§ 36b. — Acquisition of lands or interests therein for use in gaging streams or underground water resources.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 43USC36b]
TITLE 43--PUBLIC LANDS
CHAPTER 2--UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Sec. 36b. Acquisition of lands or interests therein for use in
gaging streams or underground water resources
The Secretary of the Interior may, on behalf of the United States
and for use by the United States Geological Survey in gaging streams and
underground water resources, acquire lands by donation or when funds
have been appropriated by Congress by purchase or condemnation, but not
in excess of ten acres for any one stream gaging station or observation
well site. For the same purpose the Secretary of the Interior may obtain
easements, licenses, rights-of-way, and leases limited to run for such a
period of time or term of years as may be required for the effective
performance of the function of gaging streams and underground water
resources: Provided, That nothing in this section shall be construed as
affecting or intended to affect or in any way to interfere with the laws
of any State or Territory relating to the control, appropriation, use,
or distribution of water used in irrigation, or any vested right
acquired thereunder, and the Secretary of the Interior, in carrying out
the provisions of this section, shall proceed in conformity with such
laws, and nothing in this section shall in any way affect any right of
any State or of the Federal Government or of any landowner,
appropriator, or user of water, in, to, or from any interstate stream or
the waters thereof.
(Dec. 24, 1942, ch. 822, 56 Stat. 1086; Pub. L. 86-406, Apr. 4, 1960, 74
Stat. 14; Pub. L. 102-154, title I, Nov. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1000.)
Amendments
1960--Pub. L. 86-406 authorized Secretary of the Interior to acquire
lands and interests in lands for observation well sites to gage
underground water resources.
Change of Name
``United States Geological Survey'' substituted in text for
``Geological Survey'' pursuant to provision of title I of Pub. L. 102-
154, set out as a note under section 31 of this title.