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Show 296 in those constituting the construction investment, if the project is eventually authorized.218 The power-rate standard is a minimum rate provision. The Act has a separate provision for allocation of project costs re- payable or returnable to the United States.219 Costs allocable to irrigation but beyond the water users' ability to repay may be assigned for return from power revenues. The provision for allocating repayable or returnable project costs makes no men- tion of interest. And the Act has been administratively con- strued as permitting the application of interest, collected as a component of power rates, to the return to the United States of irrigation costs to be borne by power.220 Wherever revenues representing the interest component are so applied, they con- stitute a subsidy to assist in repaying irrigation costs.221 With specified exceptions, proceeds from the disposition of power at reclamation projects are covered into the Reclama- tion Fund in the Treasury.222 It may also be noted that, while allocations to navigation and flood control are authorized, they are treated as nonreimbursable.223 Under the supervision of the Secretary of the Interior, the Bureau of Indians Affairs operates two hydroelectric and one diesel plant, and purchases power for distribution. On the 218 For a number of years, appropriation legislation has specified that interests requiring an investigation by the Bureau of Reclamation advance at least 50% of the estimated cost thereof. See, e. g., Act of June 29, 1948, 62 Stat. 1112, 1126; see also supra, pp. 188-189. 219 § 9(a), 53 Stat. 1193, 43 U. S. 0. 485h(a). 220 Unpublished opinion of the Solicitor of the Department of the Interior concerning power-rate schedules and minimum-revenue requirements for Grand Coulee, Opinion M-33473, January 29, 1944, and its supplement of September 10,1945. In this connection, see the so-called Hayden-O'Mahoney Amendment, Act of May 9,1938, § 1, 52 Stat. 291, 322, 43 U. S. 0. 392a. 221 Thus, the revenues representing the interest component are applied toward the repayment of the irrigation investment assigned for return from power revenues. See, e. g., Average Rate and Repayment Studies fob Power Systems on Bureau of Reclamation Projects, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, pp. 1-5 (January 1950). 222 Act of May 9, 1938, § 1, 52 Stat. 291, 322, 43 U. S. C. 392a. For details as to the Reclamation Fund, see supra, pp. 198-202. ^Act of August 4,1939, § 9, 53 Stat. 1187,1193. |