[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 236 (Tuesday, December 9, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 68650]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30417]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Adjustment of the Amount of an Administrative Costs Assessment

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of adjustment of the amount of an administrative costs 
assessment (43 CFR 426.20[e]).

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation, we, our, or us) is 
increasing the amount of the administrative costs assessment set forth 
in the Acreage Limitation Rules and Regulations (Regulations), 43 CFR 
part 426. Section 426.20(e) of the Regulations requires us to 
periodically review the amount of the administrative costs we incur as 
a result of certain Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 (RRA) forms and 
excess land problems and, if needed, adjust the amount of the 
assessment to reflect new cost data. Based on our latest review of the 
associated costs, the current $260 administrative costs assessment is 
being increased to $290.

DATES: The increase in the amount of the administrative costs 
assessment to $290 becomes effective on January 1, 2004. See the last 
paragraph in the Supplementary Information section for more details 
regarding application of the new amount of the assessment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bureau of Reclamation, Office of 
Program and Policy Services, Attention: D-5200, P.O. Box 25007, Denver, 
Colorado 80225.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background: Section 426.20 of the Regulations provides that we will 
assess districts administrative costs if: (1) A district delivers 
Reclamation irrigation water to land that was ineligible because a 
landholder did not submit certification or reporting forms to the 
district prior to receipt of the water; (2) a district does not provide 
us with corrected landholder certification or reporting forms within 60 
calendar days of our request for corrections; or (3) a district 
delivers Reclamation irrigation water to ineligible excess land. 
Section 426.20(e) sets the amount of the administrative fee at $260. 
The amount is based on the additional costs we incur to perform 
activities to address the problems described in the first sentence of 
this paragraph. Section 426.20(e) further provides that we will review 
the associated costs at least once every 5 years and adjust the 
assessment amount, if needed, to reflect new cost data.
    Review Periods: The regulatory provisions for the administrative 
costs assessment became effective on March 27, 1995. In 2000, we 
reviewed the cost data for 1995-1999 and determined that the amount of 
the assessment should remain at $260. In July 2003, we reviewed the 
cost data for 2000-2002 and determined that the amount of the 
assessment needs to be increased by $30, to $290. In 2006, we will 
review the cost data for 2003-2005 and determine if the amount of the 
administrative costs assessment needs to be adjusted again.
    Application of the New Administrative Costs Assessment: The new 
amount of the administrative costs assessment becomes effective on 
January 1, 2004. However, application will be based on the date 
Reclamation actually finds and documents the forms or excess land 
problem in question. More specifically, if after January 1, 2004, we 
find a forms or excess land problem described in 43 CFR 426.20, the 
amount of the administrative costs assessment will be $290. This will 
be the case even if the problem occurred prior to January 1, 2004. For 
problems we find prior to January 1, 2004, the amount of the 
administrative costs assessment will remain at $260.

    Dated: October 31, 2003.
Roseann Gonzales,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Program and Policy Services.
[FR Doc. 03-30417 Filed 12-8-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P