[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 238 (Thursday, December 11, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65282-65283]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-32397]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Operation and Maintenance Rate Adjustment: Fort Hall Irrigation 
Project; Idaho

ACTION: Notice of Operation and Maintenance (O&M) rate adjustment.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs is adjusting the assessment rates 
for operating and maintaining the Fort Hall Irrigation Project, Michaud 
Unit, for 1998, 1999, and subsequent years. The following table 
illustrates the impact of the rate adjustment.

Fort Hall Irrigation Project

Michaud Unit Irrigation Rate Per Assessable Acre

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Present    1998      1999  
               Rate category                  rate      rate      rate  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic rate................................    $25.50    $26.50    $27.50
Pressure rate.............................     37.50     38.50     39.50
------------------------------------------------------------------------

COMMENTS: On August 25, 1997, a notice was published in the Federal 
Register, Volume 62, Number 164, Page 44992, by the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs proposing to adjust the assessment rates for operating and 
maintaining the Fort Hall Irrigation Project, Michaud Unit, for 1998, 
1999 and subsequent years. A 30-day public comment period was provided 
for the proposed irrigation rate adjustment. No comments were received.

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: The new irrigation assessment rates will become effective upon 
publication of this notice.


[[Page 65283]]


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 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 Sec. 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 
for BIA operated and owned irrigation projects.
    The purpose of this notice is to announce an adjustment in the 
Michaud Unit, Fort Hall Irrigation Project, assessment rates 
proportionate with actual operation and maintenance costs. The change 
in the assessment rate is based on the electrical energy cost increase 
imposed by the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR). In September 1996 the BOR 
notified us they are increasing the electrical energy charge for its 
users. The rate was set at 12.70 mills per kilowatt hour, an increase 
of 19.5%. The increased electrical energy cost was absorbed by the 
project during the 1997 irrigation season.
    The assessment rates are based on an 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/her 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.

Payments

    The irrigation operation and maintenance assessments become due 
based on locally established payment requirements. 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. After 180-days, a delinquent debt will be forwarded to the 
United States Treasury for further action in accordance with the Debt 
Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-134).

    Dated: December 3, 1997.
Kevin Gover,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 97-32397 Filed 12-10-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-02-P