[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 230 (Friday, November 30, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67752-67754]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-23230]


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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 August 22, 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, 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 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

[[Page 67753]]

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.
    Modified contract action:
    15. Six irrigation districts of the Arrowrock Division, Boise 
Project, Idaho: Repayment agreements with districts with spaceholder 
contracts for repayment, per legislation, of reimbursable share of 
costs to rehabilitate Arrowrock Dam Outlet Gates under the O&M program. 
Five letter agreements have been executed.
    Discontinued contract action:
    7. Trendwest Resorts, Yakima Project, Washington: Long-term water 
exchange contract for assignment of Teanaway River and Big Creek water 
rights to Reclamation for instream flow use in exchange for annual use 
of up to 3,500 acre-feet of water from Cle Elum Reservoir for a 
proposed resort development.
    Mid-Pacific Region: Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, 
Sacramento, California 95825-1898, telephone 916-978-5250.
    New contract actions:
    46. San Luis WD and Meyers Farms Family Trust, CVP, California: 
Contract for exchange of water among the U.S., San Luis WD, and Meyers 
Farms Family Trust. The contract will allow for an exchange with 
Reclamation of previously banked water for a like amount of CVP water 
made available to San Luis WD on behalf of Meyers Farms.
    47. Goleta WD, Cachuma Project, California: Subject to legislation, 
an agreement to transfer title of the Federally owned distribution 
system to the district.
    48. El Dorado County Water Agency, CVP, California: M&I water 
service contract to supplement existing water supply: 15,000 acre-feet, 
under Fazio legislation, for El Dorado County Water Agency authorized 
by Public Law 101-514. The supply would be split by subcontrators to El 
Dorado ID and Georgetown Divide Public Utility District.
    49. Sacramento Municipal Utility District, CVP, California: 
Amendment of existing water service contract to allow for additional 
points of diversion and assignment of up to 30,000 acre-feet of CVP 
water to the Sacramento County Water Agency. The amended contract will 
conform to current Reclamation law.
    50. El Dorado ID, CVP California: Execution of long-term Warren Act 
contracts for conveyance of nonproject water (one contract for Weber 
Reservoir and pre-1914 `ditch' rights in the amount of 4,560 acre-feet, 
and one contract for Project 184 water in the amount of 17,000 acre-
feet). The contracts will allow CVP facilities to be used to deliver 
nonproject water to El Dorado for use within its service area.
    51. Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency, CVP, California: 
Execution of a long-term operations agreement for flood control 
operations of Folsom Dam and Reservoir to allow for recovery of costs 
associated with operating a variable flood control pool of 400,000 to 
670,000 acre-feet of water during the flood control season. This 
agreement is to conform to Federal law.
    52. Sacramento Suburban WD, CVP, California: Execution of long-term 
Warren Act contract for conveyance of nonproject water. The contract 
will allow CVP facilities to be used to deliver nonproject water 
provided from the Placer County Water Agency to Sacramento Suburban WD 
for use within its service area.
    53. Placer County Water Agency, CVP, California: Proposed exchange 
agreement under Section 14 of the 1939 Act of up to 74,000 acre-feet.
    Completed contract action:
    17. Carpinteria WD, Cachuma Project, California: Contract to 
transfer title of distribution system to the district. Title transfer 
authorized by Public Law 108-315 ``Carpinteria and Montecito Water 
Distribution Conveyance Act of 2004.'' Contract executed November 7, 
2006.
    Lower Colorado Region: Bureau of Reclamation, P.O. Box 61470 
(Nevada Highway and Park Street), Boulder City, Nevada 89006-1470, 
telephone 702-293-8192.
    New contract action:
    34. Mohave County Water Authority, BCP, Arizona: Assign a portion 
of Mohave County's Colorado River water entitlement to the Arizona Game 
and Fish Commission.
    Completed contract action:
    15. Jessen Family Limited Partnership (now JRJ Partners, LLC), BCP, 
Arizona: Contract for delivery of 1,080 acre-feet of Colorado River 
water for agricultural purposes. Contract was executed on September 27, 
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.(f) Ward Creek LLC, Aspinall Storage Unit, CRSP: Ward Creek LLC 
has requested a 40-year water service contract for 1 acre-foot of M&I 
water out of the Blue Mesa reservoir, which requires Ward Creek LLC to 
present a Plan of Augmentation to the Division 4 Water Court.
    36. Cottonwood Creek Consolidated Irrigation Company, Emery County 
Project, Utah: Warren Act contract for carriage of up to 5,600 acre-
feet of nonproject water through Cottonwood Creek-Huntington Canal.
    37. Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority and 
Reclamation, San Juan-Chama Project, New Mexico: Contract to store up 
to 50,000 acre-feet of project water in Elephant Butte Reservoir. The 
proposed contract would have a 40-year maximum term and would replace 
existing contract No. 3-CS-53-01510 which expires on January 26, 2008. 
The Act of December 29, 1981, Public Law 97-140, 95 Stat. 1717 provides 
authority to enter into this contract.
    Modified contract action:
    1.(e) Old Castle SW Group dba United Companies, Aspinall Storage 
Unit, CRSP: United Companies has requested a 40-year water service 
contract for 5 acre-feet of M&I water out of Blue Mesa reservoir, which 
requires United Companies to present a Plan of Augmentation to the 
Division 4 Water Court.
    Discontinued contract actions:
    22. Weber River Water Users Association, Weber River Project, Utah: 
Contract providing for the association to repay to the United States 15 
percent of the cost of SOD modifications at Echo Dam.
    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.
    Completed contract actions:
    1.(d) John and Joan Holton, Aspinall Storage Unit, CRSP: Mr. and 
Mrs. Holton have requested a 40-year water service contract for 1 acre-
foot of M&I water out of Blue Mesa reservoir, which requires Mr. and 
Mrs. Holton to present a Plan of Augmentation to the Division 4 Water 
Court. Contract was executed on July 17, 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

[[Page 67754]]

contract waiting to be executed. Contract was executed on May 21, 2007.
    33. Uintah Water Conservancy District, Jensen Unit, Central Utah 
Project, Utah: Temporary water service contract for 2,520 acre-feet of 
unsubscribed Jensen Unit M&I water. Contract was executed on July 23, 
2007.
    34. Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, Weber Basin Project, 
Utah: Contract providing for the District to repay to the United States 
15 percent of the cost of Phase I SOD modifications to Arthur V. 
Watkins Dam. Contract was executed in September 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 action:
    57. Big Horn Canal ID, Boysen Unit, P-SMBP, Wyoming: Big Horn Canal 
ID has requested a renewal of their long-term water service contract.
    Modified contract actions:
    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. Preparing to renew long-term contract upon request 
by the Savage ID.
    27. LeClair-Riverton ID, Boysen Unit, P-SMBP, Wyoming: Contract 
renewal of long-term water service contract.
    56. Turtle Lake ID, Garrison Diversion Unit, North Dakota: Turtle 
Lake ID has requested a water service contract under the Dakota Water 
Resources Act of 2000 as part of the Garrison Diversion Unit.
    Discontinued contract action:
    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.
    Completed contract actions:
    5. City of Rapid City, Rapid Valley Unit, P-SMBP, South Dakota: 
Contract renewal for storage capacity in Pactola Reservoir. A temporary 
(1 year not to exceed 10,000 acre-feet) water service contract has been 
executed with the City of Rapid City, Rapid Valley Unit, for use of 
water from Pactola Reservoir. A long-term storage contract for 49,000 
acre-feet has been negotiated with the City, and a final draft of the 
contract has been transmitted to the City for approval by their City 
Council. The contract was executed July 31, 2007.
    6. Mid-Dakota Rural Water System, Inc., South Dakota: Pursuant to 
the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992, the 
Secretary of the Interior is authorized to make grants and loans to 
Mid-Dakota Rural Water System, Inc., a non-profit corporation for the 
planning and construction of a rural water supply system. Construction 
of the rural water supply system was completed in September 2006. The 
contract was amended on August 31, 2007, to convert payments from 
monthly to annually.
    10. Fort Clark ID, P-SMBP, North Dakota: Negotiation of water 
service contract to continue delivery of project water to the district. 
The contract was executed on July 19, 2007.
    17. Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, Colorado: Consideration of requests 
for long-term contracts for the use of excess capacity in the 
Fryingpan-Arkansas Project from the Southeastern Colorado Water 
Conservancy District, the City of Aurora, and the Colorado Springs 
Utilities. The contract with the City of Aurora was executed on 
September 12, 2007.

    Dated: October 24, 2007.
Roseann Gonzales,
Director, Office of Program and Policy Services, Denver Office.
[FR Doc. E7-23230 Filed 11-29-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P