[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 239 (Friday, December 11, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80148-80149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-27294]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

[RR83550000, 212R5065C6, RX.59389832.1009676]


Change in Discount Rate for Water Resources Planning

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of change in discount rate.

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[[Page 80149]]

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation is announcing the interest rate to 
be used by Federal agencies in the formulation and evaluation of plans 
for water and related land resources is 2.50 percent for fiscal year 
2021. The prior year's rate, as announced in the Federal Register on 
December 17, 2019, was 2.75 percent for fiscal year 2020.

DATES: This discount rate is to be used for the period October 1, 2020, 
through and including September 30, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Fernando Castro-Alvarez, Bureau of 
Reclamation, Reclamation Law Administration Division, P.O. Box 25007, 
Denver, Colorado 80225; telephone 303-445-2821.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Water Resources Planning Act of 1965 and 
the Water Resources Development Act of 1974 require an annual 
determination of a discount rate for Federal water resources planning. 
The discount rate for Federal water resources planning for fiscal year 
2021 is 2.50 percent. Discounting is to be used to convert future 
monetary values to present values.
    This rate has been computed in accordance with Section 80(a), 
Public Law 93-251 (88 Stat. 34), and 18 CFR 704.39, which: (1) Specify 
that the rate will be based upon the average yield during The preceding 
fiscal year on interest-bearing marketable securities of the United 
States which, at the time the computation is made, have terms of 15 
years or more remaining to maturity (average yield is rounded to 
nearest one-eighth percent); and (2) provide that the rate will not be 
raised or lowered more than one-quarter of 1 percent for any year. The 
U.S. Department of the Treasury calculated the specified average to be 
1.5730 percent. In accordance with the Water Resource Council Rules and 
Regulations, the maximum adjustment allowed for the current fiscal year 
rate is one-quarter of one percentage point from the previous fiscal 
year rate, which was 2.75 percent. Therefore, the fiscal year 2021 rate 
is 2.50 percent.
    The rate of 2.50 percent will be used by all Federal agencies in 
the formulation and evaluation of water and related land resources 
plans for the purpose of discounting future benefits and computing 
costs or otherwise converting benefits and costs to a common-time 
basis.

    Signed:
Christopher J. Beardsley,
Director, Policy and Programs.
[FR Doc. 2020-27294 Filed 12-10-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4332-90-P