[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 120 (Wednesday, June 24, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30108-30110]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-14823]


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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 and are new, modified, 
discontinued, or completed since the last publication of this notice on 
April 10, 2009. 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. In addition, notice is 
hereby given of contractual actions for extraordinary maintenance and 
replacement pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 
2009 (Pub. L. 111-5). 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: Michelle Kelly, Water and 
Environmental Resources Office, Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box 25007, 
Denver, Colorado 80225-0007; telephone 303-445-2888.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to 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 prior to contract execution. In 
addition, Reclamation may publish notice of proposed contractual 
actions for extraordinary maintenance and replacement pursuant to the 
ARRA. 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

[[Page 30109]]

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.

      Definitions of Abbreviations Frequently Used in This Document
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ARRA...................................  American Recovery and
                                          Reinvestment Act of 2009.
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.
SRPA...................................  Small Reclamation Projects Act
                                          of 1956.
USACE..................................  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
WD.....................................  Water District.
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    Pacific Northwest Region: Bureau of Reclamation, 1150 North Curtis 
Road, Suite 100, Boise, Idaho 83706-1234, telephone 208-378-5344.

New Contract Actions

    14. Willow Creek Group, Willow Creek Project Oregon: Irrigation 
water service contract for up to 2,500 acre-feet of project water.
    15. Water user entities responsible for payment of operation and 
maintenance costs for Reclamation projects in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, 
Washington, and Wyoming: Contracts for extraordinary maintenance and 
replacement funded pursuant to the ARRA.
    Mid-Pacific Region: Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, 
Sacramento, California 95825-1898, telephone 916-978-5250.

New Contract Action

    38. Water user entities responsible for payment of operation and 
maintenance costs for Reclamation projects in California, Nevada, and 
Oregon: Contracts for extraordinary maintenance and replacement funded 
pursuant to the ARRA.

Modified Contract Action

    36. County of Tulare, CVP, California: Proposed assignment of 
County of Tulare's Cross Valley Canal water supply in the amount of 
5,308 acre-feet to its various subcontractors. Water will be used for 
both irrigation and M&I purposes.
    Lower Colorado Region: Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box 61470 (Nevada 
Highway and Park Street), Boulder City, Nevada 89006-1470, telephone 
702-293-8192.

New Contract Actions

    14. White Mountain Apache Tribe, Miner Flat Project, Arizona: 
Execution of a contract to repay any amounts loaned to the Tribe 
pursuant to Section 3 of Public Law 110-390.
    15. Queen Creek Water Company, CAP, Arizona: Assignment of Queen 
Creek Water Company's 348 acre-feet entitlement to the Town of Queen 
Creek, per Queen Creek Water Company's request and as recommended by 
the Arizona Department of Water Resources.
    16. Gila Monster Farms, Inc., BCP, Arizona: Request for partial 
assignment and transfer of third-priority water entitlement for 
domestic use to Aursa, AZ I, LLC.
    17. Gila Monster Farms, Inc., BCP, Arizona: Amend contract to 
decrease Gila Monster Farms' third-priority water entitlement.
    18. Aursa, AZ I, LLC, BCP, Arizona: Enter into a new Section 5 
contract with Aursa for 2,126 acre-feet per year of third-priority 
water being assigned to Aursa from Gila Monster Farms.
    19. Arizona State Lands Department, BCP, Arizona: Amend contract 
No. 4-07-30-W0317 to decrease the Department's fourth-priority 
agricultural water entitlement that is being assigned to the 
Department's fourth-priority domestic water entitlement contract No. 7-
07-30-W0358 to change the type of use from agricultural to domestic 
use.
    20. Arizona State Lands Department, BCP, Arizona: Amend the 
Department's contract No. 7-07-30-W0358 to increase the Department's 
fourth-priority water entitlement for domestic use.
    21. Water user entities responsible for payment of operation and 
maintenance costs for Reclamation projects in Arizona, California, 
Nevada, and Utah: Contracts for extraordinary maintenance and 
replacement funded pursuant to the ARRA.

Completed Contract Actions

    4. Shepard Water Company, Inc., BCP, Arizona: Contract for the 
annual diversion of up to 50 acre-feet of Colorado River water, as 
recommended by the Arizona Department of Water Resources. Contract was 
executed January 30, 2009.
    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.(e) Horse Meadows Home Owners Association, Aspinall Unit, CRSP: 
The Association has requested a 40-year water service contract for 1 
acre-foot of M&I water out of the Blue Mesa Reservoir, which requires 
them to present a Plan of Augmentation to the Division 4 Water Court.
    1.(f) David Beaulieu, Aspinall Storage Unit, CRSP: Mr. Beaulieu has 
requested a 40-year water service contract for 1 acre-foot of M&I water 
out of the Blue Mesa reservoir, which requires Mr. Beaulieu to present 
a Plan of Augmentation to the Division 4 Water Court.
    31. City of Santa Fe and Reclamation: Contract to store up to 
50,000 acre-feet of San Juan-Chama Project Water in Elephant Butte 
Reservoir for a 40-year maximum term.
    32. Water user entities responsible for payment of operation and 
maintenance costs for Reclamation projects in Arizona, Colorado, New 
Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming: Contracts for extraordinary 
maintenance and replacement funded pursuant to the ARRA.

Discontinued Contract Actions

    1.(b) Mike and Marsha Jackson, Aspinall Storage Unit, CRSP: The 
Jacksons have requested a 40-year water service contract for 1 acre-
foot of M&I water out of the Blue Mesa Reservoir, which requires the 
Jacksons to present a Plan of Augmentation to the Division 4 Water 
Court.

[[Page 30110]]

    29. Horse Meadows Home Owners Association, Aspinall Unit, CRSP: The 
Association has requested a 40-year water service contract for 1 acre-
foot of M&I water out of the Blue Mesa Reservoir, which requires them 
to present a Plan of Augmentation to the Division 4 Water Court.
    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

    40. Pryor Creek Land and Development Company, Huntley Project, 
Montana: Request for a long-term water service contract for M&I 
purposes for up to 200 acre-feet of water per year.
    41. Grandview Cemetery Association of Saco, Milk River Project, 
Montana: Contract renewal for long-term water service for up to 14 
acre-feet of water per year.
    42. Individual contractors; Canyon Ferry Unit, P-SMBP; Montana: 
Replace temporary 1-year contracts with short-term water service 
contracts for minor amounts of less than 1,000 acre-feet of M&I water 
annually from the Missouri River, Canyon Ferry Dam.
    43. Keyhole Country Club; Keyhole Unit, P-SMBP; South Dakota: 
Reclamation is contemplating a contract reassignment from the Shattuck 
Hills Homeowner's Association to the Keyhole Country Club. The proposed 
action will involve a change in the point of delivery for the 50 acre-
feet of water under the existing contract.
    44. Water user entities responsible for payment of operation and 
maintenance costs for Reclamation projects in Colorado, Kansas, 
Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and 
Wyoming: Contracts for extraordinary maintenance and replacement funded 
pursuant to the ARRA.

Completed Contract Actions

    20. Colorado River Water Conservation District, Colorado-Big 
Thompson Project, Colorado: Consideration of a request for a long-term 
contract for the use of excess capacity for storage and exchange in 
Green Mountain Reservoir in the Colorado-Big Thompson Project. Contract 
was executed March 11, 2009.
    25. City of Beloit, P-SMBP, Kansas: Contract renewal for M&I 
contract. Contract was executed January 29, 2009.
    35. City of Cheyenne, Kendrick Project, Wyoming: The City of 
Cheyenne has requested an amendment to its water storage contract to 
increase the storage entitlement to 15,700 acre-feet of storage space 
in Seminoe Reservoir. Contract was executed February 27, 2009.

    Dated: May 8, 2009.
Roseann Gonzales,
Director, Policy and Program Services, Denver Office.
[FR Doc. E9-14823 Filed 6-23-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P