[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 203 (Thursday, October 21, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56807-56809]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27471]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Quarterly Status Report of Water Service, Repayment, and Other 
Water-Related 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 July 21, 1999. The January 22, 1999, 
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: Sandra Simons, Manager, Water 
Contracts and Repayment Office, Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box 25007, 
Denver, Colorado 80225-0007, telephone 303-445-2902.

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 1999. 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 
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

(BON) Basis of Negotiation
(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

[[Page 56808]]

(ID) Irrigation District
(M&I) Municipal and Industrial
(NEPA) National Environmental Policy Act
(O&M) Operation and Maintenance
(P-SMBP) Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program
(PPR) Present Perfected Right
(RRA) Reclamation Reform Act
(R&B) Rehabilitation and Betterment
(SOD) Safety of Dams
(SRPA) Small Reclamation Projects Act
(WCUA) Water Conservation and Utilization Act
(WD) Water District

    Pacific Northwest Region: Bureau of Reclamation, 1150 North Curtis 
Road, Suite 100, Boise, Idaho 83706-1234, telephone 208-378-5346.
    Completed contract actions:
    17. Juniper Flat District Improvement Company, Wapinitia Project, 
Oregon: Repayment contract for reimbursable cost of dam safety repairs 
to Wasco Dam. This contract was executed in August 1999.
    Mid-Pacific Region: Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, 
Sacramento, California 95825-1898, telephone 916-978-5250.
    New contract actions:
    41. Resource Renewal Institute, CVP, California: Proposed water 
purchase agreement with Resource Renewal Institute for the permanent 
purchase of water rights on Butte Creek for instream flow purposes.
    42. Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency, CVP, California: 
Execution of a long-term Operations Agreement for flood control 
operations of Folsom Dam and Reservoir to allow for recovery of costs 
associated with operating a variable flood control pool of 400,000 to 
670,000 acre-feet of water during the flood control season. This 
agreement is to conform to Federal law.
    Modified contract actions:
    2. Contractors from the American River Division, Buchanan Unit, 
Cross Valley Canal, Delta Division, Friant Division, Hidden Unit, 
Sacramento River Division, San Felipe Division, Shasta Division, 
Trinity River Division, and West San Joaquin Division, CVP, California: 
Early renewal of existing long-term and interim renewal water service 
contracts with contractors having contracts which expire between 2000 
and 2001; water quantities for these contracts total in excess of 5.6M 
acre-feet. These contract actions will be accomplished through long-
term renewal contracts pursuant to Pub. L. 102-575. Prior to completion 
of negotiation of long-term renewal contracts, existing interim renewal 
water service contracts may be renewed through successive interim 
renewal of contracts.
    14. Mercy Springs WD, CVP, California: Partial assignment of about 
7,000 acre-feet of Mercy Springs WD's water service contract to 
Westlands WD for agricultural use.
    29. Widren WD, CVP, California: Assignment of 2,940 acre-feet of 
The District's water service contract to the City of Tracy. The 
assignment will require approval of conversion of the District's CVP 
irrigation water to M&I water.
    33. Sierra Pacific Power Company, Town of Fernley, State of 
California, City of Reno, City of Sparks, Washoe County, State of 
Nevada, Truckee-Carson ID, and any other local interest or Native-
American Tribal interest, who may have negotiated rights under Pub. L. 
101-618; Nevada and California: Contract for the storage of non-Federal 
water in Truckee River reservoirs as authorized by Pub. L. 101-618 and 
the Preliminary Settlement Agreement. The contracts shall be consistent 
with the Truckee River Water Quality Settlement Agreement and the terms 
and conditions of the proposed Truckee River Operating Agreement.
    Discontinued contract actions:
    22. 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.
    23. Sierra Pacific Power Company and Washoe County Water 
Conservation District; 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.
    Completed contract action:
    4. Sacramento River settlement contractors, CVP, California: 
Administrative policy for voluntary contract assignments which provides 
for repayment of O&M deficit(s), and payment by assignee of the CVP 
cost-of-service rate as determined in accordance with the current CVP 
ratesetting policy. Administrative policy letter dated October 15, 
1998, and in process of mailing fact sheet/policy to interested 
parties.

    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:
    64. Litchfield Park Service Company, CAP, Arizona: Assignment of 
1,200 acre-feet of CAP M&I water to the City of Scottsdale.
    65. Brooke Water, L.L.C., CAP, Arizona: Assignment of 3,932 acre-
feet of CAP M&I water to Circle City Water Company.
    66. California WDs, BCP, California: Incorporate into the water 
delivery contracts with several water districts (Coachella Valley WD, 
Imperial ID, Palo Verde ID, and The Metropolitan WD of Southern 
California), through new contracts, contract amendments, contract 
approvals, or other appropriate means, the agreement to be reached 
among those water districts to (i) quantity the Colorado River water 
entitlements for Coachella Valley WD and Imperial ID and (ii) provide a 
basis for water transfers among California water districts.
    67. Coachella Valley WD, BCP, California: Amend contract designated 
symbol 14-20-650, contract No. 631, which authorizes the United States 
to construct irrigation and drainage works for certain Indian lands 
within the District, to provide for construction of necessary 
facilities to allow water deliveries for irrigation of up to 322 acres 
of lands on the Torres-Martinez Indian Reservation located within the 
District's improvement district No. 1.
    Modified contract action:
    55. E&R Water Company, CAP, Arizona: Assignment of rights, title, 
and interest in CAP water delivery subcontract for 161 acre-feet of M&I 
water to Pine Water Company.
    Completed contract action:
    25. United States Navy, BCP, Niland, California: Contract for 23 
acre-feet of surplus Colorado River water for domestic use delivered 
through the Coachella Canal.
    Upper Colorado Region: Bureau of Reclamation, 125 South State 
Street, Room 6107, Salt Lake City, Utah 84138-1102, telephone 801-524-
3691.

    New contract actions:
    (h) R&D Investment, LTD., Aspinall Unit, CRSP, Colorado: Contract 
for 1 acre-foot to support augmentation plan. R&D Investment has filed 
an application with the Division 4 Water Court of the State of Colorado 
seeking decrees for up to seven domestic wells to serve R&D Investment 
with domestic, single-family, residential use; lawn and garden 
irrigation; and fire protection.
    20. Mancos Water Conservancy District, Mancos Project, Colorado: 
Amendment to repayment contract with the District to increase the farm 
unit size (for acreage limitation purposes) from

[[Page 56809]]

160 to 750 acres, pursuant to the Water Conservation and Utilization 
Act of 1939.
    Modified contract action:
    16. Dolores Water Conservancy District, Dolores Project, Colorado: 
Carriage contract with the District to carry up to 6,000 acre-feet of 
non-project water in project facilities under the authority of the 
Warren Act of 1911.
    Completed contract action:
    (g) Whetstone Vista L.L.C., Aspinall Unit, CRSP, Colorado: Contract 
for 1 acre-foot to support augmentation plans, Water Division Court No. 
4, State of Colorado (Case No. 96CW298), to provide for single-family 
residential use, irrigation, and livestock watering.
    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:
    43. Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Colorado-Big 
Thompson Project, Colorado: Acting by and through the Pleasant Valley 
Pipeline Project Water Activity Enterprise, beginning discussions and 
draft BON for a long-term contract for conveyance of nonproject water 
through Colorado-Big Thompson Project facilities.
    44. Tom Green County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1, 
San Angelo Project, Texas: The District is requesting a deferment of 
its 2000 construction payment. In the process of developing a BON.
    Modified contract actions:
    15. Fort Shaw ID, Sun River Project, Montana: Contract for SOD 
costs for repairs to Willow Creek Dam.
    20. Fort Clark ID, P-SMBP, North Dakota: Negotiation of water 
service contract to continue delivery of project water to the District.
    37. Greenfields ID, Sun River Project, Montana: Contract for 
additional SOD costs for repairs to Willow Creek Dam.
    Completed contract actions:
    35. Green Mountain Reservoir, Colorado-Big Thompson Project, 
Colorado: In compliance with the October 1996 Stipulation and 
Agreement, Orchard Mesa Check Case No. 91CW247, Colorado Water Division 
No. 5, Reclamation is currently negotiating a long-term Operating 
Agreement among Colorado Public Service Company of Colorado, Orchard 
Mesa ID, and Grand Valley Water Users Association, for delivery of 
surplus Green Mountain Reservoir water to the Federal Grand Valley 
Power Plant.
    37. Greenfields ID, Sun River Project, Montana: Contract for 
additional SOD costs for repairs to Willow Creek Dam. Contract has been 
executed.

    Dated: October 14, 1999.
A. Jack Garner,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Policy.
[FR Doc. 99-27471 Filed 10-20-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-P