[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]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P