[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 159 (Thursday, August 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50884-50887]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-17771]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

[RR83550000, 223R5065C6, RX.59389832.1009676]


Quarterly Status Report of Water Service, Repayment, and Other 
Water-Related Contract Actions

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of contract actions.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of contractual actions that have been

[[Page 50885]]

proposed to the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and are new, 
discontinued, or completed since the last publication of this notice. 
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 
of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Kelly, Reclamation Law 
Administration Division, Bureau of Reclamation, P.O. Box 25007, Denver, 
Colorado 80225-0007; [email protected]; telephone 303-445-2888.

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 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 or her 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 will 
furnish revised contracts to all parties who requested the contract in 
response to the initial public notice.

Definitions of Abbreviations Used in the Reports

ARRA American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
BCP Boulder Canyon Project
Reclamation Bureau of Reclamation
CAP Central Arizona Project
CUP Central Utah Project
CVP Central Valley Project
CRSP Colorado River Storage Project
XM Extraordinary maintenance
EXM Emergency extraordinary maintenance
FR Federal Register
IDD Irrigation and Drainage District
ID Irrigation District
M&I Municipal and industrial
O&M Operation and maintenance
OM&R Operation, maintenance, and replacement
P-SMBP Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program
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
WIIN Act Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act

    Missouri Basin--Interior Region 5: Bureau of Reclamation, P.O. Box 
36900, Federal Building, 2021 4th Avenue North, Billings, Montana 
59101, telephone 406-247-7752.
    New contract actions:
    38. Water user entities responsible for payment of reimbursable 
costs for Reclamation projects in Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, 
North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming: Contracts to 
be executed pursuant to Title IX of the Infrastructure Investment and 
Jobs Act of November 15, 2021 (Pub. L. 117-58), and/or contracts for XM 
pursuant to Title IX, Subtitle G of Omnibus Public Land Management Act 
of March 30, 2009 (Pub. L. 111-11). For more information, please see 
the Reclamation press release at https://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/#/news-release/4205.
    39. Arkansas Valley Conduit, Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, Colorado: 
Consideration of a repayment contract for the Arkansas Valley Conduit.
    Modified contract action:
    36. Greenfields ID, Sun River Project, Montana: Consideration for a 
Lease of Power Privilege.
    Discontinued contract action:
    37. Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, 
South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming: Potential repayment contracts 
pursuant to Section 40901 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act 
of November 15, 2021 (Pub. L. 117-58).
    Completed contract actions:
    20. Dana Ranch; Canyon Ferry Unit, P-SMBP; Montana: Consideration 
of a new long-term contract for an irrigation water supply. Contract 
executed on June 23, 2022.
    21. Oxbow Ranch; Canyon Ferry Unit, P-SMBP; Montana: Consideration 
of a new long-term contract for an irrigation

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water supply. Contract executed on February 22, 2022.
    23. Tom Jacobson; Canyon Ferry Unit, P-SMBP; Montana: Consideration 
of a new long-term contract for an irrigation water supply. Contract 
executed on April 27, 2022.
    Upper Colorado Basin--Interior Region 7: Bureau of Reclamation, 125 
South State Street, Room 8100, Salt Lake City, Utah 84138-1102, 
telephone 801-524-3864.
    New contract actions:
    35. Jicarilla Apache Nation, Navajo Project, New Mexico: Water 
service agreement between the Jicarilla Apache Nation and SIMCOE for 
delivery of 1,500 acre-feet of M&I water from the Jicarilla's 
Settlement Water from the Navajo Reservoir Supply. This agreement will 
have a term through December 31, 2026.
    36. San Juan Water Commission and LOGOS Resources II, LLC; Animas-
La Plata Project; New Mexico: Contract for the delivery of 1,500 acre-
feet of M&I water from the Navajo Reservoir supply as supplemented via 
exchange of Animas-La Plata Project water at the confluence of the San 
Juan and Animas Rivers. This agreement will have a term through 
December 31, 2031.
    37. San Juan Water Commission, Public Service Company of New 
Mexico, and the La Plata Conservancy District; Animas-La Plata Project; 
New Mexico: Contract for the delivery of 500 acre-feet of M&I water 
from the Navajo Reservoir supply as supplemented via exchange of 
Animas-La Plata Project water at the confluence of the San Juan and 
Animas Rivers. This agreement will have a term through December 31, 
2032.
    38. Grand Valley Water Users Association, Grand Valley Project, 
Colorado: Development of an XM contract pursuant to Title IX, Subtitle 
G of Public Law 111-11, to provide funds to the Association for the XM 
required for the Project.
    39. Orchard City ID, Fruitgrowers Project, Colorado: Development of 
a Contributed Funds Agreement for work at Fruitgrowers Reservoir.
    40. The Wyoming Water Development Commission; Seedskadee Project, 
Wyoming: The Commission has requested to acquire additional water in 
Fontenelle Reservoir. Reclamation is engaging in technical meetings 
with the Commission to explore the potential terms of a repayment 
contract, including the quantity of water available.
    41. Water user entities responsible for payment of reimbursable 
costs for Reclamation projects in Colorado and Utah: Contracts to be 
executed pursuant to Title IX of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs 
Act of November 15, 2021 (Pub. L. 117-58), and/or contracts for XM 
pursuant to Title IX, Subtitle G of Omnibus Public Land Management Act 
of March 30, 2009 (Pub. L. 111-11). For more information, please see 
the Reclamation press release at https://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/#/news-release/4205.
    Completed contract actions:
    6. Dolores Water Conservancy District, Dolores Project, Colorado: 
The District has requested a water service contract for 1,402 acre-feet 
of newly identified project water for irrigation. The proposed water 
service contract will provide 417 acre-feet of project water for 
irrigation of the Ute Enterprise and 985 acre-feet for use by the 
District's full-service irrigators. Contract executed on June 8, 2022.
    18. Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, San 
Juan-Chama Project, New Mexico: Reclamation is in negotiations to lease 
Abiquiu Reservoir Storage Space from the Authority. This agreement will 
be for a period of 2 years and may be extended for one additional 2-
year term. This agreement may go through October 31, 2025, with the 
extension. The Authority and the USACE are currently reviewing the 
final draft contract. Contract executed on May 12, 2022.
    Lower Colorado Basin--Interior Region 8: Bureau of Reclamation, 
P.O. Box 61470 (Nevada Highway and Park Street), Boulder City, Nevada 
89006-1470, telephone 702-293-8192.
    New contract action:
    24. Western Water, LLC and Cibola Valley IDD, BCP, Arizona: Approve 
an amendment of Western's contract service area under Western's 
contract No. 16-XX-30-W0619, as amended (Western Contract), to include 
the previously excluded parcels of land; namely, the eastern halves of 
Assessor Parcel Nos. 301-08-003C and 301-08-003D. The inclusion of 
these lands within the Western Contract service area will make these 
lands eligible to receive Arizona fourth-priority Colorado River water 
from Western. Western has an Arizona fourth-priority Colorado River 
water entitlement under the Western Contract for an annual diversion of 
536.48 acre-feet of Colorado River water for irrigation use within the 
Western Contract service area. Additionally, Reclamation will amend the 
District's contract service area under their contract to exclude 
Western lands. The exclusion of the Western lands from the District's 
contract service area will make the Western lands ineligible to receive 
Arizona fourth-, fifth-, and/or sixth-priority water from the District. 
The District's boundary will remain the same.
    25. Water user entities responsible for payment of reimbursable 
costs for Reclamation projects in Arizona and California: Contracts to 
be executed pursuant to Title IX of the Infrastructure Investment and 
Jobs Act of November 15, 2021 (Pub. L. 117-58), and/or contracts for XM 
pursuant to Title IX, Subtitle G of Omnibus Public Land Management Act 
of March 30, 2009 (Pub. L. 111-11). For more information, please see 
the Reclamation press release at https://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/#/news-release/4205.
    Columbia-Pacific Northwest--Interior Region 9: Bureau of 
Reclamation, 1150 North Curtis Road, Suite 100, Boise, Idaho 83706-
1234, telephone 208-378-5344.
    New contract actions:
    22. J.R. Simplot Company and Micron Technology, Inc.; Boise 
Project, Arrowrock Division; Idaho: Request to renew M&I water service 
contract pursuant to Section 9(c)(2) of the Reclamation Project Act of 
1939.
    23. Water user entities responsible for payment of reimbursable 
costs for Reclamation projects in Idaho, Washington, and parts of 
Montana, Oregon, and Wyoming: Contracts to be executed pursuant to 
Title IX of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of November 15, 
2021 (Pub. L. 117-58), and/or contracts for XM pursuant to Title IX, 
Subtitle G of Omnibus Public Land Management Act of March 30, 2009 
(Pub. L. 111-11). For more information, please see the Reclamation 
press release at https://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/#/news-release/4205.
    California-Great Basin--Interior Region 10: Bureau of Reclamation, 
2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California 95825-1898, telephone 916-978-
5250.
    New contract actions:
    45. CVP, California: Operational agreements, exchange agreements, 
contract amendments, and other agreements with Non-Federal Project 
Entities as required for Federal participation in non-Federal storage 
projects pursuant to the WIIN Act.
    46. Sacramento River Settlement Contractors, CVP, California: 
Temporary agreements for the purchase of conserved water for fish and 
wildlife purposes.
    47. Solano County Water Agency, Solano Project, California: Renewal 
of water service and OM&R contracts.
    48. Water user entities responsible for payment of reimbursable 
costs for Reclamation projects in California, Nevada, and Oregon: 
Contracts to be executed pursuant to Title IX of the Infrastructure 
Investment and Jobs Act of November 15, 2021 (Pub. L. 117-58), and/or 
contracts for XM pursuant to

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Title IX, Subtitle G of Omnibus Public Land Management Act of March 30, 
2009 (Pub. L. 111-11). For more information, please see the Reclamation 
press release at https://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/#/news-release/4205.
    Modified contract actions:
    10. Pershing County Water Conservation District, Pershing County, 
State of Nevada, and Lander County; Humboldt Project; Nevada: Title 
transfer of lands and features of the Humboldt Project.
    15. City of Santa Barbara, Cachuma Project, California: Execution 
of a long-term Warren Act contract with the City for conveyance of non-
project water in Cachuma Project facilities.
    16. Non-federal Operating Entities and Contractors with O&M 
responsibilities for transferred works; California, Nevada, and Oregon: 
Contracts for XM and replacement funded pursuant to Title IX, Subtitle 
G of Pub. L. 111-11.
    Discontinued contract action:
    12. Placer County Water Agency, CVP, California: Proposed exchange 
agreement under section 14 of the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 to 
exchange up to 71,000 acre-feet annually of the Agency's American River 
Middle Fork Project water for use by Reclamation, for a like amount of 
CVP water from the Sacramento River for use by the Agency.
    Completed contract actions:
    25. California Department of Fish and Game, CVP, California: To 
extend the term of and amend the existing water service contract for 
the Department's San Joaquin Fish Hatchery to allow an increase from 35 
to 60 cubic feet per second of continuous flow to pass through the 
Hatchery prior to it returning to the San Joaquin River. Contract 
executed on May 24, 2022.
    31. Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, CVP, California: Reimbursement 
agreement between the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and 
Reclamation for groundwater pumping costs. Groundwater will provide a 
portion of Gray Lodge Wildlife Area's Central Valley Improvement Act 
Level 4 water supplies. This action is taken pursuant to Public Law 
102-575, Title 34, Section 3406(d)(1, 2 and 5), to meet full Level 4 
water needs of the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area. Contract executed in 
September 2016.
    32. State of Nevada, Newlands Project, Nevada: Title transfer of 
lands and features of Carson Lake and Pasture. Contract executed in 
March 2021.
    33. Washoe County Water Conservation District, Truckee Storage 
Project, Nevada: Repayment contract for costs associated with SOD work 
on Boca Dam. Contract executed on May 17, 2018.

Christopher Beardsley,
Director, Policy and Programs.
[FR Doc. 2022-17771 Filed 8-17-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4332-90-P