[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 154 (Thursday, August 8, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41424-41426]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20230]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation


Quarterly Status Report of Water Service and Repayment Contract 
Negotiations

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of proposed contractual actions that 
are new, modified, discontinued, or completed since the last 
publication of this notice on April 30, 1996. The February 5, 1996, 
notice should be used as a reference point to identify changes. The 
number in parenthesis corresponds to the number in the February 5, 
1996, notice. This notice is one means in which the public is informed 
about contractual actions for capital recovery and management of 
project resources and facilities. Additional Bureau of Reclamation 
(Reclamation) announcements of individual contract actions may be 
published in the Federal Register and in newspapers of general 
circulation in the areas determined by Reclamation to be affected by 
the proposed action. Announcements may be in the form of new releases, 
legal notices, official letters, memorandums, or other forms of written 
material. Meetings, workshops, and/or hearings may also be used, as 
appropriate, to provide local publicity. The public participation 
procedures do not apply to proposed contracts for sale of surplus or 
interim irrigation water for a term of 1 year or less. Either of the 
contracting parties may invite the public to observe any contract 
proceedings. All public participation procedures will be coordinated 
with those involved in complying with the National Environmental Policy 
Act.

ADDRESSES: The identity of the approving officer and other information 
pertaining to a specific contract proposal may be obtained by calling 
or writing the appropriate regional office at the address and telephone 
number given for each region in the supplementary information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alonzo Knapp, Manager, Reclamation 
Law, Contract, and Repayment Office, Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box 
25007, Denver, Colorado 80225-0007; telephone 303-236-1061 extension 
224.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 226 of the Reclamation 
Reform Act of 1982 (96 Stat. 1273) and 43 CFR 426.20 of the rules and 
regulations published in 52 FR 11954, Apr. 13, 1987, Reclamation will 
publish notice of proposed or amendatory contract actions for any 
contract for the delivery of project water for authorized uses in 
newspapers of general circulation in the affected area at least 60 days 
prior to contract execution. Pursuant to the ``Final Revised Public 
Participation Procedures'' for water resource-related contract 
negotiations,

[[Page 41425]]

published in 47 FR 7763, Feb. 22, 1982, a tabulation is provided of all 
proposed contractual actions in each of the five Reclamation regions. 
Each proposed action is, or is expected to be, in some stage of the 
contract negotiation process in 1996. When contract negotiations are 
completed, and prior to execution, each proposed contract form must be 
approved by the Secretary of the Interior or, pursuant to delegated or 
redelegated authority, the Commissioner of Reclamation or one of the 
regional directors. In some instances, congressional review and 
approval of a report, water rate, or other terms and conditions of the 
contract may be involved.
    Public participation in and receipt of comments on contract 
proposal will be facilitated by adherence to the following procedures:
    1. Only persons authorized to act on behalf of the contracting 
entities may negotiate the terms and conditions of a specific contract 
proposal.
    2. Advance notice of meetings or hearings will be furnished to 
those parties that have made a timely written request for such notice 
to the appropriate regional or area office of Reclamation.
    3. Written correspondence regarding proposed contracts may be made 
available to the general public pursuant to the terms and procedures of 
the Freedom of Information Act (80 Stat. 383), as amended.
    4. Written comments on a proposed contract or contract action must 
be submitted to the appropriate regional officials at the locations and 
within the time limits set forth in the advance public notices.
    5. All written comments received and testimony presented at any 
public hearings will be reviewed and summarized by the appropriate 
regional office for use by the contract approving authority.
    6. Copies of specific proposed contracts may be obtained from the 
appropriate regional director or his designated public contact as they 
become available for review and comment.
    7. In the event modifications are made in the form of a proposed 
contract, the appropriate regional director shall determine whether 
republication of the notice and/or extension of the comment period is 
necessary.
    Factors considered in making such a determination shall include, 
but are not limited to: (i) The significance of the modification, and 
(ii) the degree of public interest which has been expressed over the 
course of the negotiations. As a minimum, the regional director shall 
furnish revised contracts to all parties who request the contract in 
response to the initial public notice.

                     Acronym Definitions Used Herein                    
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(BCP)                               Boulder Canyon Project.             
(CAP)                               Central Arizona Project.            
(CUP)                               Central Utah Project.               
(CVP)                               Central Valley Project.             
(CRSP)                              Colorado River Storage Project.     
(D&MC)                              Drainage and Minor Construction.    
(FR)                                Federal Register.                   
(IDD)                               Irrigation and Drainage District.   
(ID)                                Irrigation District.                
(M&I)                               Municipal and Industrial.           
(O&M)                               Operation and Maintenance.          
(P-SMBP)                            Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program.  
(R&B)                               Rehabilitation and Betterment.      
(SRPA)                              Small Reclamation Projects Act.     
(WCUA)                              Water Conservation and Utilization  
                                     Act.                               
(WD)                                Water District.                     
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The following contract actions are either new, modified, 
discontinued, or completed in the Bureau of Reclamation since the April 
30, 1996, Federal Register notice.
    Pacific Northwest Region: Bureau of Reclamation, 1150 North Curtis 
Road, Boise, Idaho 83706-1234, telephone 208-378-5346.
    1. New Contract Actions:
    (21) Baker Valley Irrigation District, Baker Project, Oregon: 
Warren Act contract with cost of service charge to allow for use of 
project facilities to store nonproject water.
    2. Contract Actions Completed:
    (19) Contracts for 1996 have been executed with Stanfield ID and 
Westland ID.
    Mid Pacific Region: Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, 
Sacramento, California 95825-1898, telephone 916-978-5030.
    1. New Contract Actions:
    (20) Solano County Water Agency and Solano Irrigation District, 
Solano Project, California: Contract to transfer responsibility for 
operation and maintenance of Monticello Dam, Putah Diversion Dam, 
Headworks of Putah South Canal, and Parshall Flume at Milepost 0.18 of 
Putah South Canal to Solano Irrigation District and provide that the 
Solano County Water Agency shall provide the funds necessary for 
operation and maintenance of the facilities.
    2. Contract Action Completed:
    (12) Pershing County Water Conservation District, Nevada: Repayment 
contract for Safety of Dams work on Rye Patch Dam. Action: Contract 
executed February 29, 1996.
    Lower Colorado Region: Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box 61470 (Nevada 
Highway and Park Street), Boulder City, Nevada 89006-1470, telephone 
702-293-8536.
    1. New Contract Actions:
    (49) Pacific Gas and Electric Company, BCP, California: Short-term 
delivery contract for surplus and/or unused apportionment Colorado 
River water for domestic and industrial use at the Topock Compressor 
Station, California.
    (50) Mr. Don Schuler, BCP, California: Proposed short-term delivery 
contract for surplus and/or unused apportionment Colorado River water 
for domestic and industrial use on 18 lots of recreational homes in 
California.
    (51) Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community, CAP, Arizona: O&M 
Contract for their water distribution system.
    (52) Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power 
District, Salt River Project, Arizona: Funding Agreement for Safety of 
Dams construction activities at Horse Mesa Dam and Mormon Flat Dam.
    (53) U.S. Army Proving Ground, BCP, Arizona: Proposed permanent 
allocation of 1,883 acre-feet of Colorado River water.
    (54) Arizona Public Service, BCP, Arizona: Colorado River water 
diversion contract for 1,500 a.f. for domestic use at Yucca Power 
Plant, near Yuma, Arizona.
    (55) Arizona State Lands, BCP, Arizona: Approval of assignment of 
water delivery contract with Lakeview City for 400 a.f. of Colorado 
River water for domestic use.
    (56) Murphy Broadcasting, Inc., BCP, California: Change of use and 
assignment of the Schroeder's PPR entitlement for 12.0068 a.f.
    (57) Brooke Water L.L.C., CAP, Arizona: Approval of assignment of 
Consolidated Water Utilities LTD M&I water subcontract for 3,932 a.f. 
of CAP water.
    2. Contract Actions Modified:
    (43) County of San Bernardino, San Savaine Creek Project, 
California: Repayment Contract is in negotiation, covering $20,079,000 
reimbursable costs and a Grant for $27,371,000. Total project cost is 
$81,171,000.
    3. Contract Actions Deleted:
    (8 and 26) Kent Sea Farms, Yuma, AZ: Contract to divert and return 
32,000 acre-feet of water per year from ad to, respectively, the Main 
Outlet Drain Extension for one or more fish farms.
    Upper Colorado Region: Bureau of Reclamation, 125 South State 
Street, Room 6107, Salt Lake City, Utah 84138-1102, telephone 801-524-
4419.

[[Page 41426]]

    1. New Contract Actions:
    (26) Department of Energy, San Juan-Chama Project, New Mexico. 
Reassignment of rights under Contract No. 7-07-51-X0883 from the 
Department of Energy to the County of Los Alamos for 1,200 acre-feet of 
San Juan-Chama Project water to be used for municipal, commercial, 
residential, and scientific purposes.
    (27) City of Albuquerque, San Juan-Chama Project, New Mexico. Amend 
water storage Contract No. 3-CS-53-01510 to exempt the City of 
Albuquerque from acreage limitation and reporting provisions.
    (28) The State of Colorado, the State of New Mexico, the Southern 
Ute Indian Tribe, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, and certain other 
entities that executed the June 30, 1986 ``Agreement in Principle 
Concerning the Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights Settlement and Binding 
Agreement for Animas-La Plata Project Cost Sharing'': Amendment to the 
terms of that cost sharing agreement in order for that agreement to 
conform with Phase I, Stage A of the project. The proposed amendment 
would allow cost sharing contributions from Colorado non-federal 
entities to be credited to the municipal and industrial repayment 
obligation on an interim basis, rather than to the Colorado non-Indian 
irrigation.
    2. Contract Actions Modified:
    (9) The National Park Service, Colorado Water Conservation Board, 
Wayne N. Aspinall Unit, CRSP, Colorado: Contract to provide specific 
flow patterns in the Gunnison River through the Black Canyon of the 
Gunnison National Monument.
    (10) Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District, Wayne N. 
Aspinall Unit, CRSP, Colorado: Long-term water service contract for 
municipal, domestic, and irrigation use.
    3. Contract Actions Deleted:
    (12) Collbran Conservancy District, Collbran project, Colorado: 
Amendatory contract defining priority of use of project water.
    (13) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, North Fork Water Conservancy 
District, Paonia Project, Colorado: Contract for releases to support 
endangered fish in the Gunnison and Colorado Rivers: water available 
for releases will come from reserve capacity held by Reclamation as a 
sediment pool, estimated to be 1,800 acre-feet annually; contract will 
define the terms and conditions associated with delivery of this water.
    Great Plains Region: Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box 36900, Federal 
Building, 316 North 26th Street, Billings, Montana 59107-6900, 
telephone 406-247-7730.
    1. Contract Actions Modified:
    (11) City of Rapid City and Rapid Valley Water Conservancy 
District, Rapid Valley Unit, P-SMBP, South Dakota: Contract renewal for 
up to 55,000 acre-feet of storage capacity in Pactola Reservoir.
    2. Contract Actions Completed:
    (4) Cedar Bluff Irrigation District No. 6, Cedar Bluff Unit, P-
SMBP, Kansas: In accordance with Section 901 of Public law 102-575, 106 
Stat. 4600, terminate the Cedar Bluff Irrigation District's repayment 
contract and transfer use of the District's portion of the reservoir 
storage capacity to the State of Kansas for fish, wildlife, recreation, 
and other purposes.
    (15) Mountain Park Master Conservancy District, Mountain Park 
Project, Oklahoma: Pursuant to Title IV of Pub. L. 103-434, amend the 
District's contract to reallocate the project costs to reflect the 
environmental activities authorized by Title IV and provide for a 
discounted prepayment of all or a portion of the reimbursable costs 
allocated for its M&I water supply.
    (17) Canadian River Municipal Water Authority, Canadian River 
Project, Texas: Contract for the United States to pay up to 33 percent 
of the costs of the salinity control project. These costs are to be 
used for the design and construction management of the project 
facilities.
    3. Contract Actions Discontinued:
    (7) Foss Reservoir Master Conservancy District, Washita Basin 
Project, Oklahoma: Amendatory repayment contract for remedial work.
    (8) Arbuckle Master Conservancy District, Arbuckle Project, 
Oklahoma: Contract for the repayment of costs of the construction of 
the Sulphur, Oklahoma, pipeline and pumping plant (if constructed).
    (12) Belle Fourche Irrigation District, Belle Fourche Unit, P-SMBP, 
South Dakota: Amendment to Contract No. 5-07-60-WR170. The amendment 
will initiate the repayment period for the rehabilitation and 
betterment work to begin June 30, 1996. The amendment will also provide 
an additional $10.5 million for additional rehabilitation and 
betterment work.

    Dated: July 18, 1996.
Wayne O. Deason,
Assistant Director, Program Analysis Office.
[FR Doc. 96-20230 Filed 8-7-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-P