A bill to amend the Disaster Relief Act of 1974 to provide for authorization of appropriations thereunder through fiscal year 1978.
PL 95-51 (H.R.6197), enacted 06/20/1977

PUBLIC LAW 95-51—JUNE 20, 1977 
91 STAT. 233 
Public Law 95-51 
95th Congress 
An Act 
To amend the Disaster Relief Act of 1974 to provide for authorization of 
appropriations thereunder through fiscal year 1978. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate 
and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America 
in Congress assembled^ That section 606 of 
the Disaster Belief Act of 1974 is amended by striking out "June 30, 
1977" and inserting in lieu thereof "September 30,1980". 
SEC. 2. Section 5 of the Flood Control Act approved August 18,1941 
(33 U.S.C. 701n) is amended by inserting " ( a ) " immediately after 
"SEC. 5." and by adding at the end thereof the following new 
subsection: 
"(b) (1) The Secretary, upon a written request for assistance under 
this paragraph made by any farmer, rancher, or political subdivision 
within a distressed area, and after a determination by the Secretary 
that (A) as a result of the drought such farmer, rancher, or political 
subdivision has an inadequate supply of water, (B) an adequate supply 
of water can be made available to such farmer, rancher, or political 
subdivision through the construction of a well, and (C) as a result of 
the drought such well could not be constructed by a private business, 
the Secretary, subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, may enter 
into an agreement with such farmer, rancher, or political subdivision 
for the construction of such well. 
"(2) The Secretary, upon a written request for assistance under 
this paragraph made by any farmer, rancher, or political subdivision 
within a distressed area, and after a determination by the Secretai-y 
that as a result of the drought such farmer, rancher, or political sub-
division has an inadequate supply of water and water cannot be 
obtained by such farmer, rancher, or political subdivision, the Sec-
retary may transport water to such farmer, rancher, or political 
subdivision by methods which include, but are not limited to, small-
diameter emergency water lines and tank trucks, until such time as 
the Secretary determines that an adequate supply of water is available 
to such farmer, rancher, or political subdivision. 
"(3) (A) Any agreement entered into by the Secretary pursuant 
to paragraph (1) of this subsection shall require the farmer, rancher, 
or political subdivision for whom the well is constructed to pay to the 
United States the reasonable cost of such construction, with interest, 
over such number of years, not to exceed thirty, as the Secretary deems 
appropriate. The rate of interest shall be that rate which the Sec-
retary determines would apply if the amount to be repaid was a loan 
made pursuant to section 7(b) (2) of the Small Business Act. 
"(B) The Secretary shall not construct any well pursuant to this 
subsection unless the farmer, rancher, or political subdivision for 
whom the well is being constructed has obtained, prior to construction, 
all necessary State and local permits. 
"(4) The Federal share for the transportation of water pursuant 
to paragraph (2) of this subsection shall be 100 per centum. 
June 20, 1977 
[H.R. 6197] 
Disaster relief 
programs. 
Appropriation 
authorization 
42 use 5202. 
Construction of 
wells in drought 
areas. 
Transportation 
of water. 
Costs. 
Rate of 
interest. 
15 use 636. 
Federal share. 
91 STAT. 234 
PUBLIC LAW 95-51—JUNE 20, 1977 
Definitions. 
"(5) For purposes of this subsection— 
~
" ' 
"(A) the term 'construction' includes construction, recon-
struction, or repair; 
"(B) the term 'distressed area' means an area which the Sec-
retary determines due to drought conditions has an inadequate 
• 
water supply which is causing, or is likely to cause, a substantial 
threat to the health and welfare of the inhabitants of the area 
including threat of damage or loss of property; 
"(C) the term 'political subdivision' means a city, town, 
borough, county, parish, district, association, or other public body 
created by or pursuant to State law and having jurisdiction over 
the water supply of such public body; 
"(D) the term 'reasonable cost' means the lesser of (i) the cost 
to the Secretary of constructing a well pursuant to this subsection 
exclusive of the cost of transporting equipment used in the con-
struction of wells, or (ii) the cost to a private business of 
constructing such well; 
^ 
"(E) the term 'Secretary' means the Secretary of the Army, 
acting through the Chief of Engineers; and 
"(F) the term 'State' means a State, the District of Columbia, 
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, 
American Samoa, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.". 
Approved June 20, 1977. 
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LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 95-302 (Coram, on Public Works and Transportation). 
SENATE REPORT No. 95-154 accompanying S. 1512 (Coram, on Environment and 
Public Works). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 123 (1977): 
May 17, considered and passed House. 
May 24, considered and passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 1512. 
June 8, House concurred in Senate amendment. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 13, No. 26: 
June 21, Presidential statement.