PUBLIC LAW 96-550—DEC. 19, 1980
94 STAT. 3227
maintenance or rehabilitation of existing facilities or for the development of any new facilities related to the delivery or impoundment of water, and further Federal expenditures related to the Vermejo Federal reclamation project shall be limited to administration of such amended contract for the purpose of determining and obtaining such reasonable repayment as may be feasible, and to necessary expenses for fish and wildlife purposes. Transfer of project facilities to the district shall be without any additional consideration in excess of the existing repayment obligation of the district, and shall include any related lands or interest in lands acquired by the Federal Government for the project, except that any lands or interests in land, or interests in water, or other contractual arrangements which may be held by the Secretary for management of the Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge, for wildlife enhancement purposes, shall not be transferred and shall be maintained consistently with existing arrangements. Any amended contract which provides for deferral of the district's repayment obligation shall provide that the obligation shall continue in effect until repaid or for the useful life of the existing facilities, and the Secretary shall provide for a flexible plan of repayment of the remaining obligation of the district according to the district's ability to repay as determined by the Secretary. Determinations of ability to repay shall include water deliveries achieved in a given year, as well as such other factors as the Secretary considers to be pertinent. TITLE V—CHACO CULTURE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK SEC. 501. (a) The Congress finds that— (1) archeological research in the San Juan Basin conducted over the past several years has greatly increased public knowledge of the scope of the prehistoric culture referred to as Chacoan Anasazi; (2) the discoveries and the increased general interest in the Chaco phenomenon have come at a time when the San Juan Basin is experiencing extensive exploration and development for a wide variety of energy-related resources, including coal, uranium, oil, and natural gas; (3) development of the San Juan Basin's important natural resources and the valid existing rights of private property owners will not be adversely affected by the preservation of the archeological integrity of the area; and (4) in light of the national significance of the Chacoan sites and the urgent need to protect them, continued cooperation between Federal agencies and private corporations is necessary to provide for development in the San Juan Basin in a manner compatible with preservation and archeological research. (b) It is the purpose of this title to recognize the unique archeological resources associated with the prehistoric Chacoan culture in the San Juan Basin; to provide for the preservation and interpretation of these resources; and to facilitate research activities associated with these resources. SEC. 502. (a) There is hereby established in the State of New Mexico, the Chaco Culture National Historical Park comprising approximately thirty three thousand nine hundred and eighty nine acres as generally depicted on the map entitled "Chaco Culture National Historical Park", numbered 310/80,032-A and dated August 1979. The Chaco Canyon National Monument is hereby abolished, as such. and any funds available for the purpose of the monument shall be
16 USC 4l0ii.
Establishment. 16 USC 4l0iri.
Abolishment. 16 USC 431 note.
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