[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 15 (Monday, January 25, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4063-4064]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01401]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary

[16XD4523WS\DS10100000\DWSN00000.000000\DP10020]


Statement of Findings: Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley 
Reservation Water Rights Settlement Act

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of the Interior is publishing this notice in 
accordance with section 10808(d) of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the 
Duck Valley Reservation Water Rights Settlement Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 
111-11) (Settlement Act). Congress enacted the Settlement Act as Title 
X, Subtitle C of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009. The 
publication of this notice causes the waivers and release of certain 
claims to become effective as required by the Settlement Act.

DATES: This notice is effective January 25, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Address all comments and requests for 
additional information to Catherine Wilson, Chair, Duck Valley Water 
Rights Settlement Implementation Team, Department of the Interior, 
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Western Region, 2600 N. Central Avenue, 4th 
Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85004. (602) 379-6789.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Settlement Act was enacted to resolve 
the water right claims of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes (Tribes) of the 
Duck Valley Reservation relative to the upstream water users in the 
East Fork of the Owyhee River in the State of Nevada (State). The non-
federal settling parties submitted a signed Settlement Agreement 
(Agreement) to Congress prior to enactment of the Settlement Act. As 
described in section 10802, the purposes of the Settlement Act are:
    (1) To resolve outstanding issues with respect to the East Fork of 
the Owyhee River in the State in such a manner as to provide important 
benefits to--(A) The United States; (B) the State; (C) the Tribes; and 
(D) the upstream water users;
    (2) to achieve a fair, equitable, and final settlement of all 
claims of the Tribes, members of the Tribes, and the United States on 
behalf of the Tribes and members of Tribes to the waters of the East 
Fork of the Owyhee River in the State;
    (3) to ratify and provide for the enforcement of the Agreement 
among the parties to the litigation;
    (4) to resolve the Tribes' water-related claims for damages against 
the United States;
    (5) to require the Secretary to perform all obligations of the 
Secretary under the Agreement and the Settlement Act; and
    (6) to authorize the actions and appropriations necessary to meet 
the obligations of the United States under the Agreement and the 
Settlement Act.

Statement of Findings

    In accordance with section 10808(d) of the Settlement Act, I find 
as follows:
    (1) The Agreement and the waivers and releases authorized and set 
forth in sections 10808(a) and (b) of the Settlement Act have been 
executed by the parties and the Secretary;
    (2) the Fourth Judicial District Court, Elko County, Nevada, has 
issued a

[[Page 4064]]

judgment and decree consistent with the Agreement from which no further 
appeal can be taken; and
    (3) the amounts authorized under sections 10807(b)(3) and (c)(3) of 
the Settlement Act have been appropriated.

    Dated: January 19, 2016.
Sally Jewell,
Secretary of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 2016-01401 Filed 1-22-16; 8:45 am]
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