§17. Use of Bureau facilities

(a) In general

The Secretary of the Interior may permit tribal governments and organizations and student organizations to use Bureau of Indian Affairs equipment, land, buildings, and other structures if such use does not interfere with the purpose for which they are administered by the Bureau and when such use benefits Indians or Federal or federally funded programs. The Secretary may charge the user for the cost of the utilities and other expenses incurred for the use. The amounts collected shall be credited to the appropriation or fund from which the expenses are paid and shall be available until the end of the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which collected. The Secretary's decision to not permit a use under this section is final and shall not be subject to judicial review.

(b) Scope of authority

The authority provided by this section is in addition to, and not in derogation of, any other authority available to the Secretary of the Interior.

(c) Limitation of liability

The payment of any fee, or agreement to pay costs, to the Secretary shall not in any way or to any extent limit the right of the United States to rely upon sovereign immunity or any State or Federal statute limiting liability or damages from injuries sustained in connection with use under this section.

( Pub. L. 100–297, title V, §5405, Apr. 28, 1988, 102 Stat. 417 ; Pub. L. 100–427, §25, Sept. 9, 1988, 102 Stat. 1613 .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1988-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–427, §25(a), amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: "The Secretary of the Interior may permit tribal, student, and other non-Federal organizations to use facilities, lands, and equipment administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs if such use does not interfere with the purpose for which the facilities, land, and equipment are administered by the Bureau. The Secretary of the Interior may charge the user for the actual or estimated additional cost of utilities or other expenses incurred because of the use and the amounts collected shall be credited to the appropriation or fund from which the expenses are paid."

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 100–427, §25(b), added subsec. (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

For effective date and applicability of section, see section 6303 of Pub. L. 100–297, set out as an Effective Date of 1988 Amendment note under section 1071 of Title 20, Education.