[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