[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 50 (Monday, March 16, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12818-12819]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6665]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Operation and Maintenance Rate Adjustment: San Carlos Irrigation 
Project, Arizona

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 San Carlos Irrigation Project for 
1998. The following table illustrates the impact of the rate 
adjustment.

    San Carlos Irrigation Project Irrigation Rate Per Assessable Acre   
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        1997      1998  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rate................................................    $30.00    $20.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------

COMMENTS: On September 17, 1997, the Bureau of Indian Affairs published 
a notice in the Federal Register, 62 FR 44992, proposing to adjust the 
assessment rates for operating and maintaining the San Carlos 
Irrigation Project, Arizona, for 1998, 1999, and subsequent years. The 
notice of proposed rate adjustment provided a thirty (30) day public 
comment period. No comments were received for the proposed adjustment 
to the assessment for 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Area Director, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, Phoenix Area Office, P.O. Box 10, Phoenix, Arizona 85001, 
telephone (602) 379-6956.

DATES: The new irrigation assessment rate for 1998 will become 
effective upon publication of this notice.

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 Section 171.1(e) of part 
171, Subchapter H, Chapter 1, of Title 25 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations, which provides for fixing and announcing the rates for 
annual operation and maintenance assessments and related information 
for BIA operated and owned irrigation projects.
    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;

[[Page 12819]]

    (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).

Executive Order 12988

    The Department has certified to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) that this rate adjustment meets the applicable standards provided 
in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988.

Executive Order 12866

    This rate adjustment is not a significant regulatory action and has 
been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive 
Order 12866.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This rate making is not a rule for the purposes of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act because it is ``a rule of particular applicability 
relating to rates.'' 5 U.S.C. Sec. 601(2).

Executive Order 12630

    The Department has determined that this rate adjustment does not 
have significant ``takings'' implications.

Executive Order 12612

    The Department has determined that this rate adjustment does not 
have significant Federalism effects because it pertains solely to 
Federal-tribal relations and will not interfere with the roles, rights, 
and responsibilities of states.

NEPA Compliance

    The Department has determined that this rate adjustment does not 
constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality 
of the human environment and that no detailed statement is required 
under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    This rate adjustment does not contain collections of information 
requiring approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

Unfunded Mandates Act of 1995

    This rate adjustment imposes no unfunded mandates on any 
governmental or private entity and is in compliance with the provisions 
of the Unfunded Mandates Act of 1995.

    Dated: March 5, 1998.
Kevin Gover,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 98-6665 Filed 3-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-02-P