/510.md?p=6) in proximity to an urbanized area, to provide technical assistance to accomplish the following, if consistent with existing transfer contracts:
    - (A) Development of documented operating procedures for a [project facility](/usc/43/510.md?p=2).
    - (B) Development of documented emergency notification and response procedures for a [project facility](/usc/43/510.md?p=2).
    - (C) Development of facility [inspection](/usc/43/510.md?p=1) criteria for a [project facility](/usc/43/510.md?p=2).
    - (D) Development of a training program on operation and maintenance requirements and practices for a [project facility](/usc/43/510.md?p=2) for a [transferred works operating entity](/usc/43/510.md?p=6)’s workforce.
    - (E) Development of a public outreach plan on the operation and risks associated with a [project facility](/usc/43/510.md?p=2).
    - (F) Development of any other plans or documentation which, in the judgment of the [Secretary](/usc/43/485a.md?p=b), will contribute to public safety and the sage operation of a [project facility](/usc/43/510.md?p=2).
  - (2) **Costs—** The [Secretary](/usc/43/485a.md?p=b) is authorized to provide, on a non-reimbursable basis, up to 50 percent of the cost of such technical assistance, with the balance of such costs being advanced by the [transferred works operating entity](/usc/43/510.md?p=6) or other non-Federal source. The non-Federal 50 percent minimum cost share for such technical assistance may be in the form of in-lieu contributions of resources by the [transferred works operating entity](/usc/43/510.md?p=6) or other non-Federal source.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–11, title IX, § 9602, Mar. 30, 2009, 123 Stat. 1347.)