[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 82 (Friday, April 27, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21176-21179]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10483]


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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 March 5, 2001. The March 5, 2001, 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 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

[[Page 21177]]

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 2001. 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
Reclamation--Bureau of Reclamation
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
WD--Water District
    Pacific Northwest Region: Bureau of Reclamation, 1150 North Curtis 
Road, Suite 100, Boise, Idaho 83706-1234, telephone 208-378-5346.
    New contract action:
    20. Twenty-two irrigation districts of the Storage Division, Yakima 
Project, Washington: Repayment agreements for the reimbursable cost of 
SOD modifications to Keechelus Dam.
    Discontinued contract action:
    19. Tualatin Valley ID, Tualatin Project, Oregon: Amendatory 
contract to allow for the addition of 419.5 acres and appropriate 
District obligation adjustments. District no longer want to pursue an 
amendatory contract.
    Mid-Pacific Region: Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, 
Sacramento, California 95825-1898, telephone 916-978-5250.
    New contract action:
    48. 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 Public 
Law 101-618; Nevada and California: Contract for the storage of non-
Federal water in Truckee River reservoirs as authorized by Public Law 
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.
    Modified contract actions:
    2. Contractors from the American River Division, Cross Valley 
Canal, Delta Division, Sacramento River Division, San Felipe Division, 
Shasta Division, Trinity River Division, and West San Joaquin Division, 
CVP, California: Early renewal of existing long-term contracts; long-
term renewal of the interim renewal water service contracts expiring in 
2002; water quantities for these contracts total in excess of 3.4M 
acre-feet. These contract actions will be accomplished through long-
term renewal contracts pursuant to Public Law 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.
    40. Clear Creek Community Services District, CVP, California: 
Contract to transfer title to the distribution system to the District.
    42. Foresthill Public Utility District, CVP, California: Title 
transfer agreement for conveyance of CVP facilities. This agreement 
will allow transfer of title for Sugarpine Dam and appurtenant 
facilities from the CVP to Foresthill Public Utility District.
    43. Carpinteria WD, Cachuma Project, California: Contract to 
transfer title to Carpinteria distribution system to the District. 
Title transfer subject to Congressional ratification.
    44. Montecito WD, Cachuma Project, California: Contract to transfer 
title to Monticito distribution system to the District. Title transfer 
subject to Congressional ratification.
    45. Delano-Earlimart, Exeter, Ivanhoe, Lindmore, Lindsay-
Strathmore, Madera, Shafter Wasco, and Stone Corral IDs; South San 
Joaquin Municipal Utilities District; and Tea Pot Dome WD, Friant Unit, 
CVP, California: Contract to transfer title of 11 distribution systems 
to the respective districts. All title transfers subject to 
Congressional ratification.
    Discontinued contract actions:
    34. 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 
conversion of the districts' CVP irrigation water to M&I water. The

[[Page 21178]]

districts are not pursuing this action at this time.
    Completed 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 contracts; long-term renewal of the 
interim renewal water service contracts expiring in 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 Public Law 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. Twenty-seven long-term water service contracts 
with quantities totaling 2.2M acre-feet were awarded to contractors in 
the Buchanan Unit, Friant Division, and Hidden Unit in the months of 
January and February 2001, with expiration dates of February 28, 2026.
    5. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish 
and Game, Grasslands WD, CVP, California: Water service contracts to 
provide water supplies for refuges and private wetlands within the CVP 
pursuant to Public Law 102-575 and Federal Reclamation Laws; quantity 
to be contracted for is approximately 450,000 acre-feet. Contracts have 
been executed.
    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:
    56. Gila River Indian Community, Arizona: Amend CAP distribution 
contract to incorporate the archeological repository named the Huhugam 
Heritage Center as part of the project works as defined in the 
contract.
    57. Sonny Gowan, BCP, California: Request to lease up to 175 acre-
feet of his PPR water to Moabi Regional Park.
    58. Golden Shores Water Conservation District, BCP, Arizona: 
Amendment of water delivery contract to recognize that some private 
lands outside the District, but within its exterior boundaries, have 
been included within the District's boundaries.
    59. Yuma County Water Users Association, Colorado River Front Work 
and Levee System, Arizona: Contract providing for operation, 
maintenance, and replacement of drainage facilities.
    60. North Baja Pipeline, BCP, Arizona: Contract assignment of 
agricultural water from Jamar Produce Corporation to North Baja 
Pipeline.
    61. Jessen Family Limited Partnership, BCP, Arizona: Partial 
contract assignment of agricultural water from Arlin Dulin to Jessen 
Family Limited Partnership.
    Upper Colorado Region: Bureau of Reclamation, 125 South State 
Street, Room 6107, Salt Lake City, Utah 84138-1102, telephone 801-524-
4419.
    New contract actions:
    16. Twining Water and Sanitation District, San Juan-Chama Project, 
New Mexico: Assignment of M&I water service contract for 15 acre-feet 
per year to the Village of Taos Ski Valley and conversion of contract 
from water service to a repayment contract.
    17. Town of Taos, San Juan-Chama Project, New Mexico: Conversion of 
M&I water service contract for 400 acre-feet per year to a repayment 
contract.
    18. Various contractors, San Juan-Chama Project, New Mexico: Three 
potential contracts among the United States, Middle Rio Grande 
Conservancy District, and the City of Albuquerque to implement terms of 
Agreed Order Resolving Plaintiff's Motion for Preliminary Injunction, 
dated August 2, 2000, and the Supplement dated October 5, 2000.
    19. Mancos Water Conservancy District, Mancos Project, Colorado: 
Various carriage contracts with individual irrigators and the District 
to allow the carriage of up to 1,000 acre-feet of non-project 
irrigation water in project facilities under the authority of Public 
Law 106-549 for the Mancos Project.
    20. San Juan Water Commission, New Mexico, Animas-La Plata Project, 
Colorado and New Mexico: Cost-sharing/repayment contract for up to 
20,800 acre-feet per year of M&I water; contract terms to be consistent 
with the Colorado Ute Settlement Act Amendments of 2000 (Title III of 
Pub. L. 106-554).
    21. State of Colorado, Animas-La Plata Project, Colorado and New 
Mexico: Cost-sharing/repayment contract for up to 10,460 acre-feet per 
year of M&I water; contract terms to be consistent with the Colorado 
Ute Settlement Act Amendments of 2000 (Title III of Pub. L. 106-554).
    22. Animas-La Plata Water Conservancy District, Colorado, Animas-La 
Plata Project, Colorado and New Mexico: Cost-sharing/repayment contract 
for up to 5,200 acre-feet per year of M&I water; contract terms to be 
consistent with the Colorado Ute Settlement Act Amendments of 2000 
(Title III of Pub. L. 106-554).
    23. La Plata Conservancy District, New Mexico, Animas-La Plata 
Project, Colorado and New Mexico: Cost-sharing/repayment contract for 
up to 1,560 acre-feet per year of M&I water; contract terms to be 
consistent with the Colorado Ute Settlement Act Amendments of 2000 
(Title III of Pub. L. 106-554).
    Discontinued contract action:
    4. The National Park Service, Colorado Water Conservation Board, 
Wayne N. Aspinall Unit, CRSP, Colorado: Contract to provide specific 
river flow patterns in the Gunnison River through the Black Canyon of 
the Gunnison National Monument.
    Completed contract actions:
    1. Individual irrigators, M&I, and miscellaneous water users, 
Initial Units, CRSP; Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico: Temporary 
(interim) water service contracts for surplus project water for 
irrigation or M&I use to provide up to 10,000 acre-feet of water 
annually for terms up to 10 years; long-term contracts for similar 
service for up to 1,000 acre-feet of water annually.
    (e) Daggett County, Utah, Flaming Gorge Unit, CRSP, Utah: M&I water 
service contract covering payment for and delivery of 1,000 acre-feet 
of untreated water as required by Section 10(k)(2) of Public Law 105-
326. This contract has been executed.
    3. Carlsbad ID, Carlsbad Project, New Mexico: Contract to provide 
for repayment of the District's 15 percent share of proposed 
modifications to Avalon Dam under the SOD program. This contract has 
been executed.
    6. Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District, Wayne N. 
Aspinall Unit, CRSP, Colorado: Substitute supply plan for the 
administration of the Gunnison River.
    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:
    41. Milk River Project, Montana: City of Harlem water service 
contract expires July of 2002. Initiating negotiation for renewal of a 
water service contract for an annual supply of raw water for domestic 
use from the Milk River not to exceed 500 acre-feet. A 1-year interim 
contract may be issued to continue delivery of water from the Milk 
River below Fresno Reservoir until the necessary actions can be 
completed to renew the long-term contract.
    42. Milk River Project, Montana: City of Chester water service 
contract expires January of 2002. Initiating negotiation

[[Page 21179]]

for renewal of a water service contract for an annual supply of raw 
water for domestic use from the Milk River not to exceed 500 acre-feet. 
A 1-year interim contract may be issued to continue delivery of water 
from the Milk River below Fresno Reservoir until the necessary actions 
can be completed to renew the long-term contract.
    43. City of Dickinson, P-SMBP, Dickinson Unit, North Dakota: 
Negotiate a long-term water service contract with the City of Dickinson 
or Park Board, for minor amounts of water from Dickinson Dam.
    Modified contract actions:
    2. Green Mountain Reservoir, Colorado-Big Thompson Project, 
Colorado: Water service contracts for irrigation and M&I contracts for 
sale of water from the marketable yield to water users within the 
Colorado River Basin of western Colorado.
    9. Angostura ID, Angostura Unit, P-SMBP, South Dakota: 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. A BON 
for a long-term contract renewal has been approved by the 
Commissioner's Office.
    10. Cities of Loveland and Berthoud, Colorado, Colorado-Big 
Thompson Project, Colorado: Long-term contracts for conveyance of non-
project M&I water through Colorado-Big Thompson Project facilities.
    24. City of Fort Collins, Colorado-Big Thompson Project, Colorado: 
Long-term contracts for conveyance and storage of non-project M&I water 
through Colorado-Big Thompson Project facilities.
    25. Green Mountain Project, Colorado: Historic user pool surplus 
water for municipal recreation. This agreement is with the City of 
Grand Junction, City of Fruita, and the Town of Palisade.
    38. Helena Valley Unit, P-SMBP, Montana: Initiating negotiations 
for renewal of Part A of the A/B contract with Helena Valley ID which 
expires in 2004.
    Completed contract actions:
    26. Keith Bower (Individual), P-SMBP, Boysen Unit, Wyoming: 
Contract for up to 500 acre-feet of irrigation water to service 144 
acres.
    27. Canyon Limited Liability (Individual), P-SMBP, Boysen Unit, 
Wyoming: Contract for up to 16 acre-feet of supplemental irrigation 
water to service 4 acres.
    28. L.U. Sheep Company (Individual), P-SMBP, Boysen Unit, Wyoming: 
Contract for up to 60 acre-feet of irrigation water to service 180 
acres.
    29. 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 non-project water 
through Colorado-Big Thompson Project facilities.
    31. North Fork Valley Ditch (Individual), Shoshone Project, Buffalo 
Bill Dam, Wyoming: Exchange water service contract not to exceed 1,000 
acre-feet of water to service 855 acres.
    33. Denise J. Evans (Individual), Shoshone Project, Buffalo Bill 
Dam, Wyoming: Exchange water service contract not to exceed 100 acre-
feet of water to service 48.5 acres.

    Dated: April 17, 2001.
Elizabeth Cordova-Harrison,
Deputy Director, Office of Policy.
[FR Doc. 01-10483 Filed 4-24-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P