43 USC § 421 - Acquisition of lands for irrigation project; eminent domain

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t43/s421"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "43 USC § 421 - Acquisition of lands for irrigation project; eminent domain"
title_number: 43
title_name: "PUBLIC LANDS"
section_number: "421"
section_name: "Acquisition of lands for irrigation project; eminent domain"
chapter_number: 12
chapter_name: "RECLAMATION AND IRRIGATION OF LANDS BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT"
subchapter_number: "III"
subchapter_name: "INSTITUTION AND CONSTRUCTION OF PROJECTS"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(June 17, 1902, ch. 1093, § 7, 32 Stat. 389.)"
---


# § 421. Acquisition of lands for irrigation project; eminent domain

Where, in carrying out the provisions of this Act, it becomes necessary to acquire any rights or property, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to acquire the same for the United States by purchase or by condemnation under judicial process, and to pay from the reclamation fund the sums which may be needed for that purpose, and it shall be the duty of the Attorney General of the United States upon every application of the Secretary of the Interior, under this Act, to cause proceedings to be commenced for condemnation within thirty days from the receipt of the application at the Department of Justice.

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**Source Credit**: (June 17, 1902, ch. 1093, § 7, 32 Stat. 389.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This Act, referred to in text, is act , popularly known as the Reclamation Act, which is classified generally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under  and Tables.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Section as Unaffected by Submerged Lands Act

Provisions of this section as not amended, modified, or repealed by the Submerged Lands Act, see .