§ 542. — Reservation of lien for charges; enforcement of lien; redemption.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 43USC542]
TITLE 43--PUBLIC LANDS
CHAPTER 12--RECLAMATION AND IRRIGATION OF LANDS BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
SUBCHAPTER XIV--PATENTS AND FINAL WATER-RIGHT CERTIFICATES
Sec. 542. Reservation of lien for charges; enforcement of lien;
redemption
Every patent and water-right certificate issued under this
subchapter shall expressly reserve to the United States a prior lien on
the land patented or for which water right is certified, together with
all water rights appurtenant or belonging thereto, superior to all other
liens, claims, or demands whatsoever for the payment of all sums due or
to become due to the United States or its successors in control of the
irrigation project in connection with such lands and water rights.
Upon default of payment of any amount so due title to the land shall
pass to the United States free of all encumbrance, subject to the right
of the defaulting debtor or any mortgagee, lien holder, judgment debtor,
or subsequent purchaser to redeem the land within one year after the
notice of such default shall have been given by payment of all moneys
due, with 8 per centum interest and cost. And the United States, at its
option, acting through the Secretary of the Interior, may cause land to
be sold at any time after such failure to redeem, and from the proceeds
of the sale there shall be paid into the reclamation fund all moneys
due, with interest as herein provided, and costs. The balance of the
proceeds, if any, shall be the property of the defaulting debtor or his
assignee: Provided, That in case of sale after failure to redeem under
this section the United States shall be authorized to bid in such land
at not more than the amount in default, including interest and costs.
(Aug. 9, 1912, ch. 278, Sec. 2, 37 Stat. 266.)
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in section 593 of this title.
