[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 141 (Friday, July 21, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45404-45406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18488]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of proposed contractual actions that 
are new, modified, discontinued, or completed since the last 
publication of this notice on April 19, 2000. The January 21, 2000, 
notice should be used as a reference point to identify changes. This 
annual notice should be used as a point of reference to identify 
changes in future notices. 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 L. 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 2000. 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
(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

[[Page 45405]]

(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 action:
    13. Okanogan ID, Okanogan Project, Washington: SOD contract to 
repay District's share of cost of dam safety repairs to Salmon Lake 
Dam. Contract executed July 2000.
    Mid-Pacific Region: Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, 
Sacramento, California 95825-1898, telephone 916-978-5250.
    New contract actions:
    38. Banta-Carbona and The West Side IDs, CVP, California: 
Assignment of 5,000 acre-feet of each district's water service contract 
to the City of Tracy. The assignment will require approval of the 
Districts' CVP irrigation water to M&I water.
    39. Friant Water Users Authority and San Luis and Delta-Mendota 
Water Authority, CVP, California: Amendments to the Operation, 
Maintenance, and Replacement and Certain Financial and Administrative 
Activities' Agreements to implement certain changes to the Direct 
Funding provisions to comply with applicable Federal law.
    40. Monterey County Water Resources Agency, SRPA, California: 
Proposed contract amendment to provide for deferral of installments of 
construction charges under a SRPA loan repayment contract.
    41. Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency, SRPA, 
California: Proposed contract amendment to provide for deferral of 
installments of construction charges under a SRPA loan repayment 
contract.
    Modified contract actions:
    1. Irrigation water districts, individual irrigators, M&I and 
miscellaneous water users, Mid-Pacific Region projects other than CVP: 
Temporary (interim) water service contracts for available Project water 
for irrigation, M&I, or fish and wildlife purposes providing up to 
10,000 acre-feet of water annually for terms up to 5 years; temporary 
Warren Act contracts for use of Project facilities for terms up to 1 
year; temporary conveyance agreements with the State of California for 
various purposes; long-term contracts for similar service for up to 
1,000 acre-feet annually. Note. Copies of the standard forms of 
temporary water service contracts for the various types of service are 
available upon written request from the Regional Director at the 
address shown above.
    3. Redwood Valley County WD, SRPA, California: Restructuring the 
repayment schedule pursuant to Public Law 100-516.
    21. Horsefly, Klamath, Langell Valley, and Tulelake IDs, Klamath 
Project, Oregon: Repayment contract for SOD work on Clear Lake Dam.
    31. Tehama-Colusa Canal Authority, CVP, California: Amendment of 
existing long-term O&M agreement to also include the O&M of the Red 
Bluff Diversion Dam and related facilities and to implement certain 
changes to the Direct Funding provisions of the O&M Agreement to comply 
with applicable Federal law.
    Completed contract action:
    28. Contra Costa WD, CVP, California: Amend water service contract 
No. I75r-3401 for the purpose of renegotiating the provisions of 
contract Article 12, ``Water Shortage and Apportionment,'' to conform 
to current CVP M&I water shortage policy. Contract executed February 7, 
2000.
    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:
    61. Gila River Farms, Arizona: Amendment of SRPA contract to 
restructure the repayment schedule.
    62. Central Arizona Water Conservation District, CAP, Arizona: 
Agreement for delivery of CAP excess water to the Gila River Indian 
Community and the San Carlos IDD in exchange for San Carlos reservoir 
water.
    63. Lichfield Park Service Company, CAP, Arizona: Proposed 
assignments of 5,580 acre-feet of CAP M&I water to the Central Arizona 
Groundwater Replenishment District and to the cities of Avondale, 
Carefree, and Goodyear.
    64. Shepard Water Company, Inc., Arizona: Contract for the delivery 
of 50 acre-feet of domestic water.
    Modified contract action:
    28. Arizona State Land Department, BCP, Arizona: Colorado River 
water delivery contract for 1,535 acre-feet per year for domestic use.
    Discontinued contract action:
    50. Litchfield Park Service Company, CAP, Arizona: Assignment of 
1,200 acre-feet per year of CAP M&I water to the City of Scottsdale.
    Completed contract actions:
    35. Bureau of Land Management, BCP, Arizona: Agreement for 4,010 
acre-feet per year of Colorado River water in accordance with 
Secretarial Reservations.
    39. McMicken ID, CAP, Arizona: Assignment of 486 acre-feet of M&I 
water per year to the City of Peoria.
    53. Arizona State Land Department, CAP, Arizona: Assignment of 
1,500 acre-feet per year of CAP water from the Arizona State Land 
Department to the City of Mesa.
    Upper Colorado Region: Bureau of Reclamation, 125 South State 
Street, Room 6107, Salt Lake City, Utah 84138-1102, telephone 801-524-
4419.
    Discontinued contract action:
    4. William Nielson, Dolores Project, Colorado: Carriage contract 
with William Nielson to carry up to 1.5 cfs of non-project water in 
project facilities under the authority of the Warren Act of 1911. 
Contract is not being pursued.
    Completed contract action:
    18. 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 160 to 750 acres, 
pursuant to the WCUA of 1939. Amendatory contract signed.
    Great Plains Region: Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box 36900, Federal 
Building, 316 North 26th Street, Billings, Montana 59107-6900, 
telephone 406-247-7730.
    Modified contract actions:
    3. Ruedi Reservoir, Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, Colorado: Second 
round water sales from the regulatory capacity of Ruedi Reservoir. 
Water service and repayment contracts for up to 17,000 acre-feet 
annually for M&I use; contract with Colorado Water Conservation Board 
and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for 10,825 acre-feet for 
endangered fishes.
    9. Angostura ID, Angostura Unit, P-SMBP, South Dakota: The District 
had a contract for water service which expired on December 31, 1995. An 
interim 3-year contract provided for a continuing water supply and the 
District to O&M 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. A BON is currently being 
developed for a long-term contract. Another interim 3-year contract was 
executed on June 9, 2000, to provide for a continuing water supply and 
allow adequate time for completion of the Environmental Impact 
Statement for long-term contract renewal.
    11. P-SMBP, Kansas and Nebraska: Anticipate executing the long-term 
water supply renewal contracts with Kansas-Bostwick, Bostwick in 
Nebraska, Frenchman Valley, Frenchman-Cambridge, and Almena IDs by the 
end of July 2000. The renewed long-term water service contracts will 
take effect January 1, 2001. A Notice of Availability for Draft 
Contracts was published on May 16, 2000. A Notice of Availability for 
the FEIS was published on June 19, 2000.

[[Page 45406]]

    14. P-SMBP, Kansas: Water service contracts with Kirwin and Webster 
IDs in the Solomon River Basin in Kansas were extended for a period of 
4 years in accordance with Public Law 104-326 enacted October 19, 1996. 
Water service contracts will be renewed prior to expiration.
    21. Lower Marias Unit, P-SMBP, Montana: Water service contract 
expires in July 2000. Initiating renewal of existing contract for 25 
years for up to 480 acre-feet of storage from Tiber Reservoir to 
irrigate 160 acres. Received approved BON from the Commissioner. 
Currently performing a water availability study and consulting with the 
Tribes regarding the Water Rights Compact. A 1-year interim contract 
will be issued to continue delivery of water until the necessary 
actions can be completed to renew a long-term contract.
    22. 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. A 1-year temporary contract has been 
issued to allow additional time to complete necessary actions required 
for the long-term contract. Another 1-year temporary has been issued to 
continue delivery of water until the long-term renewal process can be 
completed.
    23. Lower Marias Unit, P-SMBP, Montana: Water service contract 
expired May 2000. Initiating renewal of existing long-term contract for 
25 years for up to 4,570 acre-feet of storage from Tiber Reservoir to 
irrigate 2,285 acres. Currently performing a water availability study 
and consulting with the Tribes regarding the Water Rights Compact. A 1-
year interim contract has been issued to continue delivery of water 
until the necessary actions can be completed to renew the long-term 
contract. Another 1-year temporary will be issued to continue delivery 
of water until the long-term renewal process can be completed.
    25. Savage ID, P-SMBP, Montana: A second interim contract has been 
entered into with the District. The District is currently seeking Title 
Transfer. The contract is subject to renewal on an annual basis pending 
outcome of the title transfer process.
    29. Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, Colorado: Pueblo Board of Water 
Works, long-term storage contract.
    31. Canyon Limited Liability (Individual), P-SMBP, Boysen Unit, 
Wyoming: Contract for up to 16 acre-feet of supplemental irrigation 
water to service 4 acres.
    34. Tom Green County and Improvement District No. 1, San Angelo 
Project, Texas: The irrigation district has requested a deferment of 
its 2000 construction payment. The deferment has been approved by the 
Secretary of the Interior. A public notice for this action was printed 
in the San Angelo Times. The 60-day comment period ends July 3, 2000.
    42. Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, Colorado: Pueblo Board of Water 
Works, long-term conveyance contract.
    4. Completed contract action:
    13. Fort Shaw ID, Sun River Project, Montana: Contract for SOD 
costs for repairs to Willow Creek Dam. The proposed contract for the 
emergency repairs has been combined with the contract for repayment of 
additional SOD work as outlined in the approval memorandum dated 
November 17, 1999. Contract executed January 10, 2000.

    Dated: July 17, 2000.
Wayne O. Deason,
Associate Director, Office of Policy.
[FR Doc. 00-18488 Filed 7-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P