Title 25 — Indians
Chapter 18 — Indian Health Care
§ 1632. Safe water and sanitary waste disposal facilities
Statutory text
Congressional findings
The Congress hereby finds and declares that—
the provision of safe water supply systems and sanitary sewage and solid waste disposal systems is primarily a health consideration and function;
Indian people suffer an inordinately high incidence of disease, injury, and illness directly attributable to the absence or inadequacy of such systems;
the long-term cost to the United States of treating and curing such disease, injury, and illness is substantially greater than the short-term cost of providing such systems and other preventive health measures;
many Indian homes and communities still lack safe water supply systems and sanitary sewage and solid waste disposal systems; and
it is in the interest of the United States, and it is the policy of the United States, that all Indian communities and Indian homes, new and existing, be provided with safe and adequate water supply systems and sanitary sewage waste disposal systems as soon as possible.
Authority; assistance; transfer of funds
In furtherance of the findings and declarations made in subsection (a), Congress reaffirms the primary responsibility and authority of the Service to provide the necessary sanitation facilities and services as provided in section 2004a of title 42.
The Secretary, acting through the Service, is authorized to provide under section 2004a of title 42—
financial and technical assistance to Indian tribes and communities in the establishment, training, and equipping of utility organizations to operate and maintain Indian sanitation facilities;
ongoing technical assistance and training in the management of utility organizations which operate and maintain sanitation facilities; and
operation and maintenance assistance for, and emergency repairs to, tribal sanitation facilities when necessary to avoid a health hazard or to protect the Federal investment in sanitation facilities.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law—
the Secretary of Housing and Urban Affairs is authorized to transfer funds appropriated under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301, et seq.) to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and
the Secretary of Health and Human Services is authorized to accept and use such funds for the purpose of providing sanitation facilities and services for Indians under section 2004a of title 42.
10-year plan
Beginning in fiscal year 1990, the Secretary, acting through the Service, shall develop and begin implementation of a 10-year plan to provide safe water supply and sanitation sewage and solid waste disposal facilities to existing Indian homes and communities and to new and renovated Indian homes.
Tribal capability
The financial and technical capability of an Indian tribe or community to safely operate and maintain a sanitation facility shall not be a prerequisite to the provision or construction of sanitation facilities by the Secretary.
Amount of assistance
The Secretary is authorized to provide financial assistance to Indian tribes and communities in an amount equal to the Federal share of the costs of operating, managing, and maintaining the facilities provided under the plan described in subsection (c).
For the purposes of paragraph (1), the term “Federal share” means 80 percent of the costs described in paragraph (1).
With respect to Indian tribes with fewer than 1,000 enrolled members, the non-Federal portion of the costs of operating, managing, and maintaining such facilities may be provided, in part, through cash donations or in kind property, fairly evaluated.
Eligibility of programs administered by Indian tribes
Programs administered by Indian tribes or tribal organizations under the authority of the Indian Self-Determination Act [25 U.S.C. 5321 et seq.] shall be eligible for—
any funds appropriated pursuant to this section, and
any funds appropriated for the purpose of providing water supply or sewage disposal services,
on an equal basis with programs that are administered directly by the Service.
Annual report; sanitation deficiency levels
The Secretary shall submit to the President, for inclusion in each report required to be transmitted to the Congress under section 1671 of this title, a report which sets forth—
the current Indian sanitation facility priority system of the Service;
the methodology for determining sanitation deficiencies;
the level of sanitation deficiency for each sanitation facilities project of each Indian tribe or community;
the amount of funds necessary to raise all Indian tribes and communities to a level I sanitation deficiency; and
the amount of funds necessary to raise all Indian tribes and communities to zero sanitation deficiency.
In preparing each report required under paragraph (1) (other than the initial report), the Secretary shall consult with Indian tribes and tribal organizations (including those tribes or tribal organizations operating health care programs or facilities under any contract entered into with the Service under the Indian Self-Determination Act [25 U.S.C. 5321 et seq.]) to determine the sanitation needs of each tribe.
The methodology used by the Secretary in determining sanitation deficiencies for purposes of paragraph (1) shall be applied uniformly to all Indian tribes and communities.
For purposes of this subsection, the sanitation deficiency levels for an Indian tribe or community are as follows:
level I is an Indian tribe or community with a sanitation system—
which complies with all applicable water supply and pollution control laws, and
in which the deficiencies relate to routine replacement, repair, or maintenance needs;
level II is an Indian tribe or community with a sanitation system—
which complies with all applicable water supply and pollution control laws, and
in which the deficiencies relate to capital improvements that are necessary to improve the facilities in order to meet the needs of such tribe or community for domestic sanitation facilities;
level III is an Indian tribe or community with a sanitation system which—
has an inadequate or partial water supply and a sewage disposal facility that does not comply with applicable water supply and pollution control laws, or
has no solid waste disposal facility;
level IV is an Indian tribe or community with a sanitation system which lacks either a safe water supply system or a sewage disposal system; and
level V is an Indian tribe or community that lacks a safe water supply and a sewage disposal system.
For purposes of this subsection, any Indian tribe or community that lacks the operation and maintenance capability to enable its sanitation system to meet pollution control laws may not be treated as having a level I or II sanitation deficiency.
Legislative history
Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.
Indian Health Care Improvement Act
Pub. L. 94–437 title III § 302 · 90 Stat. 1400
Enacted · 25 U.S.C. § 1632
Pub. L. 94–437, title III, § 302, Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1407
Source evidence
Code source credit
Pub. L. 94–437, title III, § 302, Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1407Enacted provision · exact public law section
Sec. 302. construction of safe water and sanitary waste disposal facilities (a) During the seven-fiscal-year period beginning after the 25 USC 1632. date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary is authorized to expend under section 7 of the Act of August 5, 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2004a), the sums authorized under subsection (b) to supply unmet needs for safe water and sanitary waste disposal facilities in existing and new Indian homes and communities. (b) For expenditures of the Secretary authorized by subsection (a) Appropriation authorization. for facilities in existing Indian homes and communities there are authorized to be appropriated $43,000,000 for fiscal year 1978, $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1979 and $30,000,000 for fiscal year 1980. For expenditures of the Secretary authorized by subsection (a) for facilities in new Indian homes and communities there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 1978, 1979, and 1980. For fiscal years 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1984 for expenditures authorized by subsection (a) there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may lie specifically authorized in an Act enacted after this Act. (c) Former and currently federally recognized Indian tribes in the New York Indian tribes, eligibility for assistance. State of New York shall be eligible for assistance under this section.Indian Health Care Amendments of 1988
Pub. L. 100–713 title III § 302 · 102 Stat. 4784
Amended · 25 U.S.C. § 1632
Pub. L. 100–713 amended section generally
Substituted · 25 U.S.C. § 1632
Pub. L. 100–713 substituting subsecs. (a) to (h) relating to safe water and sanitary waste disposal facilities for former subsecs. (a) to (c) relating to construction of safe water and sanitary waste disposal facilities
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 100–713 amended section generally, substituting subsecs. (a) to (h) relating to safe water and sanitary waste disposal facilities for former subsecs. (a) to (c) relating to construction of safe water and sanitary waste disposal facilities.Enacted provision · exact public law section
Sec. 302. safe water and sanitary waste disposal facilities Section 302 (25 U.S.C. 1632) is amended to read as follows: “Sec. 302. “safe water and sanitary waste disposal facilities (a) The Congress hereby finds and declares that— “(1) the provision of safe water supply systems and sanitary sewage and solid waste disposal systems is primarily a health consideration and function; “(2) Indian people suffer an inordinately high incidence of disease, injury, and illness directly attributable to the absence or inadequacy of such systems; “(3) the long-term cost to the United States of treating and curing such disease, injury, and illness is substantially greater than the short-term cost of providing such systems and other preventive health measures; “(4) many Indian homes and communities still lack safe water supply systems and sanitary sewage and solid waste disposal systems; and “(5) it is in the interest of the United States, and it is the policy of the United States, that all Indian communities and Indian homes, new and existing, be provided with safe and adequate water supply systems and sanitary sewage waste disposal systems as soon as possible. “(b) (1) In furtherance of the findings and declarations made in subsection (a), Congress reaffirms the primary responsibility and authority of the Service to provide the necessary sanitation facilities and services as provided in section 7 of the Act of August 5, 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2004a). “(2) The Secretary, acting through the Service, is authorized to provide under section 7 of the Act of August 5, 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2004a)— “(A) financial and technical assistance to Indian tribes and communities in the establishment, training, and equipping of utility organizations to operate and maintain Indian sanitation facilities; “(B) ongoing technical assistance and training in the management of utility organizations which operate and maintain sanitation facilities; and “(C) operation and maintenance assistance for, and emergency repairs to, tribal sanitation facilities when necessary to avoid a health hazard or to protect the Federal investment in sanitation facilities. “(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law— “(A) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Affairs is authorized to transfer funds appropriated under the Housing and Commu-nity Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5301, et seq.) to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and “(B) the Secretary of Health and Human Services is authorized to accept and use such funds for the purpose of providing sanitation facilities and services for Indians under section 7 of the Act of August 5, 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2004a). “(c) Beginning in fiscal year 1990, the Secretary, acting through the Service, shall develop and begin implementation of a 10-year plan to provide safe water supply and sanitation sewage and solid waste disposal facilities to existing Indian homes and communities and to new and renovated Indian homes. “(d) The financial and technical capability of an Indian tribe or community to safely operate and maintain a sanitation facility shall not be a prerequisite to the provision or construction of sanitation facilities by the Secretary. “(e) The provisions of this section shall not diminish the primary responsibility of the Indian family, community, or tribe to establish, collect, and utilize reasonable user fees, or otherwise set aside funding, for the purpose of operating and maintaining sanitation facilities. “(f) Programs administered by Indian tribes or tribal organizations under the authority of the Indian Self-Determination Act shall be eligible for— “(1) any funds appropriated pursuant to subsection (h), and “(2) any funds appropriated for the purpose of providing water supply or sewage disposal services, on an equal basis with programs that are administered directly by the Service. “(g) (1) The Secretary shall submit to the Congress an annual Reports. report which sets forth— “(A) the current Indian sanitation facility priority system of the Service; “(B) the methodology for determining sanitation deficiencies; “(C) the level of sanitation deficiency for each sanitation facilities project of each Indian tribe or community; “(D) the amount of funds necessary to raise all Indian tribes and communities to a level I sanitation deficiency; and “(E) the amount of funds necessary to raise all Indian tribes and communities to zero sanitation deficiency. “(2) The first report required under paragraph (1) shall be submitted by no later than the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of the Indian Health Care Amendments of 1988 and, beginning in 1990, each subsequent annual report shall be submitted by the date that is 60 days after the date on which the President submits the budget to the Congress under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code. “(3) In preparing each report required under paragraph (1) (other than the initial report), the Secretary shall consult with Indian tribes and tribal organizations (including those tribes or tribal organizations operating health care programs or facilities under any contract entered into with the Service under the Indian Self-Determination Act) to determine the sanitation needs of each tribe. “(4) The methodology used by the Secretary in determining sanitation deficiencies for purposes of paragraph (1) shall be applied uniformly to all Indian tribes and communities. “(5) For purposes of this subsection, the sanitation deficiency levels for an Indian tribe or community are as follows: “(A) level I is an Indian tribe or community with a sanitation system— “(i) which complies with all applicable water supply and pollution control laws, and “(ii) in which the deficiencies relate to routine replacement, repair, or maintenance needs; “(B) level II is an Indian tribe or community with a sanitation system— “(i) which complies with all applicable water supply and pollution control laws, and “(ii) in which the deficiencies relate to capital improvements that are necessary to improve the facilities in order to meet the needs of such tribe or community for domestic sanitation facilities; “(C) level III is an Indian tribe or community with a sanitation system which— “(i) has an inadequate or partial water supply and a sewage disposal facility that does not comply with applicable water supply and pollution control laws, or “(ii) has no solid waste disposal facility; “(D) level IV is an Indian tribe or community with a sanitation system which lacks either a safe water supply system or a sewage disposal system; and “(E) level V is an Indian tribe or community that lacks a safe water supply and a sewage disposal system. “(6) For purposes of this subsection, any Indian tribe or community that lacks the operation and maintenance capability to enable its sanitation system to meet pollution control laws may not be treated as having a level I or II sanitation deficiency. “(h) (1) There are authorized to be appropriated for each of the fiscal years 1990, 1991, and 1992, $3,000,000 for the purpose of providing funds necessary to implement the responsibilities of the Service described in subsection (b)(2). “(2) In addition to the amount authorized under paragraph (1), there are authorized to be appropriated for each of the fiscal years 1990, 1991, and 1992, $850,000 for the sanitation service account of the Service which shall be used to carry out the responsibilities of the Service described in subsection (b)(2).”.Indian Health Amendments of 1992
Pub. L. 102–573 § 302(1) · 106 Stat. 4526
Amended · 25 U.S.C. § 1632(e)
Pub. L. 102–573, § 302(1), amended subsec. (e) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (e) read as follows: “The provisions of this section shall not diminish the primary responsibility of the Indian family, community, or tribe to establish, collect, and utilize reasonable user fees, or otherwise set aside funding, for the purpose of operating and maintaining sanitation facilities.”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 102–573, § 302(1), amended subsec. (e) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (e) read as follows: “The provisions of this section shall not diminish the primary responsibility of the Indian family, community, or tribe to establish, collect, and utilize reasonable user fees, or otherwise set aside funding, for the purpose of operating and maintaining sanitation facilities.”Enacted provision · exact public law section
(1) by amending subsection (e) to read as follows: “(e) (1) The Secretary is authorized to provide financial assistance to Indian tribes and communities in an amount equal to the Federal share of the costs of operating, managing, and maintaining the facilities provided under the plan described in subsection (c). “(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the term ‘Federal share’ means 80 percent of the costs described in paragraph (1). “(3) With respect to Indian tribes with fewer than 1,000 enrolled members, the non-Federal portion of the costs of operating, managing, and maintaining such facilities may be provided, in part, through cash donations or in kind property, fairly evaluated.”;Indian Health Amendments of 1992
Pub. L. 102–573 § 302(2) · 106 Stat. 4526
Substituted · 25 U.S.C. § 1632(f)(1)
Pub. L. 102–573, § 302(2), substituted “this section” for “subsection (h)”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 102–573, § 302(2), substituted “this section” for “subsection (h)”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(2) in subsection (f)(1), by striking out “subsection (h)” and inserting in lieu thereof “this section”; andIndian Health Amendments of 1992
Pub. L. 102–573 § 302(3)(A) · 106 Stat. 4526
Substituted · 25 U.S.C. § 1632(g)(1)
Pub. L. 102–573, § 302(3)(A), substituted “The Secretary shall submit to the President, for inclusion in each report required to be transmitted to the Congress under section 1671 of this title, a report” for “The Secretary shall submit to the Congress an annual report”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 102–573, § 302(3)(A), substituted “The Secretary shall submit to the President, for inclusion in each report required to be transmitted to the Congress under section 1671 of this title, a report” for “The Secretary shall submit to the Congress an annual report”.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking out “The Secretary” Reports. through “report” and inserting in lieu thereof the following: “The Secretary shall submit to the President, for inclusion in each report required to be transmitted to the Congress under section 801, a report”; andIndian Health Amendments of 1992
Pub. L. 102–573 § 302(3)(B) · 106 Stat. 4526
Redesignated · 25 U.S.C. § 1632(g)(2)(6)
Pub. L. 102–573, § 302(3)(B), redesignated pars. (3) to (6) as (2) to (5), respectively
Struck · 25 U.S.C. § 1632(g)(2)(6)
Pub. L. 102–573, § 302(3)(B), struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: “The first report required under paragraph (1) shall be submitted by no later than the date that is 180 days after November 23, 1988, and, beginning in 1990, each subsequent annual report shall be submitted by the date that is 60 days after the date on which the President submits the budget to the Congress under section 1105 of title 31.”
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (g)(2) to (6). Pub. L. 102–573, § 302(3)(B), redesignated pars. (3) to (6) as (2) to (5), respectively, and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: “The first report required under paragraph (1) shall be submitted by no later than the date that is 180 days after November 23, 1988, and, beginning in 1990, each subsequent annual report shall be submitted by the date that is 60 days after the date on which the President submits the budget to the Congress under section 1105 of title 31.”Enacted provision · exact public law section
(B) by striking out paragraph (2) and redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), (5), and (6) as paragraphs (2), (3), (4), and (5), respectively.Indian Health Amendments of 1992
Pub. L. 102–573 § 307(b)(1) · 106 Stat. 4526
Struck · 25 U.S.C. § 1632(h)
Pub. L. 102–573, § 307(b)(1), struck out subsec. (h) which authorized appropriations to carry out subsec. (b)(2) for fiscal years 1990 to 1992
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 102–573, § 307(b)(1), struck out subsec. (h) which authorized appropriations to carry out subsec. (b)(2) for fiscal years 1990 to 1992.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(1) in section 302, by striking out subsection (h); and
9 of 9 references resolved to an enrolled provision
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(A), is Pub. L. 93–383, , 88 Stat. 633. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 5301 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and Tables.
The Indian Self-Determination Act, referred to in subsecs. (f) and (g)(2), is title I of Pub. L. 93–638, , 88 Stat. 2206, which is classified principally to subchapter I (§ 5321 et seq.) of chapter 46 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 5301 of this title and Tables.
Amendments1988–1992 · 2 rounds
1992
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 102–573, § 302(1), amended subsec. (e) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (e) read as follows: “The provisions of this section shall not diminish the primary responsibility of the Indian family, community, or tribe to establish, collect, and utilize reasonable user fees, or otherwise set aside funding, for the purpose of operating and maintaining sanitation facilities.”
Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 102–573, § 302(2), substituted “this section” for “subsection (h)”.
Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 102–573, § 302(3)(A), substituted “The Secretary shall submit to the President, for inclusion in each report required to be transmitted to the Congress under section 1671 of this title, a report” for “The Secretary shall submit to the Congress an annual report”.
Subsec. (g)(2) to (6). Pub. L. 102–573, § 302(3)(B), redesignated pars. (3) to (6) as (2) to (5), respectively, and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: “The first report required under paragraph (1) shall be submitted by no later than the date that is 180 days after , and, beginning in 1990, each subsequent annual report shall be submitted by the date that is 60 days after the date on which the President submits the budget to the Congress under section 1105 of title 31.”
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 102–573, § 307(b)(1), struck out subsec. (h) which authorized appropriations to carry out subsec. (b)(2) for fiscal years 1990 to 1992.
1988
Pub. L. 100–713 amended section generally, substituting subsecs. (a) to (h) relating to safe water and sanitary waste disposal facilities for former subsecs. (a) to (c) relating to construction of safe water and sanitary waste disposal facilities.
Credits
1976–1992 · 3 acts
- 1976Pub. L. 94–437, title III, § 302, , 90 Stat. 1407
- 1988Pub. L. 100–713, title III, § 302, , 102 Stat. 4814
- 1992Pub. L. 102–573, title III, §§ 302, 307(b)(1), , 106 Stat. 4560, 4564.
Show as published
(Pub. L. 94–437, title III, § 302, , 90 Stat. 1407; Pub. L. 100–713, title III, § 302, , 102 Stat. 4814; Pub. L. 102–573, title III, §§ 302, 307(b)(1), , 106 Stat. 4560, 4564.)