80 FR 31415 - Quarterly Status Report of Water Service, Repayment, and Other Water-Related Contract Actions

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 105 (June 2, 2015)

Notice is hereby given of contractual actions that have been 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.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 105 (Tuesday, June 2, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31415-31418]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-13334]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

[RR83550000, 156R5065C6, RX.59389832.1009676]


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

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Kelly, Reclamation Law 
Administration Division, Bureau of

[[Page 31416]]

Reclamation, P.O. Box 25007, Denver, Colorado 80225-0007; 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
FR Federal Register
IDD Irrigation and Drainage District
ID Irrigation District
LCWSP Lower Colorado Water Supply Project
M&I Municipal and Industrial
NMISC New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission
O&M Operation and Maintenance
OM&R Operation, maintenance, and replacement
P-SMBP Pick-Sloan 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 83706-1234, telephone 208-378-5344.
    New contract action:
    10. East Columbia Basin ID, Columbia Basin Project, Washington: 
Long-term contract to renew master water service contract No. 14-06-
100-9165, as supplemented, to authorize the District to deliver a base 
quantity of up to 90,000 acre-feet of Columbia Basin Project water 
annually to up to 30,000 First Phase Continuation Acres located within 
the District, and continue delivery of additional water to land 
irrigated under the District's repayment contract during the peak 
period of irrigation water use annually.
    Mid-Pacific Region: Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, 
Sacramento, California 95825-1898, telephone 916-978-5250.
    Completed contract actions:
    23. Colusa County WD, CVP, California: Execution of a long-term 
Warren Act of 1911 contract for conveyance of up to 40,000 acre-feet of 
groundwater per year through the use of the Tehama-Colusa Canal. 
Executed a 5-year Warren Act contract for 30,000 acre-feet on August 
27, 2014.
    39. Conaway Preservation Group, LLC; Sacramento River Division, 
CVP; California: Proposed assignment of 10,000 acre-feet of water under 
an existing Sacramento River Settlement Contract to the Woodland-Davis 
Clean Water Agency. Contract executed on March 24, 2014.
    Lower Colorado Region: Bureau of Reclamation, P.O. Box 61470 
(Nevada Highway and Park Street), Boulder City, Nevada 89006-1470, 
telephone 702-293-8192.
    New contract action:
    23. Yuma County Water Users' Association, Yuma Project, Arizona: 
Execute a funding agreement for California Check and Wasteway 
infrastructure improvements to improve operational control and reduce 
water spills as part of the Western Drought Response activities in 
Arizona, California, Nevada, and Mexico.
    Discontinued contract action:
    2. John J. Peach, BCP, Arizona: Develop a Colorado River water 
delivery contract for 456 acre-feet of Colorado River water per year as 
recommended by the Arizona Department of Water Resources. Contract 
executed on December 29, 2014.
    Completed contract actions:
    16. San Carlos Apache Tribe and the Town of Gilbert, CAP, Arizona: 
Execute amendment No. 4 to a CAP water lease to extend the term of the 
lease in order for the San Carlos Apache Tribe to lease 20,000 acre-
feet of its CAP water to the Town of Gilbert during calendar year 2015. 
Contract executed on December 29, 2014.

[[Page 31417]]

    17. Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and the Town of Gilbert, CAP, 
Arizona: Execute amendment No. 4 to a CAP water lease to extend the 
term of the lease in order for Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation to lease 
13,933 acre-feet of its CAP water to the Town of Gilbert during 
calendar year 2015. Contract executed on November 12, 2014.
    18. San Carlos Apache Tribe and the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, CAP, 
Arizona: Execute a CAP water lease in order for the San Carlos Apache 
Tribe to lease 2,000 acre-feet of its CAP water to the Pascua Yaqui 
Tribe during calendar year 2015. Contract executed on January 2, 2015.
    Upper Colorado Region: Bureau of Reclamation, 125 South State 
Street, Room 8100, Salt Lake City, Utah 84138-1102, telephone 801-524-
3864.
    New contract actions:
    26. La Plata Water Conservancy District, Animas-La Plata Project, 
Colorado: The District has requested a 1-year temporary water service 
contract for the use of Reclamation shares in the Pine Ridge Ditch for 
the temporary use of up to 262 acre-feet. A contract is currently being 
drafted which will determine point(s) of delivery and rate and method 
of water payments.
    27. Carbon Water Conservancy District, Scofield Project, Utah: The 
District has requested Reclamation's assistance with O&M activities to 
rehabilitate certain portions of the Scofield Dam outlet works and 
surrounding area.
    28. Provo Reservoir Canal Company, Provo River Project, Utah: The 
Company has requested a contract to store some of its nonproject water 
in Deer Creek Reservoir on a space-available basis under the authority 
of the Warren Act of 1911.
    29. Uintah Water Conservancy District; Jensen Unit, CUP; Utah: 
Jensen Unit M&I Block Notice No. 3 will be issued as required by a 1983 
contract with Chevron USA, Inc., for 200 acre-feet of M&I water that is 
currently being pumped upstream of Red Fleet Reservoir.
    30. Uintah Water Conservancy District; Vernal Unit, CUP; Utah: The 
District desires to pipe the Steinaker Service Canal to improve public 
safety, decrease O&M costs, and increase water efficiency. This action 
will require a supplementary O&M contract to modify Federal Reclamation 
facilities, as well as an agreement written under the authority of the 
Civil Sundry Appropriations Act of 1921 for Reclamation to accept funds 
to review designs, inspect project construction, and any other 
activities requiring Reclamation's participation.
    31. Newton Water Users Association, Newton Project; Utah: The 
Association desires to abandon the Federal canals which distribute 
water from Newton Reservoir, and replace them with a private pipeline. 
This requires a supplementary O&M agreement to approve modification to 
Federal Reclamation facilities and outline the O&M responsibilities 
during and after construction.
    Discontinued contract action:
    11. Pinnacle Potash International; Flaming Gorge, CRSP; Utah: 
Pinnacle Potash International has requested a water service agreement 
for up to 20,000 acre-feet of M&I water out of Flaming Gorge for potash 
mining at a place near Crescent Junction, Utah.
    Completed contract actions:
    7. PacifiCorp Energy Corporation, Emery County Project, Utah: The 
Corporation has requested renewal of its water service contract for 
6,000 acre-feet of project M&I water from Joe's Valley Reservoir, Emery 
County Project. Contract executed December 22, 2014.
    20. Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, San 
Juan-Chama Project, New Mexico: Requested a contract to store up to 
50,000 acre-feet of project water in Elephant Butte Reservoir. The 
proposed contract would have a 40-year maximum term, which due to 
ongoing consultations with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the 
existing contract No. 3-CS-53-01510 which expired on January 26, 2008, 
has been extended annually. The Act of December 29, 1981, Public Law 
97-140, 95 Stat. 1717, provides authority to enter into this contract. 
Reclamation is conducting environmental compliance to proceed with the 
40-year contract. In the interim, Reclamation continues to execute 
annual renewals until a long-term contract can be executed. Contract 
executed January 29, 2015.
    Great Plains Region: Bureau of Reclamation, P.O. Box 36900, Federal 
Building, 2021 4th Avenue North, Billings, Montana 59101, telephone 
406-247-7752.
    New contract actions:
    54. Fort Cobb Reservoir Master Conservancy District, Fort Cobb 
Division, Washita River Basin Project: Reclamation intends to enter 
into an amendment to contract No. 14-06-500-295 to recognize the 
previously uncommitted irrigation water allocation as available for M&I 
use.
    55. East Bench ID; East Bench Unit, Three Forks Division, P-SMBP; 
Montana: Consideration of a contract amendment, pursuant to Public Law 
112-139; to extend the term of contract No. 14-06-600-3593 through 
December 31, 2019.
    56. Milk River Project, Montana: Proposed amendments to contracts 
to reflect current land ownership.
    57. Teton County Water and Sewer District; Canyon Ferry Unit, P-
SMBP; Montana: Consideration of a long-term contract for up to 40 acre-
feet of M&I water from Canyon Ferry Reservoir.
    58. Sunny Brooks Colony, Inc.; Lower Marias Unit, P-SMBP; Montana: 
Consideration to enter into a long-term contract for up to 59 acre-feet 
of M&I water from Lake Elwell.
    59. Devon Water Inc.; Lower Marias Unit, P-SMBP; Montana: Proposed 
40-year contract for M&I water.
    60. Tiber County WD; Lower Marias Unit, P-SMBP; Montana: Proposed 
40-year contract for M&I water.
    Modified contract actions:
    17. Van Amundson; Jamestown Reservoir; Garrison Diversion Unit, P-
SMBP; North Dakota: Intent to enter into an individual long-term 
irrigation water service contract to provide up to 285 acre-feet of 
water annually for a term of up to 40 years from Jamestown Reservoir, 
North Dakota.
    30. Helena Valley ID; Helena Valley Unit, P-SMBP; Montana: 
Consideration of a contract to allow for delivery of up to 10,000 acre-
feet of water for M&I purposes within the district boundaries.
    51. Bostwick Division, P-SMBP: Excess capacity contract with the 
State of Nebraska and/or State of Kansas entities and/or irrigation 
districts.
    Discontinued contract actions:
    35. Dickinson-Heart River Mutual Aid Corporation; Dickinson Unit, 
P-SMBP; North Dakota: Consideration of an amended long-term irrigation 
water service contract.
    36. Town of Silverthorne, Colorado-Big Thompson Project, Colorado: 
Consideration of a new long-term water service contract for Green 
Mountain Reservoir.
    43. Edwards Farms, Nebraska Bostwick, P-SMBP: Consideration of a 
long-term Warren Act contract.
    49. Larry TenBensel, Frenchman-Cambridge, P-SMBP: Consideration of 
a long-term excess capacity contract for the conveyance of nonproject 
water.
    Completed contract actions:
    7. Municipal Subdistrict of the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy 
District, Colorado-Big Thompson Project, Colorado: Consideration of a 
new long-term contract or amendment of contract No. 4-07-70-W0107 with 
the Municipal Subdistrict and the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy 
District for the proposed Windy Gap Firming Project. Contract executed 
December 19, 2014.
    20. Doug and Michelle Hamilton; Boysen Unit, P-SMBP; Wyoming:

[[Page 31418]]

Renewal of a long-term water service contract. Contract executed 
December 24, 2014.
    21. Frank Robbins; Boysen Unit, P-SMBP; Wyoming: Renewal of a long-
term water service contract. Contract executed February 6, 2015.
    22. Wade W. Jacobsen; Boysen Unit, P-SMBP; Wyoming: Renewal of a 
long-term water service contract. Contract executed December 24, 2014.
    38. Hillcrest Colony; Canyon Ferry Unit, P-SMBP; Montana: 
Consideration of a 10-year water service contract. Contract executed 
September 24, 2014.
    39. Allan Davies; Canyon Ferry Unit, P-SMBP; Montana: Renewal of a 
long-term water service contract. Contract executed January 23, 2015.
    42. Canyon Ferry Unit, P-SMBP, Montana: Renewal of 20 various 
individual water service contracts for small amounts of irrigation and 
municipal water use. Contracts executed, various dates.
    50. Kansas Bostwick ID, P-SMBP: Proposed amendment to original 
excess capacity contract executed June 2014, or new short-term excess 
capacity contract for storage and conveyance of nonproject water. 
Contract executed December 29, 2014.

    Dated: March 30, 2015.
 Roseann Gonzales,
 Director, Policy and Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015-13334 Filed 6-1-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4332-90-P