OCR Text |
Show 139 volved in a 1938 statute empowering the Chief of Engineers to modify project plans so as to evacuate areas rather than protect them by levees or flood walls.67 "He may expend "a sum, not substantially exceeding" the amount saved in construction cost, for evacuation of the area and rehabilitation of the per- sons so evacuated, or he may transfer such sum to another federal agency for that purpose, or enter into agreement with states, local agencies, or individuals for evacuation, rehabilita- tion, and reimbursement.68 Insufficient Authorization.-Considerable latitude both as to utilization of funds and as to project modification is afforded where the total authorization for a project is not sufficient for its completion. The Chief of Engineers may plan and make expenditures on preparations for the project, such as the pur- chase of lands, easements, and rights-of-way; readjustment of roads, railroads, and other utilities; removal of towns, ceme- teries, and dwellings from reservoir sites; and the construction of foundations.69 Also, he may modify plans so that the dam or other work will be smaller than originally planned "with a view to completing a useful improvement within an authoriza- tion." 70 The smaller structure must be so located that it will be feasible later to enlarge the work to permit full utilization of the site for "all purposes of conservation such as flood con- trol, navigation, reclamation, the development of hydroelectric power, and the abatement of pollution." 71 Water Supply.-In connection with an authorization for the Secretary to receive funds from states to be expended with federal funds for authorized flood-control work, Congress pro- vided generally that plans for any reservoir project may be modified to provide additional storage capacity for domestic water supply or other conservation storage, if the cost of such increased capacity is contributed by local agencies and they 87 Act of June 28,1938, § 3, 52 Stat. 1215,1216, 33 U. S. O. 701i. " Act of August 18,1941, § 2, 55 Stat. 638, 33 U. S. 0. 701m. nld. n Id. See also H. Rep. No. 759,77th Gong., 1st sess., p. 6 (1941). |