[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 81 (Monday, April 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22965-22968]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10880]


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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 February 10, 1997. The February 10, 1997, 
notice should be used as a reference point to identify changes. This 
notice is one of a variety of means used to inform the public about 
proposed 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 news 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 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, Contracts, 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 the 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, 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 1997. 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 
proposals 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 project office of Reclamation.
    3. Written correspondence regarding proposed contracts may be made

[[Page 22966]]

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 requested the contract in 
response to the initial public notice.

Acronym Definitions Used Herein

(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
(PPR)  Present Perfected Right
(RRA)  Reclamation Reform Act
(NEPA)  National Environmental Policy Act
(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 
February 10, 1997, Federal Register notice.

Pacific Northwest Region

    Bureau of Reclamation, 1150 North Curtis Road, Boise, Idaho 83706-
1234, telephone 208-378-5346.

New Contract Actions

    27. The Dalles ID, The Dalles Project, Oregon: Amendatory SRPA loan 
repayment contract to modify the repayment schedule, including 
extension of repayment period from 30 to 34 years.

Modified Contract Actions

    1. Irrigation, M&I, and Miscellaneous Water Users; Idaho, Oregon, 
Washington, Montana, and Wyoming: Temporary or interim water service 
contracts for irrigation, M&I, or miscellaneous use to provide up to 
10,000 acre-feet of water annually for terms up to 5 years; long-term 
contracts for similar service for up to 1,000 acre-feet of water 
annually.
    10. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Boise-Kuna ID, Boise 
Project, Idaho: Memorandum of Agreement for the use of approximately 
400 acre-feet of storage space annually in Anderson Ranch Reservoir. 
Water to be used for wildlife mitigation purposes (ponds and wetlands).
    12. Willamette Basin Water Users, Willamette Basin Project, Oregon: 
One water service contract for the exchange of up to 112 acre-feet of 
water for diversion above project reservoirs. (Executed one exchange 
contract on January 16, 1997).
    24. J. R. Simplot Company and Micron Technology, Inc., Boise 
Project, Idaho: Long-term contract for 3,000 acre-feet of Anderson 
Ranch Reservoir storage for M&I use.
    25. Eagle Island Water Users Association, Inc., Boise Project, 
Idaho: Amendment and partial recision of water service contract to 
reduce the Association's spaceholding in Lucky Peak Reservoir by 
approximately 5,300 acre-feet, thereby allowing use of this space by 
Reclamation for flow augmentation.

Contract Actions Discontinued

    6. Ochoco ID and Various Individual Spaceholders, Crooked River 
Project, Oregon: Repayment contract for reimbursable cost of dam safety 
repairs to Arthur R. Bowman Dam.

Contract Actions Completed

    12. Willamette Basin Water Users, Willamette Basin Project, Oregon: 
One water service contract for the exchange of up to 112 acre-feet of 
water for diversion above project reservoirs. (Executed one exchange 
contract on January 16, 1997).
    22. Burley ID, Minidoka Project, Idaho: Warren Act contract with 
cost of service charge to allow for use of project facilities to convey 
nonproject water.

Mid-Pacific Region

    Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California 
95825-1898, telephone 916-979-2401.

New Contract Actions

    23. East Bay Municipal Utility District, CVP, California: Amendment 
to the long-term water service contract No. 14-06-200-5183A, to change 
the points of diversion.
    24. Madera ID, Lindsay-Strathmore ID, and Delta Lands Reclamation 
District No. 770, CVP, California: Execution of 2- to 3-year Warren Act 
contracts for conveyance of nonproject water in the Friant-Kern and/or 
Madera Canals when excess capacity exists.
    25. Solano County Water Agency, Solano Project, California: Renewal 
of water service contract No. 14-06-200-4090, which expires February 
28, 1999.
    26. Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County; Washoe and Truckee Storage 
Projects; Nevada and California: Contract for the storage of non-
Federal water in Truckee River reservoirs as authorized by Pub. L. 101-
618 and consistent with the terms and conditions of the Truckee River 
Water Quality Settlement Agreement.
    27. Sierra Pacific Power Company; Washoe and Truckee Storage 
Projects; Nevada and California: Contract for the storage of non-
Federal water in Truckee River reservoirs as authorized by Pub. L. 101-
618 and consistent with the terms and conditions of the proposed 
Truckee River Operating Agreement.

Contract Actions Modified

    8. El Dorado County Water Agency, San Juan WD, and Sacramento 
County Water Agency, CVP, California: M&I water service contracts to 
supplement existing water supply: 15,000 acre-feet for El Dorado County 
Water Agency, 13,000 acre-feet for San Juan WD, and 22,000 acre-feet 
for Sacramento County Water Agency, authorized by Pub. L. 101-514.
    18. Santa Clara Valley WD, CVP, California: Agreement for the 
conditional reallocation of a portion of Santa Clara Valley WD's annual 
CVP contract water supply to San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority 
members. The purpose of the conditional reallocation is to improve 
overall management and establish more reliable water supplies without 
imposing additional demands or operational changes upon the CVP.

[[Page 22967]]

    20. Santa Barbara County Water Agency, Cachuma Project, California: 
Contract to transfer responsibility for O&M and O&M funding of certain 
Cachuma Project facilities to the member units.
    21. Stony Creek WD, Black Butte Dam and Lake, Sacramento River 
Division, CVP, California: A proposed amendment of Stony Creek WD's 
water service contract No. 2-07-20-W0261, to allow the Contractor to 
change from paying for all Project water, whether used or not, to 
paying only for Project water scheduled or delivered and to add another 
month to the irrigation period.
    22. M&T, Inc., Sacramento River Division, CVP, California: A 
proposed exchange agreement with M&T, Inc., to take its Butte Creek 
water rights water from the Sacramento River in exchange for CVP water.

Contract Actions Completed

    13. Napa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, 
Solano Project, California: Amend water service contract to decrease 
quantity.
    Action: Contract No. 14-06-200-1290A executed on February 25, 1997.

Lower Colorado Region

    Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box 61470 (Nevada Highway and Park 
Street), Boulder City, Nevada 89006-1470, telephone 702-293-8536.

New Contract Actions

    57. Berneil Water Co., CAP, Arizona: Subcontracts associated with 
partial assignment of water service to the City of Scottsdale and Cave 
Creek Water Company.
    58. Tohono O'odham Nation, CAP, Arizona: Repayment contract for 
construction costs associated with distribution system on Central 
Arizona Irrigation and Drainage District.
    59. Tohono O'odham Nation, Arizona: Contracts for Schuk Toak and 
San Xavier Districts for repayment of Federal expenditures for 
construction of distribution systems.
    60. Arizona State Land Department, Arizona: Water delivery contract 
for delivery of up to 9,000 acre-feet per year of unused apportionment 
and surplus Colorado River water.
    61. 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.

Contract Actions Modified

    10. Holpal Miscellaneous Perfected Right, BCP, Arizona: Assign a 
portion of the PPR to McNulty et. al., for PPR water entitlement on 
Decree-described lands previously owned by Hopal.
    34. San Diego County Water Authority, San Diego, California, San 
Diego Project: Title transfer to Barrel 1 of the San Diego Aqueduct 
composed of over 70 miles from its connection with the Colorado River 
Aqueduct near the west portal of the San Jacinto Tunnel in Riverside 
County, and Barrel 2 of the San Diego Aqueduct, composed of over 154 
miles of pipeline, 94 miles of which extends from the Colorado River 
Aqueduct near Hemet, in Riverside County to Lower Otay Reservoir, and 
approximately 59.7 miles of which extends from the Colorado River 
Aqueduct near Hemet to Alvarado Treatment Plant near Lake Murray.
    42. Salt River Project Inc., Salt River Project, Arizona: Change 
funding agreement to repayment contract for SOD construction activities 
at Horse Mesa Dam and Mormon Flat Dam.

Contract Actions Completed

    28. City of Scottsdale and other M&I water subcontractors, CAP, 
Arizona: Subcontract amendments associated with assignment of M&I water 
service subcontracts from Camp Verde Water System, Inc., Cottonwood 
Water Works, Inc., Mayer Domestic Water Improvement District, City of 
Nogales, Rio and Rico Utilities', Inc., to provide the City of 
Scottsdale with an additional 17,823 acre-feet of CAP water.
    31. Chandler Heights Citrus ID, CAP, Arizona: Amend distribution 
system repayment contract No. 6-07-30-W0119 to increase the repayment 
obligation approximately $114,000.
    33. Arizona Sierra Utility Company, CAP, Arizona: Assignment to the 
Town of Florence of 407 acre-feet of CAP M&I water allocation under 
subcontract from Central Arizona Water Conservation District.
    45. Arizona State Land Department/City of Scottsdale, CAP, Arizona: 
Amend ASLD's CAP water service subcontract to decrease CAP water 
entitlement by 530 acre-feet.
    46. Brooke Water Co., LLC, CAP Arizona: Assignment of subcontract 
for M&I water service to City of Apache Junction.
    47. Canada Hills Water Co., CAP, Arizona: Assignment of subcontract 
for M&I water service to Town of Oro Valley.

Upper Colorado Region

    Bureau of Reclamation, 125 South State Street, Room 6107, Salt Lake 
City, Utah 84138-1102, telephone 801-524-4419.

New Contract Actions

    1.(c) Dr. Henry Estess: Wayne N. Aspinall Unit, CRSP, Colorado: 
Contract for 30 acre-feet of M&I water from Blue Mesa Reservoir for 
augmentation to replace evaporative losses from a fishery/wildlife area 
on his property.
    1.(d) Crested Butte South Metropolitan District: Aspinall Unit, 
CRSP, Colorado: Contract for 13 acre-feet for domestic, municipal, and 
irrigation (including irrigation of lawns and golf course).
    21. Country Aire Estates, Forrest Groves Estates, and Los 
Ranchitos, Florida Project, Colorado: Water service contracts for a 
total of 86 acre-feet annually of domestic water as replacement water 
in State of Colorado approved augmentation plans. The water supply for 
these contracts are flow rights purchased and owned by the United 
States for project development and are not specifically a part of the 
project water supply.

Contract Actions Completed

    1.(a) Castle Mountain Ranches L.L.C., Wayne N. Aspinall Unit, CRSP, 
Colorado: Contract for 30 acre-feet of M&I water from Blue Mesa 
Reservoir for domestic, municipal, and irrigation (including irrigation 
of laws and golf courses).
    1.(b) VanDeHey, Vernon and Linda, Wayne N. Aspinall Unit, CRSP, 
Colorado: Contract for 1 acre-foot for augmentation plan to replace the 
consumptive use of water for domestic and industrial use only.
    12. Salt Lake County Water Conservancy District and Central Utah 
Water Conservancy District, CUP, Utah: Contract to provide the Bureau 
of Reclamation with perpetual use of 7,900 acre-feet of water annually 
for storage in the Jordanelle Reservoir.

Great Plains Region

    Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box 36900, Federal Building, 316 North 
26th Street, Billings, Montana 59107-6900, telephone 406-247-7730.

New Contract Actions

    27. Lower Marias Unit, P-SMBP, Montana: Water service contract 
expires June 1997. Initiating renewal of existing contract for 25 years 
for up to 480 acre-feet of storage from Tiber Reservoir to irrigate 160 
acres.
    28. Lower Marias Unit, P-SMBP, Montana: Initiating 25-year water 
service contract for up to 750 acre-feet of storage from Tiber 
Reservoir to irrigate 250 acres.

[[Page 22968]]

Contract Actions Modified

    1. Individual Irrigators, M&I, and Miscellaneous Water Users; 
Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South 
Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming: Temporary (interim) water service contracts 
for the sale, conveyance, storage, and exchange of surplus project 
water and nonproject water for irrigation or M&I use to provide up to 
10,000 acre-feet of water annually for a term up to 1 year.
    3. Ruedi Reservoir, Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, Colorado: Second 
round water sales from the regulatory capacity of Ruedi Reservoir. 
Negotiation of water service and repayment contracts for approximately 
17,000 acre-feet annually for M&I use; contract with Colorado Water 
Conservation Board for remaining 21,650 acre-feet of marketable yield 
for interim use by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for benefit of 
endangered fishes in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
    12. Enders Dam, Frenchman-Cambridge Division, Frenchman Unit, 
Nebraska: Repayment contract for proposed SOD modifications to Enders 
Dam for repair of seeping drainage features. Estimated cost of the 
repairs is $632,000. Approval has been obtained to modify the repayment 
period of the SOD costs for up to 10 years.
    17. Canyon Ferry Unit, P-SMBP, Montana: Water service contract with 
Montana Tunnels Mining, Inc., expires June 1997.

Contract Actions Discontinued

    11. Angostura ID, Angostura Unit, P-SMBP, South Dakota: The 
District's current contract for water service expired on December 31, 
1995. An interim 3-year contract provides for the District to operate 
and maintain the dam and reservoir. The proposed long-term contract 
would provide a continued water supply for the District and the 
District's continued O&M of the facility.

    Dated: April 21, 1997.
Wayne O. Deason,
Deputy Director, Program Analysis Office.
[FR Doc. 97-10880 Filed 4-25-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-P