[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 211 (Wednesday, November 2, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66460-66462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-21695]


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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 July 22, 2005. 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, Contract 
Services Office, Bureau of Reclamation, P.O. 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 the rules and regulations published 
in 52 FR 11954, April 13, 1987 (43 CFR 426.22), 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 March 10, 2005, notice should be used as a reference point to 
identify changes. The numbering system in this notice corresponds with 
the numbering system in the March 10, 2005, 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
ID Irrigation District
M&I Municipal and Industrial
NMISC New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission
O&M Operation and Maintenance
P-SMBP Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program
PPR Present Perfected Right
SOD Safety of Dams
SRPA Small Reclamation Projects Act of 1956
WD Water District

    Pacific northwest region: Bureau of Reclamation, 1150 North Curtis 
Road, Suite 100, Boise, Idaho 83706-1234, telephone 208-378-5344.
    New contract action:
    7. Lake Lowell water users, Boise Project, Idaho-Oregon: Repayment

[[Page 66461]]

contracts for reimbursable cost of SOD modifications to Deer Flat Dam.
    Modified contract action:
    16. Eighteen irrigation water user entities, Boise Project, Idaho: 
Long-term renewal and/or conversion of 15 irrigation water service 
contracts for supplemental irrigation use of up to 57,318 acre-feet of 
storage space in Lucky Peak Reservoir, a Corps of Engineers' project on 
the Boise River, Idaho.
    Mid-pacific region: Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, 
Sacramento, California 95825-1898, telephone 916-978-5250.
    New contract action:
    43. Eighteen contractors in the Klamath Project, Oregon: Amendment 
of 18 repayment contracts or negotiation of new contracts to allow for 
recovery of additional capital costs for the Klamath Project. These 
contract actions will be accomplished through amendments to the 
existing repayment contracts or negotiation of new contracts.
    Modified contract action:
    2. Contractors from the American River Division, Cross Valley 
Canal, Delta Division, San Felipe Division, and West San Joaquin 
Division; CVP; California: Renewal of 28 long-term water service 
contracts; water quantities for these contracts total in excess of 2.1M 
acre-feet. These contract actions will be accomplished through long-
term renewal contracts pursuant to Public Law 102-575. Prior to 
completion of negotiation of long-term renewal contracts, existing 
interim renewal water service contracts may be renewed through 
successive interim renewal of contracts. Execution of long-term renewal 
contracts have been completed for the Sacramento River, Friant, Shasta, 
and Trinity River Divisions. Long-term renewal contract execution is 
continuing for the other contractors.
    Discontinued contract action:
    22. City of Vallejo, Solano Project, California: Execution of long-
term Warren Act contract for conveyance of nonproject water. This 
contract will allow Solano Project facilities to be used to deliver 
nonproject water to the City of Vallejo for use within its service 
area.
    Completed contract actions:
    2. Contractors from the American River Division, Cross Valley 
Canal, Delta Division, Friant Division, Sacramento River Division, San 
Felipe Division, Shasta Division, Trinity River Division, and West San 
Joaquin Division; CVP; California: Renewal of up to 114 long-term water 
service contracts; water quantities for these contracts total in excess 
of 3.4M acre-feet. These contract actions will be accomplished through 
long-term renewal contracts pursuant to Public Law 102-575. Prior to 
completion of negotiation of long-term renewal contracts, existing 
interim renewal water service contracts may be renewed through 
successive interim renewal of contracts. Execution of long-term renewal 
contracts have been completed for the Friant, Shasta, and Trinity River 
Divisions. Long-term renewal of the remaining 28 contracts for 2.1M 
acre-feet of water is continuing.
    32. Widren WD, CVP, California: Proposed assignment of up to 2,900 
acre-feet of Widren WD's CVP water to Westlands WD for irrigation use. 
Contract executed May 27, 2005.
    Lower Colorado region: Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box 61470 (Nevada 
Highway and Park Street), Boulder City, Nevada 89006-1470, telephone 
702-293-8081.
    New contract action:
    43. Mohave County Water Authority, BCP, Arizona: Amend contract No. 
04-XX-30-W0431 to provide for a change in type and place of use.
    Modified contract actions:
    3. Ogram Boys Enterprises, Inc., BCP, Arizona: Colorado River water 
delivery contract for 924 acre-feet of Colorado River water per year as 
recommended by the Arizona Department of Water Resources.
    5. Miscellaneous PPR No. 11, BCP, Arizona: Assign PPR from Holpal 
to First American Title Insurance Agency of Mohave, Inc.
    Completed contract actions:
    3. Ogram Boys Enterprises, Inc., BCP, Arizona: Colorado River water 
delivery contract for 924 acre-feet of Colorado River water per year as 
recommended by the Arizona Department of Water Resources.
    5. Miscellaneous PPR No. 11, BCP, Arizona: Assign PPR from Holpal 
to First American Title Insurance Agency of Mohave, Inc.
    35. Yuma County Water Users Association, BCP, Arizona: Supplemental 
contract for the O&M of the Yuma Project, Valley Division.
    Upper Colorado Region: Bureau of Reclamation, 125 South State 
Street, Room 6107, Salt Lake City, Utah 84138-1102, telephone 801-524-
3864.
    New contract actions:
    1.(g) National Park Service, Aspinall Storage Unit, CRSP: The 
National Park Service has requested a 40-year water service contract 
for 3 acre-feet of water out of Blue Mesa Reservoir.
    1.(h) Joseph Foran, Aspinall Storage Unit, CRSP: Mr. Foran has 
requested a 40-year water service contract for 25 acre-feet of water 
out of Blue Mesa Reservoir. Mr. Foran has submitted an augmentation 
plan to Water District 4, case number pending.
    32. San Juan-Chama Project, Albuquerque Area Office: Proposed 
conversion of six water service contracts to repayment contracts. 
Contractors requesting such conversions are the City of Santa Fe, 
County of Santa Fe, County of Los Alamos, City of Espanola, Town of 
Taos, Village of Taos Ski Valley, and Town of Los Lunas.
    33. West Divide Water Conservancy District: The West Divide Water 
Conservancy District and the Silt Water Conservancy District have 
requested a nonproject irrigation carriage contract (40-year) to have 2 
cfs of their direct flow irrigation water rights diverted into and 
delivered through, existing Silt pump canal, a feature of the Silt 
Project delivery structures.
    Modified contract action:
    2. San Juan-Chama Project, New Mexico: The United States is holding 
the remaining 2,990 acre-feet of project water for potential use in 
Indian water rights settlements in New Mexico.
    Completed contract actions:
    1.(d) United Companies, Aspinall Storage Unit, CRSP: United 
Companies has requested 22.0 acre-feet of M&I water out of Blue Mesa 
Reservoir for four gravel pits. Contract executed June 8, 2005.
    1.(e) Downy Excavating, Inc., Aspinall Storage Unit, CRSP: Downy 
Excavating, Inc., has requested a 40-year water service contract for 2 
acre-feet of water out of Blue Mesa Reservoir. Downy Excavation has 
submitted their augmentation plan to Water District 4, Case No. 97CW49. 
Contract executed July 12, 2005.
    1.(f) Bowie Resources, LLC, Aspinall Storage Unit, CRSP: Bowie 
Resources, LLC has requested a 40-year water service contract for 105 
acre-feet of water out of Blue Mesa Reservoir. Bowie Resources has 
submitted their augmentation plan to Water District 4, Case No. 02CW77. 
Contract executed July 8, 2005.
    Great Plains Region: Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box 36900, Federal 
Building, 316 North 26th Street, Billings, Montana 59107-6900, 
telephone 406-247-7752.
    New contract actions:
    58. Individual developer in the Angostura Unit, P-SMBP, South 
Dakota: Negotiate M&I water service contract with developer for up to 
ten, 10-acre tracts of land within Angostura ID.
    59. Nancy Ray, Lower Marias Unit, P-SMBP, Montana: Initiating a 
long-term contract for up to 144 acre-feet of storage water from Tiber 
Reservoir to irrigate 72 acres. The current contract expires December 
31, 2005.

[[Page 66462]]

    Modified contract actions:
    20. Glendo Unit, P-SMBP, Wyoming: Amendments to long-term water 
service contracts with Burbank Ditch, New Grattan Ditch Company, 
Torrington ID, Lucerne Canal and Power Company, and Wright and Murphy 
Ditch Company.
    21. Glendo Unit, P-SMBP, Nebraska: Amendments to long-term water 
service contracts with Bridgeport, Enterprise, and Mitchell IDs, and 
Central Nebraska Public Power and ID.
    25. Clark Canyon Water Supply Company, East Bench Unit, P-SMBP, 
Montana: Initiating renewal of contract No. 14-06-600-3592 which 
expires December 31, 2005. Current contract may be amended to extend 
the term not to exceed an additional 2 years pursuant to Section 208 of 
the 2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act if necessary and agreed to by 
both parties.
    26. East Bench ID, East Bench Unit, P-SMBP, Montana: Initiating 
renewal of contract No. 14-06-600-3593 which expires December 31, 2005. 
Current contract may be amended to extend the term not to exceed an 
additional 2 years pursuant to Section 208 of the 2005 Consolidated 
Appropriations Act if necessary and agreed to by both parties.
    Discontinued contract actions:
    47. East Bench ID, East Bench Unit, P-SMBP, Montana: The district 
requested a deferment of its 2005 construction obligation. A request 
was prepared to amend Contract No. 14-06-600-3593 to defer payments in 
accordance with the Act of September 21, 1959. The district withdrew 
this deferment request on July 26, 2005. No further action is 
necessary.
    49. Frenchman Valley ID; Frenchman Unit, Frenchman-Cambridge 
Division, P-SMBP; Culbertson, Nebraska: The district requested a 
deferment of its 2005 construction obligation in accordance with the 
Act of September 21, 1959. Reclamation denied this deferment request. 
No further action is necessary.
    Completed contract action:
    45. Belle Fourche ID, Belle Fourche Project, P-SMBP, South Dakota: 
Temporary contract for a supplemental water supply from Keyhole 
Reservoir.

    Dated: October 7, 2005.
Roseann Gonzales,
Director, Office of Program and Policy Services.
[FR Doc. 05-21695 Filed 11-1-05; 8:45 am]
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