[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 134 (Friday, July 12, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33280-33283]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-14824]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[190A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900]


Rate Adjustments for Indian Irrigation Projects

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) owns or has an interest in 
irrigation projects located on or associated with various Indian 
reservations throughout the United States. We are required to establish 
irrigation assessment rates to recover the costs to administer, 
operate, maintain, and rehabilitate these projects. We are notifying 
you that we have adjusted the irrigation assessment rates at several of 
our irrigation projects and facilities to reflect current costs of 
administration, operation, maintenance, and rehabilitation.

DATES: The irrigation assessment rates are current as of January 1, 
2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For details about a particular BIA 
irrigation project or facility, please use the tables in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section to identify contacts at the regional 
or local office at which the project or facility is located.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A Notice of Proposed Rate Adjustment was 
published in the Federal Register on December 21, 2018 (83 FR 65714) to 
propose adjustments to the irrigation assessment rates at several BIA 
irrigation projects. The public and interested parties were provided an 
opportunity to submit written comments during the 60-day period that 
ended February 19, 2019. A Correction Notice of Proposed Rate 
Adjustment was published in the Federal Register on February 7, 2019 
(84 FR 2564) to correct proposed adjustments to the Fort Hall--Michaud 
Unit 2019 and 2020 O&M Rates; to correct proposed adjustments to the 
Pine River Irrigation Project 2018 and 2020 O&M Rates; and to correct 
the table heading on page 65718 to read ``Western Region Rate Table'' 
rather than ``Northwest Region Rate Table.''

Did BIA defer or change any proposed rate increases?

    No. BIA did not defer or change any proposed rate increases.

Did BIA receive any comments on the proposed irrigation assessment rate 
adjustments?

    No. BIA did not receive any comments on the proposed irrigation 
assessment rate adjustments.

Does this notice affect me?

    This notice affects you if you own or lease land within the 
assessable acreage of one of our irrigation projects or if you have a 
carriage agreement with one of our irrigation projects.

Where can I get information on the regulatory and legal citations in 
this notice?

    You can contact the appropriate office(s) stated in the tables for 
the irrigation project that serves you, or you can use the internet 
site for the Government Printing Office at www.gpo.gov.

What authorizes you to issue this notice?

    Our authority to issue this notice is vested in the Secretary of 
the Interior (Secretary) by 5 U.S.C. 301 and the Act of August 14, 1914 
(38 Stat. 583; 25 U.S.C. 385). The Secretary has in turn delegated this 
authority to the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs under Part 209, 
Chapter 8.1A, of the Department of the Interior's Departmental Manual.

Whom can I contact for further information?

    The following tables are the regional and project/agency contacts 
for our irrigation facilities.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Project name                    Project/agency contacts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Northwest Region Contacts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Bryan Mercier, Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Northwest
Regional Office, 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97232-4169, Telephone:
                             (503) 231-6702.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead Irrigation Project.......  Robert Compton, Acting
                                     Superintendent, Peter Plant,
                                     Irrigation Project Manager, P.O.
                                     Box 40, Pablo, MT 59855,
                                     Telephones: (406) 675-0207 Acting
                                     Superintendent, (406) 745-2661
                                     Project Manager.
Fort Hall Irrigation Project......  David Bollinger, Irrigation Project
                                     Manager, Building #2 Bannock
                                     Avenue, Fort Hall, ID 83203-0220,
                                     Telephone: (208) 238-6264.
Wapato Irrigation Project.........  Dale Sebastian, Acting
                                     Superintendent, Jeff Harlan, Acting
                                     Project Administrator, 413 South
                                     Camas Avenue, Wapato, WA 98951-
                                     0220, Telephones: (509) 865-2421
                                     Acting Superintendent, (509) 877-
                                     3155 Acting Project Administrator.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Rocky Mountain Region Contacts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Susan Messerly, Acting Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs,
   Rocky Mountain Regional Office, 2021 4th Avenue North, Billings, MT
                    59101, Telephone: (406) 247-7943.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blackfeet Irrigation Project......  Thedis Crowe, Superintendent, Greg
                                     Tatsey, Irrigation Project Manager,
                                     Box 880, Browning, MT 59417,
                                     Telephones: (406) 338-7544
                                     Superintendent, (406) 338-7519
                                     Irrigation Project Manager.
Crow Irrigation Project...........  Clifford Serawop, Superintendent,
                                     Jim Gappa, Acting Irrigation
                                     Project Manager, (Project operation
                                     & maintenance performed by Water
                                     Users Association), P.O. Box 69,
                                     Crow Agency, MT 59022, Telephones:
                                     (406) 638-2672 Superintendent,
                                     (406) 247-7998 Acting Irrigation
                                     Project Manager.

[[Page 33281]]

 
Fort Belknap Irrigation Project...  Mark Azure, Superintendent, Jim
                                     Gappa, Irrigation Project Manager
                                     (BIA), (Project operation &
                                     maintenance contracted to Tribes
                                     under PL 93-638), R.R.1, Box 980,
                                     Harlem, MT 59526, Telephones: (406)
                                     353-2901 Superintendent, (406) 353-
                                     8454 Irrigation Project Manager
                                     (Tribal Office).
Fort Peck Irrigation Project......  Howard Beemer, Superintendent, Jim
                                     Gappa, Acting Irrigation Project
                                     Manager, (Project operation &
                                     maintenance performed by Water
                                     Users Association), P.O. Box 637,
                                     Poplar, MT 59255, Telephones: (406)
                                     768-5312 Superintendent, (406) 653-
                                     1752 Huber Wright--Lead ISO.
Wind River Irrigation Project.....  Trish Perry, Acting Superintendent,
                                     Jim Gappa, Acting Irrigation
                                     Project Manager, (Project operation
                                     & maintenance for Little Wind,
                                     Johnstown, and Lefthand Units
                                     contracted to Tribes under PL 93-
                                     638; Little Wind-Ray and Upper Wind
                                     Units operation & maintenance
                                     performed by Waters Users
                                     Association), P.O. Box 158, Fort
                                     Washakie, WY 82514, Telephones:
                                     (307) 332-7810 Superintendent,
                                     (406) 247-7998 Acting Irrigation
                                     Project Manager.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Southwest Region Contacts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Patricia L. Mattingly, Acting Regional Director, Bureau of Indian
      Affairs, Southwest Regional Office, 1001 Indian School Road,
            Albuquerque, NM 87104, Telephone: (505) 563-3100.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pine River Irrigation Project.....  Priscilla Bancroft, Superintendent,
                                     Vickie Begay, Irrigation Project
                                     Manager, P.O. Box 315, Ignacio, CO
                                     81137-0315, Telephones: (970) 563-
                                     4511, Superintendent, (970) 563-
                                     9484, Irrigation Project Manager.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Western Region Contacts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Bryan Bowker, Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Western
Regional Office, 2600 North Central Avenue, 4th Floor Mailroom, Phoenix,
                  AZ 85004, Telephone: (602) 379-6600.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colorado River Irrigation Project.  Clarence Begay, Acting
                                     Superintendent, Gary Colvin,
                                     Irrigation Project Manager, 12124
                                     1st Avenue, Parker, AZ 85344,
                                     Telephone: (928) 669-7111.
Duck Valley Irrigation Project....  Joseph McDade, Superintendent,
                                     (Project operation & management
                                     compacted to Tribes), 2719 Argent
                                     Avenue, Suite 4, Gateway Plaza,
                                     Elko, NV 89801, Telephone: (775)
                                     738-5165, (208) 759-3100 (Tribal
                                     Office).
Yuma Project Indian Unit..........  Denni Shields, Superintendent, 256
                                     South Second Avenue, Suite D, Yuma,
                                     AZ 85364, Telephone: (928) 782-
                                     1202.
San Carlos Irrigation Project       Ferris Begay, Project Manager, Kyle
 (Indian Works and Joint Works).     Varvel, Acting Irrigation Manager,
                                     13805 North Arizona Boulevard,
                                     Coolidge, AZ 85128, Telephone:
                                     (520) 723-6225.
Uintah Irrigation Project.........  Antonio Pingree, Acting
                                     Superintendent, Ken Asay,
                                     Irrigation System Manager, P.O. Box
                                     130, Fort Duchesne, UT 84026,
                                     Telephone: (435) 722-4300, (435)
                                     722-4344.
Walker River Irrigation Project...  Robert Eben, Superintendent, 311
                                     East Washington Street, Carson
                                     City, NV 89701, Telephone: (775)
                                     887-3500.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

What irrigation assessments or charges are adjusted by this notice?

    The rate table below contains the final rates for the 2019 and 2020 
calendar years for all irrigation projects where we recover costs of 
administering, operating, maintaining, and rehabilitating them. An 
asterisk immediately following the rate category notes the irrigation 
projects where 2019 or 2020 rates are different from the 2018 and/or 
2019 rates.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Project name               Rate category      Final 2018 rate     Final 2019 rate     Final 2020 rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Northwest Region Rate Table
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead Irrigation Project.....  Basic per acre--A   $29.00............  $33.50............  $33.50.
                                   *.
                                  Basic per acre--B   14.50.............  16.75.............  16.75.
                                   *.
                                  Minimum Charge per  75.00.............  75.00.............  75.00.
                                   tract.
Fort Hall Irrigation Project....  Basic per acre *..  56.00.............  57.00.............  58.50.
                                  Minimum Charge per  39.00.............  39.00.............  39.00.
                                   tract.
Fort Hall Irrigation Project--    Basic per acre *..  35.00.............  37.00.............  38.00.
 Minor Units.
                                  Minimum Charge per  39.00.............  39.00.............  39.00.
                                   tract.
Fort Hall Irrigation Project--    Basic per acre *..  59.50.............  62.00.............  63.50.
 Michaud Unit.
                                  Pressure per acre   92.50.............  96.00.............  98.50.
                                   *.
                                  Minimum Charge per  39.00.............  39.00.............  39.00.
                                   tract.
Wapato Irrigation Project--       Minimum Charge per  25.00.............  25.00.............  25.00.
 Toppenish/Simcoe Units.           bill.
                                  Basic per acre....  25.00.............  25.00.............  25.00.
Wapato Irrigation Project--       Minimum Charge per  30.00.............  30.00.............  30.00.
 Ahtanum Units.                    bill.
                                  Basic per acre....  30.00.............  30.00.............  30.00.
Wapato Irrigation Project--Satus  Minimum Charge per  79.00.............  79.00.............  79.00.
 Unit.                             bill.
                                  ``A'' Basic per     79.00.............  79.00.............  79.00.
                                   acre.
                                  ``B'' Basic per     85.00.............  85.00.............  85.00.
                                   acre.
Wapato Irrigation Project--       Minimum Charge per  80.00.............  80.00.............  80.00.
 Additional Works.                 bill.
                                  Basic per acre....  80.00.............  80.00.............  80.00.
Wapato Irrigation Project--Water  Minimum Charge per  86.00.............  86.00.............  86.00.
 Rental.                           bill.

[[Page 33282]]

 
                                  Basic per acre....  86.00.............  86.00.............  86.00.
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                                        Rocky Mountain Region Rate Table
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blackfeet Irrigation Project....  Basic per acre....  20.00.............  20.00.............  20.00.
Crow Irrigation Project--Willow   Basic per acre....  28.00.............  28.00.............  28.00.
 Creek O&M (includes Agency,
 Lodge Grass #1, Lodge Grass #2,
 Reno, Upper Little Horn, and
 Forty Mile Units).
Crow Irrigation Project--All      Basic per acre....  28.00.............  28.00.............  28.00.
 Others (includes Bighorn, Soap
 Creek, and Pryor Units).
Crow Irrigation Project--Two      Basic per acre....  14.00.............  14.00.............  14.00.
 Leggins Unit.
Crow Irrigation Two Leggins       Basic per acre....  2.00..............  2.00..............  2.00.
 Drainage District.
Fort Belknap Irrigation Project.  Basic per acre *..  16.00.............  16.00.............  17.00.
Fort Peck Irrigation Project....  Basic per acre *..  26.50.............  27.00.............  27.00.
Wind River Irrigation Project--   Basic per acre *..  24.00.............  24.50.............  25.00.
 Units 2, 3 and 4.
Wind River Irrigation Project--   Basic per acre....  22.00.............  22.00.............  22.00.
 Unit 6.
Wind River Irrigation Project--   Basic per acre....  47.00.............  47.00.............  47.00.
 LeClair District (See Note #1).
Wind River Irrigation Project--   Basic per acre....  16.50.............  16.50.............  16.50.
 Crow Heart Unit.
Wind River Irrigation Project--A  Basic per acre....  16.50.............  16.50.............  16.50.
 Canal Unit.
Wind River Irrigation Project--   Basic per acre....  30.65.............  30.65.............  30.65.
 Riverton Valley Irrigation
 District (See Note #1).
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                                           Southwest Region Rate Table
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pine River Irrigation Project...  Minimum Charge per  50.00.............  50.00.............  50.00.
                                   tract.
                                  Basic per acre *..  20.00.............  21.00.............  21.50.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Western Region Rate Table
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colorado River Irrigation         Basic per acre up   54.00.............  56.50.............  59.00.
 Project.                          to 5.75 acre-feet
                                   *.
                                  Excess Water per    17.00.............  18.00.............  18.00.
                                   acre-foot over
                                   5.75 acre-feet *.
Duck Valley Irrigation Project    Basic per acre....  5.30..............  5.30..............  ( + ).
 (See Note #2).
Yuma Project, Indian Unit (See    Basic per acre up   147.00............  153.50............  ( + ).
 Note #3).                         to 5.0 acre-feet
                                   *.
                                  Excess Water per    30.00.............  30.00.............  ( + ).
                                   acre-foot over
                                   5.0 acre-feet.
                                  Basic per acre up   147.00............  153.50............  ( + ).
                                   to 5.0 acre-feet
                                   (Ranch 5) *.
San Carlos Irrigation Project     Basic per acre *..  27.90.............  31.25.............  20.00.
 (Joint Works) (See Note #4).
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Final 2018, 2019, and 2020 Construction Water Rate Schedule:
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Off Project         On Project          On Project
                                                       Construction.       Construction--Gra   Construction--Pum
                                                                           vity Water.         p Water.
                                  Administrative Fee  300.00............  300.00............  300.00.
                                  Usage Fee.........  250.00 per month..  No Fee............  100.00 per acre
                                                                                               foot.
                                  Excess Water Rate   5.00 per 1,000 gal  No Charge.........  No Charge.
                                   [dagger].
San Carlos Irrigation Project     Basic per acre *..  87.60.............  95.40.............  86.00.
 (Indian Works) (See Note #5).
Uintah Irrigation Project.......  Basic per acre *..  20.00.............  21.00.............  23.00.
                                  Minimum Bill......  25.00.............  25.00.............  25.00.
Walker River Irrigation Project.  Basic per acre....  31.00.............  31.00.............  31.00.
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* Notes irrigation projects where rates are adjusted.
+ These rates have not yet been determined; BIA will publish a separate notice for these rates at a later date.
[dagger] The excess water rate applies to all water used in excess of 50,000 gallons in any one month.
Note #1--O&M rates for LeClair and Riverton Valley Irrigation Districts apply to Trust lands that are serviced
  by each irrigation district. The annual O&M rates are based on budgets submitted by LeClair and Riverton
  Valley Irrigation Districts, respectively.
Note #2--The annual O&M rate is established by the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes who perform O&M under a self-
  governance compact.
Note #3--The O&M rate for the Yuma Project, Indian Unit has two components. The first component of the O&M rate
  is established by the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), the owner and operator of the Project. BOR's rate, which is
  based upon the annual budget submitted by BOR, is $150.00 for 2019 but has not been established for 2020. The
  second component of the O&M rate is established by BIA to cover administrative costs, which includes billing
  and collections for the Project. The final 2019 and 2020 BIA rate component is $3.50/acre.
Note #4--The Construction Water Rate Schedule identifies the fees assessed for use of irrigation water for non-
  irrigation purposes.
Note #5--The Final 2020 O&M rate for the San Carlos Irrigation Project--Indian Works has three components. The
  first component is the O&M rate established by the San Carlos Irrigation Project--Indian Works, the owner and
  operator of the Project; this final rate is $50.00 per acre. The second component is for the O&M rate
  established by the San Carlos Irrigation Project--Joint Works and is determined to be $20.00 per acre for
  2020. The third component is the O&M rate established by the San Carlos Irrigation Project Joint Control Board
  and is $16.00 per acre for 2020.


[[Page 33283]]

Consultation and Coordination With Tribal Governments (Executive Order 
13175)

    The Department of the Interior strives to strengthen its 
government-to-government relationship with Indian Tribes through a 
commitment to consultation with Indian Tribes and recognition of their 
right to self-governance and Tribal sovereignty. We have evaluated this 
notice under the Department's consultation policy and under the 
criteria of Executive Order 13175 and have determined there to be 
substantial direct effects on federally recognized Tribes because the 
irrigation projects are located on or associated with Indian 
reservations. To fulfill its consultation responsibility to Tribes and 
Tribal organizations, BIA communicates, coordinates, and consults on a 
continuing basis with these entities on issues of water delivery, water 
availability, and costs of administration, operation, maintenance, and 
rehabilitation of projects that concern them. This is accomplished at 
the individual irrigation project by project, agency, and regional 
representatives, as appropriate, in accordance with local protocol and 
procedures. This notice is one component of our overall coordination 
and consultation process to provide notice to, and request comments 
from, these entities when we adjust irrigation assessment rates.

Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, 
Distribution, or Use (Executive Order 13211)

    The rate adjustments are not a significant energy action under the 
definition in Executive Order 13211. A Statement of Energy Effects is 
not required.

Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Order 12866)

    These rate adjustments are not a significant regulatory action and 
do not need to be reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget under 
Executive Order 12866.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    These rate adjustments are not a rule for the purposes of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act because they establish ``a rule of 
particular applicability relating to rates.'' 5 U.S.C. 601(2).

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    These rate adjustments do not impose an unfunded mandate on state, 
local, or Tribal governments in the aggregate, or on the private 
sector, of more than $130 million per year. They do not have a 
significant or unique effect on state, local, or Tribal governments or 
the private sector. Therefore, the Department is not required to 
prepare a statement containing the information required by the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Takings (Executive Order 12630)

    These rate adjustments do not effect a taking of private property 
or otherwise have ``takings'' implications under Executive Order 12630. 
The rate adjustments do not deprive the public, state, or local 
governments of rights or property.

Federalism (Executive Order 13132)

    Under the criteria in section 1 of Executive Order 13132, these 
rate adjustments do not have sufficient federalism implications to 
warrant the preparation of a federalism summary impact statement 
because they will not affect the States, the relationship between the 
national government and the States, or the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among various levels of government. A federalism 
summary impact statement is not required.

Civil Justice Reform (Executive Order 12988)

    This notice complies with the requirements of Executive Order 
12988. Specifically, in issuing this notice, the Department has taken 
the necessary steps to eliminate drafting errors and ambiguity, 
minimize potential litigation, and provide a clear legal standard for 
affected conduct as required by section 3 of Executive Order 12988.

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    These rate adjustments do not affect the collections of information 
which have been approved by the Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995. BIA has requested revision of the OMB Control 
Number, which is 1076-0141 and expires June 30, 2019.

National Environmental Policy Act

    The Department has determined that these rate adjustments do not 
constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality 
of the human environment and that no detailed statement is required 
under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4321-
4370(d), pursuant to 43 CFR 46.210(i). In addition, the rate 
adjustments do not present any of the 12 extraordinary circumstances 
listed at 43 CFR 46.215.

    Dated: June 24, 2019.
Tara Sweeney,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2019-14824 Filed 7-11-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4337-15-P