43 U.S.C. § 522 : US Code - Section 522: Lease of water power

Search 43 U.S.C. § 522 : US Code - Section 522: Lease of water power

Whenever a development of power is necessary for the irrigation
of lands, under any project undertaken under the said reclamation
Act, or an opportunity is afforded for the development of power
under any such project, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized
to lease for a period not exceeding ten years, giving preference to
municipal purposes, any surplus power or power privilege, and the
moneys derived from such leases shall be covered into the
reclamation fund and be placed to the credit of the project from
which such power is derived: Provided, That no lease shall be made
of such surplus power or power privileges as will impair the
efficiency of the irrigation project: Provided further, That the
Secretary of the Interior is authorized, in his discretion, to make
such a lease in connection with Rio Grande project in Texas and New
Mexico for a longer period not exceeding fifty years, with the
approval of the water-users' association or associations under any
such project, organized in conformity with the rules and
regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior in
pursuance of section 498 of this title.