[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 228 (Wednesday, November 26, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66473-66474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-29583]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary


Statement of Findings: Shivwits Band of the Paiute Indian Tribe 
of Utah Water Rights Settlement Act

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior

[[Page 66474]]


ACTION: Notice of statement of findings in accordance with Public Law 
106-263.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of the Interior is causing this notice of 
Statement of Findings to be published as required by section 14 of the 
Shivwits Band of the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah Water Rights 
Settlement Act (Settlement Act), Pub. L. 106-263, 114 Stat. 737, 746-
47. The publication of this notice causes the waiver and release of 
certain claims to become effective as required to implement the 
Settlement.

DATES: In accordance with section 14 of the Settlement Act, the waiver 
and release of claims described in section 9(b) of the Settlement Act 
are effective on November 26, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this notice to Ms. Catherine 
Wilson, Shivwits Band of the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah Water Rights 
Settlement Act Implementation Team Chairperson, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, Western Regional Office, 400 North 5th Street, MS-420, 
Phoenix, Arizona, 85004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Catherine Wilson, 602-379-6789.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purposes of the Settlement Act are:
    (1) To achieve a fair, equitable, and final settlement of all 
claims to water rights in the Santa Clara River for the Shivwits Band, 
and the United States for the benefit of the Shivwits Band;
    (2) To promote the self-determination and economic self-sufficiency 
of the Shivwits Band, in part by providing funds to the Shivwits Band 
for its use in developing a viable reservation economy;
    (3) To approve, ratify, and confirm the St. George Water Reuse 
Project Agreement, the Santa Clara Project Agreement, and the 
Settlement Agreement, and the Shivwits Water Right described therein;
    (4) To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to execute the St. 
George Water Reuse Project Agreement, the Santa Clara Project 
Agreement, and the Settlement Agreement, and to take such actions as 
are necessary to implement these agreements in a manner consistent with 
the Settlement Act; and
    (5) To authorize the appropriation of funds necessary for 
implementation of the St. George Water Reuse Project Agreement, the 
Santa Clara Project Agreement, and the Settlement Agreement.

Statement of Findings

    As required by section 14 of the Settlement Act, I find as follows:
    1. The funds authorized by sections 11(b) and 11(c) of the 
Settlement Act have been appropriated and deposited into the Shivwits 
Band Trust Fund;
    2. The funds authorized by section 10(f) of the Settlement Act have 
been appropriated;
    3. The St. George Water Reuse Project Agreement has been modified, 
to the extent it was in conflict with the Settlement Act, and is 
effective and enforceable according to its terms;
    4. The Santa Clara Project Agreement has been modified, to the 
extent it was in conflict with the Settlement Act, and is effective and 
enforceable according to its terms;
    5. The Settlement Agreement has been modified, to the extent it was 
in conflict with the Settlement Act, and is effective and enforceable 
according to its terms;
    6. The State Engineer of Utah has taken all actions and approved 
all applications necessary to implement the provisions of the St. 
George Water Reuse Agreement, the Santa Clara Project Agreement, and 
the Settlement Agreement, from which no further appeals may be taken; 
and
    7. The District Court of the Fifth Judicial District in Washington 
County, Utah, has entered a judgment and decree confirming the Shivwits 
Water Right in the Virgin River Adjudication pursuant to Utah Rule of 
Civil Procedure 54(b), that confirms the Shivwits Water Right and is 
final as to all parties to the Santa Clara Division of the Virgin River 
Adjudication and from which no further appeals may be taken, which the 
United States and Utah find is consistent in all material aspects with 
the Settlement Agreement and with the proposed judgment and decree 
agreed to by the parties to the Settlement Agreement.

    Dated: November 21, 2003.
Gale A. Norton,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-29583 Filed 11-25-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-01-M