Pub. L. 93-493, tit. X, sec. 1005

Sec. 1005. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated for construction of the Nueces River project, Texas, the sum of $50,000,000 (January 1974 prices), plus or minus such amounts, if any, as may be justified by reason of ordinary fluctuations in construction costs as indicated by engineering cost indexes applicable to the type of construction involved herein: Provided, That, prior to appropriation of any Federal funds, a qualified local entity shall, pursuant to a contract satisfactory to the Secretary, agree to advance on a schedule mutually acceptable to the local entity and the Secretary, the sum of not less than $15,000,000 representing a non-Federal contribution toward implementation of this title. Upon completion of the work authorized herein, the aforesaid $15,000,000 shall be applied as a credit to the repayment obligation of the local entity for municipal and industrial water service. The Secretary is authorized and directed, upon receipt of the aforesaid advance to proceed with postauthorization planning, preparation of designs and specifications, land acquisition, and award of construction contracts pending availability of appropriated funds. At any time following the first advance of funds by the local entity, said entity may request that the Secretary terminate activities then in progress, return unexpended balances of the funds so advanced, assign to the local entity the rights to any contract in force, convey any real estate acquired by the advanced funds and provide any data, drawings, or other items of value procured with advanced funds to the local entity; and such request shall be binding upon the Secretary.