Federal Register: June 24, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 120)
DOCID: fr24jn09-121 FR Doc E9-14823
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Reclamation Bureau
NOTICE: NOTICES
DOCID: fr24jn09-121
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Quarterly Status Report of Water Service, Repayment, and Other Water-Related Contract Negotiations
DOCUMENT 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. 1115). 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.
SUMMARY:
Quarterly Status Report of Water Service, Repayment, and Other Water-Related Contract Negotiations
SUPPLEMENTAL 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 resourcerelated 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
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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
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.
PSMBP................................. PickSloan 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.
Pacific Northwest Region: Bureau of Reclamation, 1150 North Curtis Road, Suite 100, Boise, Idaho 837061234, telephone 2083785344. New Contract Actions
14. Willow Creek Group, Willow Creek Project Oregon: Irrigation water service contract for up to 2,500 acrefeet 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.
MidPacific Region: Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California 958251898, telephone 9169785250.
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 acrefeet 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 890061470, telephone 7022938192.
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 110390.
15. Queen Creek Water Company, CAP, Arizona: Assignment of Queen Creek Water Company's 348 acrefeet 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 thirdpriority water entitlement for domestic use to Aursa, AZ I, LLC.
17. Gila Monster Farms, Inc., BCP, Arizona: Amend contract to decrease Gila Monster Farms' thirdpriority water entitlement.
18. Aursa, AZ I, LLC, BCP, Arizona: Enter into a new Section 5 contract with Aursa for 2,126 acrefeet per year of thirdpriority water being assigned to Aursa from Gila Monster Farms.
19. Arizona State Lands Department, BCP, Arizona: Amend contract No. 40730W0317 to decrease the Department's fourthpriority agricultural water entitlement that is being assigned to the Department's fourthpriority domestic water entitlement contract No. 7 0730W0358 to change the type of use from agricultural to domestic use.
20. Arizona State Lands Department, BCP, Arizona: Amend the Department's contract No. 70730W0358 to increase the Department's fourthpriority 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 acrefeet 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 841381102, telephone 801524 3864.
New Contract Actions
1.(e) Horse Meadows Home Owners Association, Aspinall Unit, CRSP: The Association has requested a 40year water service contract for 1 acrefoot 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 40year water service contract for 1 acrefoot 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 acrefeet of San JuanChama Project Water in Elephant Butte Reservoir for a 40year 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 40year 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.
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29. Horse Meadows Home Owners Association, Aspinall Unit, CRSP: The Association has requested a 40year 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 4062477752.
New Contract Actions
40. Pryor Creek Land and Development Company, Huntley Project, Montana: Request for a longterm water service contract for M&I purposes for up to 200 acrefeet of water per year.
41. Grandview Cemetery Association of Saco, Milk River Project, Montana: Contract renewal for longterm water service for up to 14 acrefeet of water per year.
42. Individual contractors; Canyon Ferry Unit, PSMBP; Montana: Replace temporary 1year contracts with shortterm water service contracts for minor amounts of less than 1,000 acrefeet of M&I water annually from the Missouri River, Canyon Ferry Dam.
43. Keyhole Country Club; Keyhole Unit, PSMBP; 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, ColoradoBig Thompson Project, Colorado: Consideration of a request for a longterm contract for the use of excess capacity for storage and exchange in Green Mountain Reservoir in the ColoradoBig Thompson Project. Contract was executed March 11, 2009.
25. City of Beloit, PSMBP, 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 acrefeet 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. E914823 Filed 62309; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310MNP
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Michelle Kelly, Water and Environmental Resources Office, Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box 25007, Denver, Colorado 802250007; telephone 3034452888.