OCR Text |
Show 532 a 1937 statute, the Secretary of Agriculture is generally au- thorized to make preliminary examinations and surveys "for run-off and water-flow retardation and soil-erosion prevention on the watersheds" of all waterways previously authorized to be surveyed by the Army Engineers.210 Works of improvement for such measures are "authorized to be prosecuted by the De- partment of Agriculture under the direction of the Secretary of Agriculture and in accordance with plans approved by him."211 In practice, the Department of Agriculture nevertheless pre- pares and submits to Congress programs for works of improve- ment.212 And Congress has specifically authorized such works in the same manner as it individually authorizes the flood-con- trol projects of the Army Engineers.213 In addition, and without individualized congressional authorization, the Secretary of Agriculture is empowered to undertake "emergency measures for run-off retardation and soil-erosion prevention" to safeguard lives and property from floods and the products of erosion "on any watershed" which has been suddenly impaired by fire or other natural force.214 Not to exceed $300,000 may be expended during any one fiscal year for such emergency measures.215 Irrigation Projects.-Reclamation projects meeting the re- payment standard do not require individualized legislative authorization. And there are correspondingly fewer statutory exceptions to this general rule than in the case of Army En- gineer projects which generally require such specific authoriza- tion, as we have seen. Under the Reclamation Project Act of 1939, any new project, new division of a project, or new supplemental works on a 810 Act of August 28, 1937, §3, 50 Stat. 876, 877. See also supra, pp. 374-375. auAct of June 28, 1938, § 7, 52 Stat. 1215, 1225, 33 U. S. C. 701b-l. See also supra, n. 136, p. 375. 212 See, e. g., H. Rep. No. 1309, 78th Cong., 2d sess., pp. 51-52 (1944) ; Sen. Rep. No. 1030, 78th Cong., 2d sess., pp. 26-29 (1944). 213 See, e. g., Act of December 22, 1944, § 13, 58 Stat. 887, 905. 214 Act of December 22, 1944, § 15, 58 Stat. 907, amending § 7 of the Act of June 28, 1938, 52 Stat. 1215, 1225. 215 Act of May 17,1950, § 216, 64 Stat. 163, -. |