Public Law 87–295

That the Act of July 3, 1952 (66 Stat. 328), as amended (42 U.S.C. 1951–1958), is further amended to read as follows:

“Section. 1.

In view of the increasing shortage of usable surface and ground water in many parts of the Nation and the importance of finding new sources of supply to meet its present and future water needs, it is the policy of the Congress to provide for the development of practicable low-cost means for the large-scale production of water of a quality suitable for municipal, industrial, agricultural, and other beneficial consumptive uses from saline water, and for studies and

“Saline water.”

research related thereto. As used in this Act, the term “saline water” includes sea water, brackish water, and other mineralized or chemically

“United States.”

charged water, and the term “United States” extends to and includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the territories and possessions of the United States.

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“Sec. 2.

In order to accomplish the purposes of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall—

“(a)“(a)

conduct, encourage, and promote fundamental scientific research and basic studies to develop the best and most economical processes and methods for converting saline water into water suitable for beneficial consumptive purposes;

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“(b)“(b)

conduct engineering research and technical development work to determine, by laboratory and pilot plant testing, the results of the research and studies aforesaid in order to develop processes and plant designs to the point where they can be demonstrated on a large and practical scale;

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“(c)“(c)

recommend to the Congress from time to time authorization for construction and operation, or for participation in the construction and operation, of a demonstration plant for any process which he determines, on the basis of subsections (a) and (b) above, has great promise of accomplishing the purposes of this Act, such recommendation to be accompanied by a report on the size, location, and cost of the proposed plant and the engineering and economic details with respect thereto;

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“(d)“(d)

study methods for the recovery and marketing of commercially valuable byproducts resulting from the conversion of saline water; and

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“(e)“(e)

undertake economic studies and surveys to determine present and prospective costs of producing water for beneficial consumptive purposes in various parts of the United States by the leading saline water processes as compared with other standard methods.

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“Sec. 3.

In carrying out his functions under section 2 of this Act, the Secretary may—

“(a)“(a)

acquire the services of chemists, physicists, engineers, and other personnel by contract or otherwise;

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“(b)“(b)

enter into contracts with educational institutions, scientific organizations, and industrial and engineering firms;

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“(c)“(c)

make research and training grants;

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“(d)“(d)

utilize the facilities of Federal scientific laboratories;

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“(e)“(e)

establish and operate necessary facilities and test sites at which to carry on the continuous research, testing, development, and programing necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Act;

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“(f)“(f)

acquire secret processes, technical data, inventions, patent applications, patents, licenses, land and interests in land (including water rights), plants and facilities, and other property or rights by purchase, license, lease, or donation;

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“(g)“(g)

assemble and maintain pertinent and current scientific literature, both domestic and foreign, and issue bibliographical data with respect thereto;

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“(h)“(h)

cause on-site inspections to be made of promising projects, domestic and foreign, and, in the case of projects located in the United States, cooperate and participate in their development in instances in which the purposes of this Act will be served thereby;

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“(i)“(i)

foster and participate in regional, national, and international conferences relating to saline water conversion;

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“(j)“(j)

coordinate, correlate, and publish information with a view to advancing the development of low-cost saline water conversion projects; and

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“(k)“(k)

cooperate with other Federal departments and agencies, with State and local departments, agencies, and instrumentalities, and with interested persons, firms, institutions, and organizations.

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“Sec. 4.

(a)(a)

Research and development activities undertaken by

Cooperation with Federal agencies.

the Secretary shall be coordinated or conducted jointly with the Department of Defense to the end that developments under this Act which are primarily of a civil nature will contribute to the defense of the Nation and that developments which are primarily of a military nature will, to the greatest practicable extent compatible with military and security requirements, be available to advance the purposes of this Act and to strengthen the civil economy of the Nation. The fullest cooperation by and with Atomic Energy Commission, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, the Department of State, and other concerned agencies shall also be carried out in the interest of achieving the objectives of this Act.

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“(b)“(b)

All research within the United States contracted for, sponsored,

Information, etc., available to public.

cosponsored, or authorized under authority of this Act, shall be provided for in such manner that all information, uses, products, processes, patents, and other developments resulting from such research developed by Government expenditure will (with such exceptions and limitations, if any, as the Secretary may find to be necessary in the interest of national defense) be available to the general public. This subsection shall not be so construed as to deprive the owner of any background patent relating thereto of such rights as he may have thereunder.

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“Sec. 5.

(a)(a)

The Secretary may dispose of water and byproducts

Water and byproducts, disposal.

resulting from his operations under this Act. All moneys received from dispositions under this section shall be paid into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.

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“(b)“(b)

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to alter existing law with respect to the ownership and control of water.

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“Sec. 6.

The Secretary shall make reports to the President and the

Reports to President and Congress.

Congress at the beginning of each regular session of the action taken or instituted by him under the provisions of this Act and of prospective action during the ensuing year.

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“Sec. 7.

The Secretary of the Interior may issue rules and regulations

Rules and regulations.

to effectuate the purposes of this Act.

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“Sec. 8.

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums, to

Appropriation authorization.

remain available until expended, as may be necessary, but not more than $75,000,000 in all, (a) to carry out the provisions of this Act during the fiscal years 1962 to 1967, inclusive; (b) to finance, for not more than two years beyond the end of said period, such grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and studies as may theretofore have been undertaken pursuant to this Act; and (c) to finance, for not more than three years beyond the end of said period, such activities as are required to correlate, coordinate, and round out the results of studies and research undertaken pursuant to this Act: Provided, That funds available in any one year for research and development may, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State to assure that such activities are consistent with the foreign policy objectives of the United States, be expended in cooperation with public or private agencies in foreign countries in the development of processes useful

Contracts with foreign agencies.

program in the United States: And provided further, That every such contract or agreement made with any public or private agency in a foreign country shall contain provisions effective to insure that the results or information developed in connection therewith shall be available without cost to the United States for the use of the United States throughout the world and for the use of the general public within the United States.”

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Sec. 2.

Section 4 of the joint resolution of September 2, 1958 (72 Stat. 1707; 42 U.S.C. 1958(d)), is hereby amended to read:

Demonstration plants.

Termination of authority.

“The authority of the Secretary of the Interior under this joint resolution to construct, Operate, and maintain demonstration plants shall terminate upon the expiration of twelve years after the date on which this joint resolution is approved. Upon the expiration of a period deemed adequate for demonstration purposes for each plant, but not to exceed such twelve-year period, the Secretary shall proceed as promptly as practicable to dispose of any plants so constructed by sale to the highest bidder, or as may otherwise be directed by Act of Congress. Upon such sale, there shall be returned to any State or public agency which has contributed financial assistance under section 3 of this joint resolution a proper share of the net proceeds of the sale.”