[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 93 (Tuesday, May 15, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27333-27335]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9275]


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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 27, 2007. 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, 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 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

[[Page 27334]]

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 hearing 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.

Definitions of Abbreviations Frequently 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
RRA: Reclamation Reform Act of 1982
SOD: Safety of Dams
USACE: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
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 actions:
    19. Six irrigation water user entities, Rogue River Basin Project, 
Oregon: Long-term contracts for exchange of water service with six 
entities for the provision of up to 2,634 acre-feet of stored water 
from Applegate Reservoir (USACE project) for irrigation use in exchange 
for the transfer of out-of-stream water rights from the Little 
Applegate River to instream flow rights with the State of Oregon for 
instream flow use.
    20. Cowiche Creek Water Users Association and Yakima-Tieton ID, 
Yakima Project, Washington: Warren Act contract to allow the use of 
excess capacity in Yakima Project facilities to convey up to 1,583.4 
acre-feet of nonproject water for the irrigation of approximately 396 
acres of nonproject land.
    Modified contract action:
    16. One irrigation water user entity, Boise Project, Idaho: Long-
term renewal and/or conversion of one irrigation water service contract 
for supplemental irrigation use of up to 1,718 acre-feet of storage 
space in Lucky Peak Reservoir, a USACE project on the Boise River, 
Idaho. Seventeen water service contracts have been converted to 
repayment contracts for a total of 68,500 acre-feet of storage space.
    Completed contract action:
    8. City of Cle Elum, Yakima Project, Washington: Contract for up to 
2,170 acre-feet of water for municipal use. Contract executed on 
January 25, 2007.
    Mid-Pacific Region: Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, 
Sacramento, California 95825-1898, telephone 916-978-5250.
    New contract actions:
    45. Goleta WD, Cachuma Project, California: Proposed agreement for 
title transfer of a federally owned distribution system of the Cachuma 
Project.
    Completed contract action:
    29. Cachuma Operation and Maintenance Board, Cachuma Project, 
California: Repayment for SOD work on Lauro Dam. Contract executed on 
December 21, 2006.
    Lower Colorado Region: Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box 61470 (Nevada 
Highway and Park Street), Boulder City, Nevada 89006-1470, telephone 
702-293-8192.
    Completed contract actions:
    3. Brooke Water Co., BCP, Arizona: Amend contract for an additional 
120 acre-feet per year of Colorado River water for domestic uses, as 
recommended by the Arizona Department of Water Resources. Contract 
executed March 16, 2007.
    31. City of Needles, BCP, California: Amendment to contract No. 05-
XX-30-W0445 to include PPR No. 44 for an annual diversion of 1,260 
acre-feet or the annual consumptive use of 273 acre-feet, whichever is 
less. Contract executed March 16, 2007.
    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.(b) Riverwalk Estates, LLP, Aspinall Storage Unit, CRSP: 
Riverwalk Estates, LLP has requested a 40-year water service contract 
for 8 acre-feet of M&I water out of Blue Mesa Reservoir, which requires 
Riverwalk Estates, LLP to present a Plan of Augmentation to the 
Division 4 Water Court.
    1.(c) Camp Id-Ra-Ha-Je West Association, Aspinall Storage Unit, 
CRSP: Camp Id-Ra-Ha-Je West Association has requested a 40-year water 
service contract for 1 acre-foot of M&I water out of Blue Mesa 
Reservoir, which requires Camp Id-Ra-Ha-Je West Association to present 
a Plan of Augmentation to the Division 4 Water Court.
    30. Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, Weber Basin Project, 
Utah: Contract providing for the District to repay the United States 15 
percent of the cost of SOD modifications to the foundation of Arthur V. 
Watkins Dam.
    31. Warren-Vosburg Ditch Company, Animas-La Plata Project, Colorado 
and New Mexico: Contract for payment of O&M costs associated with the 
Warren-Vosburg Ditch.
    Discontinued contract action:
    29. Strawberry Valley Project, Utah: Contract to allow conversions 
of project irrigation water to municipal, domestic, and industrial 
uses.
    Completed contract actions:
    1.(b) Riverwalk Estates, LLP, Aspinall Storage Unit, CRSP: 
Riverwalk Estates, LLP has requested a 40-year water service contract 
for 8 acre-feet of M&I water out of Blue Mesa Reservoir, which requires 
Riverwalk Estates, LLP to present a Plan of Augmentation to the 
Division 4 Water Court. Contract executed on March 1, 2007.

[[Page 27335]]

    9. Pine River ID, Pine River Project, Colorado: Contract to allow 
the district to use a limited amount of project irrigation water for 
municipal, domestic, and industrial uses. Contract executed on March 
16, 2007.
    26. Emery County Project, Utah: The Huntington Cleveland Irrigation 
Company has requested a contract for carriage of up to 14,074 acre-feet 
of nonproject water; utilizing Huntington North Reservoir as a 
regulating feature associated with their Salinity Control Project. 
Contract executed on February 7, 2007.
    28. North Fork Water Conservancy District and Ragged Mountain Water 
Users Association, Paonia Project, Colorado: North Fork and Ragged 
Mountain have requested a contract for supplemental water from the 
Paonia Project. Their contract expired on December 31, 2005, and the 
amended contract was executed on January 27, 2006. There is a need to 
amend this contract to include reference to the M&I contract waiting to 
be executed. Contract executed on January 23, 2007.
    Great Plains Region: Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box 36900, Federal 
Building, 316 North 26th Street, Billings, Montana 59101, telephone 
406-247-7752.
    New contract actions:
    49. City of Beloit, P-SMBP, Kansas: Contract renewal for M&I 
contract.
    50. Twin Lakes Reservoir and Canal Company, Fryingpan-Arkansas 
Project, Colorado: Consideration of a request for a long-term contract 
for the use of excess capacity in the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project.
    51. Giant Springs, Inc., Canyon Ferry Unit, P-SMBP, Montana: 
Request for a long-term contract for up to 5,600 acre-feet of water per 
year to fulfill the State requirement to replace water used under 
private rights.
    Modified contract action:
    12. Savage ID, P-SMBP, Montana: The district is currently seeking 
title transfer. The contract is subject to renewal pending outcome of 
the title transfer process. The existing interim contract is due to 
expire in May 2008.
    Discontinued contract actions:
    13. City of Fort Collins, Colorado-Big Thompson Project, Colorado: 
Long-term contracts for conveyance and storage of nonproject M&I water 
through Colorado-Big Thompson Project facilities.
    14. Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, P-SMBP, North Dakota: Negotiate a 
long-term water service contract with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in 
North Dakota for irrigation of up to 2,380 acres of land within the 
reservation.
    22. Garrison Diversion Unit, P-SMBP, North Dakota: Contracts to 
provide for project use pumping power or project use pumping power and 
supplemental irrigation water with various irrigation districts in 
North Dakota, covering a combined maximum 28,000 acres within the 
boundaries and limits set by the Dakota Water Resources Act of 2000.
    Completed contract actions:
    26. Pueblo West Metropolitan District, Pueblo West, Fryingpan-
Arkansas Project, Colorado: Consideration of a request for a 5- to 10-
year contract for the use of excess capacity in the Fryingpan-Arkansas 
Project. A 5-year contract was executed on January 1, 2007.
    48. City of Beloit, P-SMBP, Kansas: Execution of a contract 
amendment to the original contract to add a renewal provision in 
accordance with Section 1 of the Act of June 21, 1963. Contract 
amendment was executed on February 6, 2007.

    Dated: April 9, 2007.
Roseann Gonzales,
Director, Office of Program and Policy Services.
[FR Doc. E7-9275 Filed 5-14-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P