[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 158 (Friday, August 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43743-43744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21588]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Operation and Maintenance Rate Adjustment: Flathead Indian 
Irrigation Project, Montana

ACTION: Notice of proposed operation and maintenance rate increase.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs proposes to change the assessment 
rates for operating and maintaining the Flathead Indian Irrigation 
Project for 1998 and subsequent years from the current rate of $18.45 
per acre to $19.95 per acre, an increase of $1.50 per acre. The 
assessment rates are based on a prepared estimate of the cost of normal 
operation and maintenance of the irrigation project. Normal operation 
and maintenance means the expenses we incur to provide direct support 
or benefit to the project's activities for administration, operation, 
maintenance, and rehabilitation. We must include at least:
    (a) Personnel salary and benefits for the project engineer/manager 
and our employees under his management control;
    (b) Materials and supplies;
    (c) Major and minor vehicle and equipment repairs;
    (d) Equipment, including transportation, fuel, oil, grease, lease 
and replacement;
    (d) Capitalization expenses;
    (e) Acquisition expenses; and
    (f) Other expenses we determine necessary to properly perform the 
activities and functions characteristic of an irrigation project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Area Director, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, Portland Area Office, 911 N.E. 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 
97232-4169, telephone (503) 231-6702.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 15, 1997.

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 15, 1914 (38 Stat. 583, 25 U.S.C. 385). The

[[Page 43744]]

Secretary has delegated this authority to the Assistant Secretary--
Indian Affairs pursuant to part 209 Departmental Manual, Chapter 8. 1A 
and Memorandum dated January 25, 1994, from Chief of Staff, Department 
of the Interior, to Assistant Secretaries, and Heads of Bureaus and 
Offices.
    This notice is given in accordance with Section 171.1(e) of part 
171, Subchapter H, Chapter 1, of Title 25 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations, which provides for the fixing and announcing the rates for 
annual operation and maintenance assessments and related information of 
the Flathead Irrigation Project for Calendar Year 1998 and subsequent 
years.
    The purpose of this notice is to announce a proposed increase in 
the Flathead Irrigation Project assessment rates proportionate with 
actual operation and maintenance costs. The assessment rates for 1998 
will amount to an increase of 8.1%.

Payments

    The irrigation operation and maintenance assessments become due 
based on locally established payment requirements, but in no case later 
than May 30 of each irrigation season. No water shall be delivered to 
any of these lands until all irrigation charges have been paid.

Interest and Penalty Fees

    Interest, penalty, and administrative fees will be assessed, where 
required by law, on all delinquent operation and maintenance assessment 
charges as prescribed in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 4, part 
102, Federal Claims Collection Standards; and 42 BIAM Supplement 3, 
part 3.8 Debt Collection Procedures. Beginning 30 days after the due 
date interest will be assessed at the rate of the current value of 
funds to the U.S. Treasury. An administrative fee of $12.50 will be 
assessed each time an effort is made to collect a delinquent debt; a 
penalty charge of 6 percent per year will be charged on delinquent 
debts over 90 days old and will accrue from the date the debt became 
delinquent. No water shall be delivered to any farm unit until all 
irrigation charges have been paid. After 180 days a delinquent debt 
will be forwarded to the United States Treasury for further action in 
accordance with Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (Public Law 
104-134).

    Dated: July 31, 1997.
Ada E. Deer,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 97-21588 Filed 8-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-02-P