[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 220 (Wednesday, November 16, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-28310]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 16, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
 

Colorado River Indian Irrigation Project

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Proposed Rate Increase.

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SUMMARY: The BIA is proposing to increase the Colorado River Indian 
Irrigation Project's operation and maintenance assessment rate per 
assessable acre for the first 5 acre feet of water to $30.00 in 1995, 
$31.50 in 1996, $33.00 in 1997, $34.50 in 1998, and $36.00 in 1999 and 
thereafter until further notice. The $3.00 increase to the current rate 
of $27.00 per acre in 1995 and the $1.50 increase per acre per year for 
the next four years 1996 through 1999 will offset cost increases for 
personnel, supplies, materials and services. The charge per acre foot 
of water in excess of this annual apportionment will be $11.00 per acre 
foot in 1995, $12.50 per acre foot in 1996, $14.00 per acre foot in 
1997, $15.50 per acre foot in 1998, and $17.00 per acre foot in 1999 
and thereafter, until further notice. The $3.00 increase to the current 
rate of $8.00 per acre foot in 1995 and the $1.50 increase per acre 
foot per year for the next four years 1996 through 1999 will offset 
cost increases for personnel, supplies, materials and services.
    The energy costs for pumped water will not be paid by the Project 
but will be billed directly to those receiving pumped water by the 
electric utility.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 16, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on rate changes should be sent to: 
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, Attention: Branch of Irrigation 
and Power, MS#4559-MIB, Code 210, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1849 ``C'' 
Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Area Director, Phoenix Area Office, 
Bureau of Indian Affairs, One North First Street, Phoenix, Arizona 
85001, telephone number (602) 379-6600.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The authority to issue this document is 
vested in the Secretary of the Interior by 5 U.S.C. 301 and the Act of 
August 14, 1914 (38 Stat. 583, 25 U.S.C. 385) and has been delegated to 
the Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs pursuant to Part 209 
Departmental Manual Chapter 8.1 A and Memorandum, dated January 25, 
1994, from the Chief of Staff, Department of the Interior, to Assistant 
Secretaries and Heads of Bureaus and Offices. The assessment is based 
on an estimate of the cost of normal operation and maintenance of the 
irrigation Project. Normal operation and maintenance is defined as the 
cost of all activities involved in delivering irrigation water, 
including the actual costs for labor, materials, equipment, services, 
energy, equipment replacement and reserves to cover emergency expenses.
    The Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) and water users were 
notified of the proposed changes in the operation and maintenance 
assessment and excess water rates by letter to CRIT dated March 25, 
1994, at the March 16, 1994, CRIT Irrigation Committee Meeting, and at 
the Pink Boll Worm and White Fly Eradication Committee Meeting for 
Parker Valley growers on March 22, 1994.
    The current operation and maintenance assessment rate of $27.00 
became effective January 1, 1994. Since January 1, 1984, when the 
operation and maintenance assessment rate was raised to $22.00, there 
had been no other increases in the assessment rate or the excess water 
rate. The 1994 increase was not sufficient to offset the accumulated 
annual cost increases for labor, materials, equipment, energy, and 
services. Costs have depleted reserves and continue to exceed revenue 
from current assessments. The basic operation and maintenance 
assessment for a given year is calculated by using the estimated cost 
of Project operation for that calendar year divided by the assessable 
acreage.

Basic Assessment

    The basic assessment rate against the land to which water can be 
delivered under the Colorado River Indian Irrigation Project, Arizona, 
for operation and maintenance of the Project is hereby fixed at $30.00 
per acre for 1995, $31.50 per acre for 1996, $33.00 per acre for 1997, 
$34.50 per acre for 1998, and $36.00 per acre for 1999 and thereafter 
until further notice. The assessment is due whether water is used or 
not. Payment of this assessment will entitle the water user to up to 5 
acre-feet of water per year per assessable acre of land.

Excess Water Charge

    If and when available, water in excess of the basic allotment may 
be delivered upon written request to the Superintendent by landowners 
or users at the following rates per acre foot or fraction thereof: 
$11.00 per acre foot in 1995, $12.50 per acre foot in 1996, $14.00 per 
acre foot in 1997, $15.50 per acre foot in 1998, and $17.00 per acre 
foot in 1999 and thereafter until further notice. The excess water 
charge is payable at the time of written request for such water and 
must be paid prior to delivery.

Pumped Water Energy Charges

    The energy costs for pumped water will not be paid by the Project 
but will be billed directly to those receiving pumped water by the 
electric utility.

Effective Period

    The assessments and water charges above shall become effective for 
each Calendar Year 1995 through 1999 and thereafter until further 
notice.

Distribution and Apportionment

    All Project water is considered a common water supply in which all 
assessable lands of the Project are entitled to share equally. Such 
water will be distributed to the lands of the Project as equitably as 
physical conditions permit.

    Dated: November 7, 1994.
Ada E. Deer,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-28310 Filed 11-15-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-02-P