[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 172 (Thursday, September 5, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56853-56854]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-22580]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation
Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Water Supply and Dry Prairie
Rural Water Supply Project, Water Conservation Plan
AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of finding.
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SUMMARY: The Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System Act of 2000
(Act), Public Law 106-382, authorized construction of the Fort Peck
Reservation Rural Water System in northeastern Montana. To meet the
requirements of the Act, the Fort Peck Tribes and Dry Prairie Rural
Water Association Incorporated developed and submitted a water
conservation plan to Reclamation.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leonard Duberstein, Bureau of
Reclamation, Montana Area Office, PO Box 30107, Billings, Montana
59107-0137, or at (406) 247-7331 or be e-mail at
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 56854]]
Finding
The Fort Peck Tribes and the Dry Prairie Rural Water Association
Incorporated submitted the ``Water Conservation Plan for the Fort Peck
Reservation Rural Water System: Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Rural
Water System and Dry Prairie Rural Water System'', dated April 10,
2002, that includes prudent and reasonable water conservation measures
for the operation of the Assiniboine Sioux Rural Water System that have
been shown to be economically and financially feasible.
In addition to authorizing construction of the Fort Peck
Reservation Rural Water System, the Act authorizes appropriations of
$175,000,000 to Reclamation over a period of 10 fiscal years. The Act
states under section 4(g)(3) that ``The Secretary shall not obligate
funds for construction of the Assiniboine and Sioux Rural Water System
until the Secretary publishes a written finding that the water
conservation plan developed under section 7 includes prudent and
reasonable water conservation measures for the operation of the
Assiniboine Sioux Rural Water System that have been shown to be
economically and financially feasible.'' Identical provisions limiting
obligations of funds for construction of the Dry Prairie Rural Water
System are stated under section 5(e)(3) of the Act.
The requirements for the conservation plan are described under
section 7 of the Act that states:
``(a) In General.--The Fort Peck Tribes and Dry Prairie Rural Water
Association Incorporated shall develop a water conservation plan
containing--
(1) a description of water conservation objectives;
(2) a description of appropriate water conservation measures; and
(3) a time schedule for implementing the measures and this Act to
meet the water conservation objectives.
(b) Purpose.--The water conservation plan under subsection (a)
shall be designed to ensure that users of water from the Assiniboine
and Sioux Rural Water System and the Dry Prairie Rural Water System
will use the best practicable technology and management techniques to
conserve water.''
To fulfill the requirements of section 7, the Fort Peck Tribes and
Dry Prairie Rural Water Association Incorporated transmitted a water
conservation plan (Plan) to Reclamation, dated April 10, 2002. The Plan
fulfills all the requirements of the Act as discussed below.
In fulfillment of section 7(a)(1), the Plan contains six reasonable
and prudent water conservation objectives appropriate for the pre-
construction phase of this multi-phase project:
1. Achieve average in-house water use of 69 gpcd (gallons per
capita day) starting in 2005 and fully implemented by 2011.
[sbull] Lower average in-house water use to 57 gpcd beginning in
2011 and fully implemented by 2030.
[sbull] Lower average in-house water use to 45 gpcd beginning in
2030.
2. Achieve average outside residential water use of 66 gpcd
beginning in 2005 and fully implemented by 2011.
3. Maintain variable operating costs at Final Engineering Report
levels plus inflation beginning in 2005.
4. Provide emergency preparedness to limit interruptions to 24
hours beginning in 2005.
5. Public information dissemination beginning in 2005.
6. Limit Missouri River diversions to 6,200 acre-feet annually
beginning in 2005.
To accomplish these objectives, and in fulfillment of section
7(a)(2) of the Act, the Plan identifies 17 water conservation measures
to be implemented starting in 2005 with full implementation scheduled
for 2011.
Metering, Audits, and Leakage Control
[sbull] Installation of meters on all accounts
[sbull] Installation of meters on community non-account water
[sbull] Record keeping and water audits
[sbull] Control connection pressures at 65 pounds per square inch
(psi)
[sbull] Implement system and household leakage repair; limit to 7
gpcd
[sbull] Publish lawn and garden water use data
Cost Accounting and Rates
[sbull] Cost-of-service accounting
[sbull] Water audits and associated costs to public
[sbull] Dry Prairie annual water review to promote conservation
[sbull] Assiniboine and Sioux leak repair program
Public Involvement and Information
[sbull] Disseminate clear billing and educational materials
[sbull] Disseminate water use statistics and retrofit guidance
[sbull] Promote landscape efficiency on a voluntary basis
[sbull] Promote lawn and garden water use efficiencies
[sbull] Disseminate cost information via radio, television, etc.
Additional Measures
[sbull] Analysis of peak water use
[sbull] Annual review of water conservation measures and new
proposals
Reclamation Manual Directives and Standards (WTR 01-01), published
in December 1996, identify ``Fundamental Water Conservation Measures''
that are considered economically and financially feasible and
applicable to all water conservation programs. The fundamental measures
include a water measurement and accounting system, water pricing
structure, and an information and education program. All but one of the
water conservation measures included in the Plan are considered by
Reclamation as fundamental. The conservation measure ``Control
connection pressures at 65 psi'', while not considered fundamental, is
an appropriate water conservation measure and will not result in
increased project cost. It is an acceptable design standard because it
will reduce the potential for leakage from excess water pressure which
can also damage residential plumbing systems causing major leakage and
significant property damage.
In fulfillment of section 7(a)(3), the plan contains a time
schedule for implementing the measures to meet the water conservation
objectives. This time schedule is included with the above description
of the objectives and measures.
In fulfillment of section 7(b), Reclamation has reviewed the
planning and engineering designs included in the Final Engineering
Report for this project and has conducted a ``Value Engineering'' (VE)
study to assure that the best available engineering design and
techniques are utilized for construction and operation of the project.
Additional VE studies will be performed during the final design phase
of major system components.
Dated: August 2, 2002.
Gerald W. Kelso,
Assistant Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 02-22580 Filed 9-4-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-M