43 U.S.C. § 666 : US Code - Section 666: Suits for adjudication of water rights

Search 43 U.S.C. § 666 : US Code - Section 666: Suits for adjudication of water rights

(a) Joinder of United States as defendant; costs
Consent is given to join the United States as a defendant in any
suit (1) for the adjudication of rights to the use of water of a
river system or other source, or (2) for the administration of such
rights, where it appears that the United States is the owner of or
is in the process of acquiring water rights by appropriation under
State law, by purchase, by exchange, or otherwise, and the United
States is a necessary party to such suit. The United States, when a
party to any such suit, shall (1) be deemed to have waived any
right to plead that the State laws are inapplicable or that the
United States is not amenable thereto by reason of its sovereignty,
and (2) shall be subject to the judgments, orders, and decrees of
the court having jurisdiction, and may obtain review thereof, in
the same manner and to the same extent as a private individual
under like circumstances: Provided, That no judgment for costs
shall be entered against the United States in any such suit.
(b) Service of summons
Summons or other process in any such suit shall be served upon
the Attorney General or his designated representative.
(c) Joinder in suits involving use of interstate streams by State
Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing the
joinder of the United States in any suit or controversy in the
Supreme Court of the United States involving the right of States to
the use of the water of any interstate stream.