[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 14 (Monday, January 23, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4499-4500]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-1588]



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Colorado River Indian Irrigation Project

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of rate change.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs is increasing the Colorado River 
Indian Irrigation Project's operation and maintenance (O&M) 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, and other 
normal O&M expenses. 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, and other normal O&M 
expenses.
    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: These rates shall become effective on January 1st for the year 
indicated and remain in effect until modified.

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 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 Bureau 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, but not limited to, 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 
[[Page 4500]] 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 on 
January 1st 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.
    The Notice proposing these operation and maintenance assessements 
and water charges for the Colorado River Indian Irrigation Project was 
published on November 16, 1994, 59 FR 59244. The affected public and 
interested partiesP were provided the opportunity to submit written 
comments during the 30-day period subsequent to November 16th.

    Dated: January 12, 1995.
Ada E. Deer,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 95-1588 Filed 1-20-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-02-P