16 USC § 831s - Possession by Government in time of war; damages to contract holders

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t16/s831s"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "16 USC § 831s - Possession by Government in time of war; damages to contract holders"
title_number: 16
title_name: "CONSERVATION"
section_number: "831s"
section_name: "Possession by Government in time of war; damages to contract holders"
chapter_number: 12
chapter_name: "TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(May 18, 1933, ch. 32, § 20, 48 Stat. 68; Pub. L. 97–164, title I, § 161(2), Apr. 2, 1982, 96 Stat. 49; Pub. L. 102–572, title IX, § 902(b)(1), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4516.)"
---


# § 831s. Possession by Government in time of war; damages to contract holders

The Government of the United States reserves the right, in case of war or national emergency declared by Congress, to take possession of all or any part of the property described or referred to in this chapter for the purpose of manufacturing explosives or for other war purposes; but, if this right is exercised by the Government, it shall pay the reasonable and fair damages that may be suffered by any party whose contract for the purchase of electric power or fixed nitrogen or fertilizer ingredients is violated, after the amount of the damages has been fixed by the United States Court of Federal Claims in proceedings instituted and conducted for that purpose under rules prescribed by the court.

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**Source Credit**: (May 18, 1933, ch. 32, § 20, 48 Stat. 68; Pub. L. 97–164, title I, § 161(2), Apr. 2, 1982, 96 Stat. 49; Pub. L. 102–572, title IX, § 902(b)(1), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4516.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1992— substituted “United States Court of Federal Claims” for “United States Claims Court”.

1982— substituted “Claims Court” for “Court of Claims”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1992 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , see , set out as a note under , Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

### Effective Date of 1982 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , see , set out as a note under , Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

### Termination of War and Emergencies

Joint Res. , , provided that in the interpretation of this section, the date , shall be deemed to be the date of termination of any state of war theretofore declared by Congress and of the national emergencies proclaimed by the President on , and .