[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 82 (Tuesday, April 29, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22736-22738]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10506]
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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 contractual actions that have been
proposed to the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and are new,
modified, discontinued, or completed since the last publication of this
notice on February 28, 2003. 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
consistent with section 9(f) of the Reclamation Project Act of 1939.
Additional 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.
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 section.
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: Consistent with section 9(f) of the
Reclamation Project Act of 1939 and 43 CFR 426.20 of the rules and
regulations published in 52 FR 11954, April 13, 1987, Reclamation will
publish notice of 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. 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 the
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. Pursuant to the ``Final Revised Public
Participation Procedures'' for water resource-related contract
negotiations, published in 47 FR 7763, February 22, 1982, a tabulation
is provided of all proposed contractual actions in each of the five
Reclamation regions. 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, 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. At a minimum, the regional director shall
furnish revised contracts to all parties who requested the contract in
response to the initial public notice.
The February 28, 2003, notice should be used as a reference point
to identify changes. The numbering system in this notice corresponds
with the numbering system in the February 28, 2003, notice.
Definitions of Abbreviations Used in This Document
BCP--Boulder Canyon Project
Reclamation--Bureau of Reclamation
CAP--Central Arizona Project
CVP--Central Valley Project
CRSP--Colorado River Storage Project
FR--Federal Register
IDD--Irrigation and Drainage District
[[Page 22737]]
ID--Irrigation District
M&I--Municipal and Industrial
O&M--Operation and Maintenance
P-SMBP--Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program
PPR--Present Perfected Right
SOD--Safety of Dams
WD--Water District
Pacific Northwest Region: Bureau of Reclamation, 1150 North Curtis
Road, Suite 100, Boise, Idaho 83706-1234, telephone 208-378-5223.
Discontinued contract action:
7. North Unit ID and/or city of Madras, Deschutes Project, Oregon:
Long-term municipal water service contract for provision of
approximately 125 acre-feet annually from the project water supply to
the city of Madras. City of Madras and North Unit ID have decided to
withdraw their request for a long-term contract at this time.
Mid-Pacific Region: Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way,
Sacramento, CA 95825-1898, telephone 916-978-5250.
New contract action:
40. Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency, CVP, California:
Proposed assignment of 27,000 acre-feet of Broadview Water District's
entire CVP supply to the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency for M&I
use.
Completed contract action:
25. 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. Friant Water
Users Authority amendatory contract was executed on February 25, 2003,
and the San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority amendatory contract
was executed on February 18, 2003.
Lower Colorado Region: Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box 61470 (Nevada
Highway and Park Street), Boulder City, NV 89006-1470, telephone 702-
293-8536.
New contract actions:
46. Sunrise Water Company, CAP, Arizona: Proposed assignment of
subcontract for 944 acre-feet of CAP M&I water to the Central Arizona
Water Conservation District, which is exercising its authority as the
Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District.
47. West End Water Company, CAP, Arizona: Proposed assignment of
subcontract for 157 acre-feet of CAP M&I water to the Central Arizona
Water Conservation District, which is exercising its authority as the
Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District.
48. New River Utilities Company, CAP, Arizona: Proposed assignment
of subcontract for 1,885 acre-feet of CAP M&I water to the Central
Arizona Water Conservation District, which is exercising its authority
as the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District.
49. Cibola Valley IDD, BCP, Arizona: Contingent upon completion of
sale documents, proposed assignment and transfer of a portion of Cibola
Valley IDD's right to divert up to 24,120 acre-feet of Colorado River
water per year to the Mohave County Water Authority, the Hopi Tribe,
and Reclamation.
50. Metropolitan WD and others, BCP, Arizona and California:
Contract to provide for the recovery by the Metropolitan WD of
interstate underground storage credits previously placed in underground
storage in Arizona by the Central Arizona Water Conservation District
under agreements executed in 1992 and 1994, and to document the Arizona
Water Banking Authority's responsibility in agreeing to Arizona's
forbearance in the use of Colorado River water to permit the Secretary
to release that quantity of water for diversion and use by the
Metropolitan WD.
51. Wellton-Mohawk IDD, BCP, Arizona: Amend contract No. 1-07-30-
W0021 to revise the authority to deliver domestic use water from 5,000
to 10,000 acre-feet per calendar year, which is within the District's
current overall Colorado River Water Entitlement.
Modified contract actions:
16. Arizona State Land Department, BCP, Arizona: Colorado River
water delivery contract for 1,534 acre-feet per year for domestic use.
27. Litchfield Park Service Company, CAP, Arizona: Proposed partial
assignments of subcontract for 5,590 acre-feet of CAP M&I water to the
Central Arizona Water Conservation District, which is exercising its
authority as the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District,
and to the cities of Avondale, Carefree, and Goodyear.
32. Robson Communities, Southern Arizona Water Rights Settlement
Act, Arizona: Contract with Robson Communities for the sale of 3,500
acre-feet of long-term water storage credits accrued in the Tucson area
during calendar years 2000-2001.
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. (e) Upper Gunnison Water Conservancy District, Aspinall Storage
Unit, CRSP, Colorado: Due to the continued extreme drought conditions
in the Upper Gunnison River Basin, the District has requested a
temporary 1-year water service contract for up to a maximum of 3,000
acre-feet of water out of Blue Mesa Reservoir to be resold by the
District under temporary, 1-year, third-party contracts to water users
located within the District's boundaries.
(f) Town of Lake City, Aspinall Storage Unit, CRSP, Colorado: Lake
City has requested a 40-year water service contract for an additional
25 acre-feet of water out of Blue Mesa Reservoir to support its plan of
augmentation. Lake City is working with the State of Colorado, Water
Division 4 to develop a specific plan for using the augmentation water
in accord with Colorado water law. Reclamation and Lake City have an
existing 40-year contract, No. 9-07-40-R0790, dated May 5, 1989, for 25
acre-feet of water out of Blue Mesa Reservoir.
(g) Lazear Domestic Water Company, Aspinall Storage Unit, CRSP,
Colorado: Lazear has requested a 40-year water service contract for an
additional 44 acre-feet of water out of Blue Mesa Reservoir to support
its plan of augmentation, Case No. 02WC253, District Court, Water
Division 4. Reclamation and Lazear have an existing 25-year contract,
No. 98-07-40-R5000, dated January 29, 1998, for 44 acre-feet of water
out of Blue Mesa Reservoir.
(h) Lamar Northworthy, Aspinall Storage Unit, CRSP, Colorado: Mr.
Northworthy has requested a 40-year water service contract for 2 acre-
feet of water out of Blue Mesa Reservoir to support his plan of
augmentation, Case No. 02WC240, District Court, Water Division 4.
(i) Heatherwood Villas Condominium Association, Aspinall Storage
Unit, CRSP, Colorado: The Association has requested a 40-year water
service contract for 2 acre-feet of water out of Blue Mesa Reservoir to
support its plan of augmentation. The Association is in the process of
filing a plan of augmentation with the State of Colorado, Water
Division 4.
(j) Riverland Lot Owners Association, Aspinall Storage Unit, CRSP,
Colorado: The Association has requested a 40-year water service
contract for 14 acre-feet of water out of Blue Mesa Reservoir to
support its plan of augmentation. The Association is in the process of
filing a plan of augmentation with the State of Colorado, Water
Division 4.
19. Animas-La Plata Water Conservancy District, Animas-La Plata
[[Page 22738]]
Project, Colorado and New Mexico: Contract to transfer the operation,
maintenance, and replacement responsibilities of most Project
facilities to the District, pursuant to Section 6 of the Reclamation
Act of June 17, 1902, and other Reclamation laws.
20. South Cache Water Users Association, Hyrum Project, Utah:
Contract to allow the Association to convert up to 1,000 acre-feet of
project irrigation water annually for municipal, domestic, and
industrial uses.
Discontinued contract actions:
(a) Russell, Harrison F. and Patricia E.; Aspinall Unit; CRSP;
Colorado: Contract for 1 acre-foot to support an augmentation plan,
Case No. 97CW39, Water Division Court No. 4, State of Colorado, to
provide for a single-family residential well, including home lawn and
livestock watering (non-commercial).
(b) Stephens, Walter Daniel; Aspinall Unit; CRSP; Colorado:
Contract for 2 acre-feet to support an augmentation plan, Case No.
97CW49, Water Division Court No. 4, State of Colorado, to provide for
pond evaporative depletions during the non-irrigation season.
Completed contract action:
9. Grand Valley Water Users Association, Orchard Mesa ID, and
Public Service Company of Colorado, Grand Valley Project, Colorado:
Water service contract for the utilization of project water for cooling
purposes for a steam electric generation plant. Contract executed on
January 1, 2003.
Great Plains Region: Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box 36900, Federal
Building, 316 North 26th Street, Billings, Montana 59107-6900,
telephone 406-247-7790.
New contract actions:
44. Frenchman-Cambridge ID, Frenchman Unit, P-SMBP, Nebraska:
Proposed contract amendment--request for deferment of annual payment
due to severe drought.
45. Frenchman Valley ID, Frenchman Unit, P-SMBP, Nebraska: Proposed
contract amendment--request for deferment of annual payment due to
severe drought.
Discontinued contract action:
34. Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Colorado-Big
Thompson Project, Colorado: Acting by and through the Pleasant Valley
Pipeline Project Water Activity Enterprise, beginning discussions
concerning a long-term contract for conveyance of nonproject water
through Colorado-Big Thompson Project facilities.
Completed contract actions:
6. Pathfinder ID, North Platte Project, Nebraska: Negotiation of a
contract regarding SOD program modifications of Lake Alice Dam No. 1
Filter/Drain.
8. Angostura ID, Angostura Unit, P-SMBP, South Dakota: A 25-year
long-term contract was entered into on January 28, 2003, to provide a
water supply for the Angostura ID. Reclamation is working to implement
the environmental commitments in the Environmental Impact Statement. An
agreement on efficiency improvements and use of saved water is being
developed.
35. Miles Land and Livestock Co. (Individual), Alcova Reservoir,
Kendrick Project, Wyoming: Negotiate a long-term contract for annual
conveyance of up to 153.27 acre-feet of nonproject water through the
Casper Canal, Wyoming.
Dated: March 25, 2003.
Wayne O. Deason,
Acting Director, Program and Policy Services.
[FR Doc. 03-10506 Filed 4-28-03; 8:45 am]
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