[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 80 (Thursday, April 25, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20547-20549]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-10132]


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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 January 31, 2002. The January 31, 2002, 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 352 FR 11954, April 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 347 FR 7763, February 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 2002. 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

[[Page 20548]]

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 208-378-5223.
    New contract actions:
    23. Emmett ID and 12 individual contract spaceholders, Boise 
Project, Payette Division, Idaho: Repayment agreements or contracts for 
reimbursable costs of SOD modifications to Deadwood Dam.
    24. Greenberry ID, Willamette Basin Project, Oregon: Irrigation 
water service contract for approximately 7,500 acre-feet of project 
water.
    Discontinued contract actions:
    7. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Boise-Kuna ID, Boise 
Project, Idaho: Memorandum of agreement for the use of approximately 
400 acre-feet of storage space annually in Anderson Ranch Reservoir. 
Water to be used for wildlife mitigation purposes (ponds and wetlands).
    17. Wenatchee Heights Reclamation District, Washington: Deferment 
contract for the deferment of the District's annual installments due in 
2001 and 2002 under a Drought Act loan contract.
    18. Individual irrigation water user, Rogue River Basin Project, 
Oregon: Water service contract to provide 1,029 acre-feet of stored 
water from Lost Creek Reservoir (a Corps of Engineers' project) for the 
purpose of irrigation. Completed contract action:
    19. Roza ID, Yakima Project, Washington: Deferment contract for the 
deferment of the District's 2001 construction obligation under the 
Drought Act of 1959. Contract executed on February 6, 2002.
    Mid-Pacific Region: Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, 
Sacramento, California 95825-1898, telephone 916-978-5250. New contract 
action:
    39. Sacramento River Settlement Contracts, CVP, California: Up to 
145 contracts and one contract with Colusa Drain Mutual Water Company 
will be renewed; water quantities for these contracts total 2.2M acre-
feet. Colusa Drain Mutual Water Company will be renewed for a period of 
25 years, and the rest will be renewed for a period of 40 years. These 
contracts reflect an agreement to settle water rights' claims on the 
Sacramento River.
    Modified contract action:
    2. Contractors from the American River Division, Cross Valley 
Canal, Delta Division, Friant 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 2003; 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.
    Completed contract actions:
    12. Cachuma Operations and Maintenance Board, Cachuma Project, 
California: Temporary interim contract (not to exceed 1 year) to 
transfer responsibility of certain Cachuma Project facilities to member 
units. Temporary interim contract executed on January 1, 2002, and 
expires on June 30, 2002.
    15. Placer County Water Agency, CVP, California: Amendment of 
existing water service contract to allow for additional points of 
diversion and adjustment to CVP water quantities. The amended contract 
will conform to current Reclamation law. Amendatory contract executed 
on February 26, 2002.
    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 action
    47. Citizens Communications Company (Agua Fria Division), CAP, 
Arizona: Assignment of M&I water service subcontract rights and 
responsibilities to Arizona American Water Company (Sun City).
    Modified contract action:
    25. Phelps Dodge Miami, Inc., CAP, Arizona: Amendment of 
subcontract to extend the deadline until December 31, 2002, for giving 
notice of termination on exchange.
    Completed contract actions:
    28. Coachella Valley WD, BCP, California: Amend contract No. 14-20-
650-631 with Coachella Valley WD to include additional lands on the 
Torres Martinez Indian Reservation that are located within the 
District's Improvement District No. 1 which were reclassified and 
determined to be arable.
    31. San Carlos Apache Tribe, CAP, Arizona: Agreement among the San 
Carlos Apache Tribe, the Salt River Project, and the United States, for 
exchange of up to 14,000 acre-feet of Black River water for CAP water.
    32. San Carlos Apache Tribe, Arizona: Agreement among the San 
Carlos Apache Tribe, the United States, and the Phelps Dodge 
Corporation for the lease of CAP water.
    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:
    1. (f) David W. and Rebecca A. Dennis: Aspinall Unit, CRSP; 
Colorado: Contract for 1 acre-foot to support an augmentation plan, 
Case No. 01CW84, Water Division Court No. 4, State of Colorado, to 
provide for a single-family residential well, including in-house 
residential, limited lawn, pond evaporation, and livestock watering 
(non-commercial).
    1. (g) United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Aspinall Unit, 
CRSP; Colorado: Contract for 25 acre-feet to support an augmentation 
plan to provide water for the Hotchkiss Fish Hatchery ponds, used to 
grow out endangered fish, a part of the Endangered Fish Recovery 
Program.
    18. LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation, Glen Canyon Unit, CRSP, 
Arizona: Long-term contract for 950 acre-feet of water for municipal 
purposes.
    19. Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Dolores Project, Colorado: Short-term 
(5-year) carriage contract with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe to carry up 
to 3,500 acre-feet of non-project water in project facilities under the 
authority of the Warren Act of 1911.
    20. Pine River ID, Pine River Project, Colorado: Contract to allow 
the District to convert up to approximately 3,000 acre-feet of project 
irrigation water to municipal, domestic, and industrial uses.
    Modified contract action:
    2. Taos Area, San Juan-Chama Project, New Mexico: The United States 
is reserving 2,990 acre-feet of project water for potential use in an 
Indian water rights settlement in the Taos, New Mexico area.
    Completed contract actions:
    1. (c) Larry Allen: Aspinall Unit, CRSP; Colorado: Contract for 1 
acre-foot to support an augmentation plan, Case No. 01CW26, Water 
Division Court No. 4, State of Colorado, to provide for a single-family 
residential well, including home lawn and livestock watering (non-

[[Page 20549]]

commercial). Contract was executed March 20, 2002.
    1. (d) Karl Hipp: Aspinall Unit, CRSP; Colorado: Contract for 1 
acre-foot to support an augmentation plan, Case No. 01CW27, Water 
Division Court No. 4, State of Colorado, to provide for a single-family 
residential well, including home lawn and livestock watering (non-
commercial). Contract was executed March 4, 2002.
    1. (e) Oliver Woods: Aspinall Unit, CRSP; Colorado: Contract for 1 
acre-foot to support an augmentation plan, Case No. 01CW14, Water 
Division Court No. 4, State of Colorado, to provide for a single-family 
residential well, including home lawn and livestock watering (non-
commercial). Contract was executed March 20, 2002.
    16. 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 
Public Law 106-554). Contract was executed March 5, 2002.
    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. Miles Land and Livestock Co. (Individual), Kendrick Project, 
Alcova Reservoir, Wyoming: Negotiate long-term contract for annual 
conveyance of up to 153.27 acre-feet of non-project water through the 
Casper Canal, Wyoming.
    42. Helena Valley Unit, P-SMBP, Montana: The long-term water 
service contract with the City of Helena, Montana, expires December 31, 
2003. Initiating negotiations for contract renewal for an annual supply 
of raw water for domestic and M&I use from Helena Valley Reservoir not 
to exceed 5,680 acre-feet of water annually.
    Modified contract actions:
    17. Lower Marias Unit, P-SMBP, Montana: Water service contract with 
Robert A. Sisk expired in July 1998. Initiating long-term contract for 
the use of up to 600 acre-feet of storage water from Tiber Reservoir to 
irrigate 220 acres. Temporary/interim contracts are being issued to 
allow continued delivery of water and the time necessary to complete 
required actions for the long-term contract process.
    18. Lower Marias Unit, P-SMBP, Montana: Initiating renewal of long-
term water service contract with Julie Peterson for the use of up to 
717 acre-feet of storage water from Tiber Reservoir to irrigate 239 
acres. Temporary/interim contracts are being issued to allow continued 
delivery of water and the time necessary to complete required actions 
for the long-term contract process.
    19. Lower Marias Unit, P-SMBP, Montana: Water service contract with 
Ray Morkrid as Morkrid Enterpirses expired May 1998. Initiating long-
term contract for the use of up to 6,855 acre-feet of storage water 
from Tiber Reservoir to irrigate 2,285 acres. Temporary/interim 
contracts are being issued to allow continued delivery of water and the 
time necessary to complete required actions for the long-term contract 
process.
    27. Helena Valley Unit, P-SMBP, Montana: Initiating negotiations 
with Helena Valley ID for renewal of Part A of the A/B contract which 
expires in 2004.
    28. Crow Creek Unit, P-SMBP, Montana: Initiating negotiations with 
Toston ID for renewal of Part A of the A/B contract which expires in 
2004.
    32. 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. Temporary 
contract will be negotiated with Park Board and with the City of 
Dickinson for minor amounts of water from Dickinson Dam.
    37. Lower Marias Unit, P-SMBP, Montana: Initiating long-term water 
service contract with Allen Brown as Tiber Enterprises for up to 910 
acre-feet of storage from Tiber Reservoir to irrigate 303.2 acres. 
Temporary/interim contracts are being issued to allow continued 
delivery of water and the time necessary to complete required actions 
for the long-term contract process.
    Discontinued contract action:
    10. Northwest Area Water Supply, North Dakota: Long-term contract 
for water supply from Garrison Diversion Unit facilities. The State has 
decided not to contract at this time. A special use permit will be 
issued.
    Completed contract actions:
    29. Louis F. Polk, Jr. (Individual), Shoshone Project, Buffalo Bill 
Dam, Wyoming: Renewal of exchange water service contract not to exceed 
500 acre-feet of water to service 249 acres. Renewal of exchange water 
service contract has been executed.
    36. City of Dickinson, P-SMBP, North Dakota: In accordance with 
Public Law 106-566, a BON has been prepared to amend contract No. 9-07-
60-W0384 which will allow the City to pay a lump-sum payment in lieu of 
its remaining repayment obligation for construction costs associated 
with the bascule gate. The BON has been approved by the Commissioner. 
The City of Dickinson paid out with a lump-sum payment.
    38. Tom Green County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1, 
San Angelo Project, Texas: The District has requested deferment of its 
2002 repayment obligation. A BON has been prepared to amend contract 
No. 14-06-500-369. Contract was executed March 15, 2002.

    Dated: April 4, 2002.
Elizabeth Cordova-Harrison,
Deputy Director, Office of Policy.
[FR Doc. 02-10132 Filed 4-24-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P