7 U.S.C. § 2204c : US Code - Section 2204C: Water management for rural areas

Search 7 U.S.C. § 2204c : US Code - Section 2204C: Water management for rural areas

(a) In general
The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized, directly or in
coordination with any other Federal agency, entity, corporation,
department, unit of State or local government, cooperative,
confederation, individual, public or private organization, Indian
tribe, or university, to - 
(1) conduct research and demonstration projects;
(2) provide technical assistance and extension services;
(3) make grants, loans, and loan guarantees; and
(4) provide other forms of assistance, for the purpose of
helping rural areas make better and more efficient use of water
resources and to alleviate problems arising in such areas from
droughts or lack of water.
(b) Activities
The Secretary is authorized to provide assistance under this
section for the promotion or establishment of irrigation,
watersheds, and other water management and drought management
activities, including water transmission, application, and
activation.
(c) Cooperation
In implementing this section, the Secretary - 
(1) should address the general, special, and unique problems of
water management existing in rural areas;
(2) may take action independently or in cooperation with
Federal, State, public, or private entities and agencies; and
(3) shall cooperate with - 
(A) cooperatives, public or private organizations,
confederations, authorities, or other entities (including such
entities that may be organized under multiple State agreements
or compacts and entities created under State law) to carry out
projects authorized under this section; and
(B) water, watershed, and sewer authorities, rural electric
cooperatives, Federal agencies, and other State or local
governments or agencies.
(d) Regulations
(1) The Secretary shall issue regulations to carry out this
section.
(2) Such regulations shall - 
(A) specify the terms and conditions that the entities
described in subsections (a) and (c) of this section must meet in
order to participate in programs carried out under this section;
(B) establish a procedure under which entities described in
subsections (a) and (c) of this section may apply for assistance
under this section; and
(C) foster cooperation between such entities and other Federal,
State, or local agencies for the purposes of carrying out the
provisions of this section.
(e) "University" defined
As used in this section, the term "university" means - 
(1) a land grant university established under the Act of July
2, 1862 (known as the "First Morrill Act"; 12 Stat. 503, chapter
130; 7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.);
(2) a land grant university established under the Act of August
30, 1890 (known as the "Second Morrill Act"; 26 Stat. 419,
chapter 841; 7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.);
(3) the Tuskegee Institute; and
(4) any other support research organization.
(f) Funding
(1) There are authorized to be appropriated each fiscal year such
sums as are necessary to carry out this section.
(2) The Secretary is authorized to accept funds from non-Federal
sources to carry out the activities authorized by this section.
(g) No waivers
Nothing in this section shall authorize the waiver of a cost-
share requirement under a program established under any other
provision of law.