80_FR_77237 80 FR 76999 - Statement of Findings: Bill Williams River Water Rights Settlement Act of 2014

80 FR 76999 - Statement of Findings: Bill Williams River Water Rights Settlement Act of 2014

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of the Secretary

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 238 (December 11, 2015)

Page Range76999-77000
FR Document2015-31301

The Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) is publishing this notice in accordance with section 9 of the Bill Williams River Water Rights Settlement Act of 2014 (P.L. 113-223) (Settlement Act). The publication of this notice causes the waivers and release of certain claims to become effective as required to implement the Settlement.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 238 (Friday, December 11, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 238 (Friday, December 11, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76999-77000]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31301]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary

[16XD4523WS DS10100000 DWSN00000.000000 DP10020]


Statement of Findings: Bill Williams River Water Rights 
Settlement Act of 2014

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) is publishing this 
notice in accordance with section 9 of the Bill Williams River Water 
Rights Settlement Act of 2014 (P.L. 113-223) (Settlement Act). The 
publication of this notice causes the waivers and release of certain 
claims to become effective as required to implement the Settlement.

DATES: This notice is effective December 11, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Address all comments and requests for 
additional information to Ruth Thayer, Chair, Hualapai Tribe Water 
Rights Settlement Negotiation Team, Department of the Interior, Bureau 
of Reclamation, Lower Colorado Region, P.O. Box 61470, Boulder City, NV 
89006. (702) 293-8426.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Settlement Act directs the Secretary of 
the Interior to enter into the Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch Water 
Rights Settlement Agreement and the Hualapai Tribe Bill Williams River 
Water Rights Settlement Agreement, to provide for the lease of certain 
land located within Planet Ranch on the Bill Williams River in the 
State of Arizona to benefit the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species 
Conservation Program, and to provide for the settlement of specific 
water rights claims in the Bill Williams River watershed in the State 
of Arizona. The non-federal settling parties submitted a signed 
settlement agreement to Congress prior to enactment of the Settlement 
Act (Pub. L. 113-223). The purposes of the Settlement Act are:
    (1) To achieve a fair, equitable, and final settlement of certain 
claims among certain parties to water rights in the Bill Williams River 
watershed in the State of Arizona for
    (A) the Hualapai Tribe (acting on behalf of the Tribe and members 
of the Tribe); and
    (B) the Department of the Interior, acting on behalf of the 
Department and,

[[Page 77000]]

as specified, the United States as trustee for the Hualapai Tribe, the 
members of the Tribe, and the allottees;
    (2) to approve, ratify, and confirm
    (A) the Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch Water Rights Settlement 
Agreement (Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch Agreement) entered into among 
the Hualapai Tribe, the United States as trustee for the Tribe, the 
members of the Tribe and allottees, the Secretary of the Interior, the 
Arizona department of water resources (ADWR), Freeport Minerals 
Corporation, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, to the extent the 
Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch Agreement is consistent with the 
Settlement Act;
    (B) the Hualapai Tribe Bill Williams River Water Rights Settlement 
Agreement (Hualapai Tribe Agreement) entered into among the Tribe, the 
United States as trustee for the Tribe, members of the Tribe, the 
allotees, and the Freeport Minerals Corporation, to the extent the 
Hualapai Tribe Agreement is consistent with the Settlement Act;
    (3) to authorize and direct the Secretary
    (A) to execute the duties and obligations of the Secretary under 
the Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch Agreement, the Hualapai Tribe 
Agreement, and the Settlement Act;
    (B)(i) to remove objections to the applications for the severance 
and transfer of certain water rights, in partial consideration of the 
agreement of the parties to impose certain limits on the extent of the 
use and transferability of the severed and transferred water rights and 
other water rights; and
    (ii) to provide confirmation of those water rights; and
    (C) to carry out any other activity necessary to implement the Big 
Sandy River-Planet Ranch Agreement and the Hualapai Tribe Agreement in 
accordance with the Settlement Act;
    (4) to advance the purposes of the Lower Colorado River Multi-
Species Conservation Program (Conservation Program);
    (5) to secure a long-term lease for a portion of Planet Ranch, 
along with appurtenant water rights primarily along the Bill Williams 
River corridor, for use in the Conservation Program;
    (6) to bring the leased portion of Planet Ranch into public 
ownership for the long-term benefit of the Conservation Program; and
    (7) to secure from the Freeport Minerals Corporation non-Federal 
contributions
    (A) to support a tribal water supply study necessary for the 
advancement of a settlement of the claims of the Tribe for rights to 
Colorado River water; and
    (B) to enable the Tribe to secure Colorado River water rights and 
appurtenant land, increase security of the water rights of the Tribe, 
and facilitate a settlement of the claims of the Tribe for rights to 
Colorado River water.

Statement of Findings

    In accordance with section 9 of the Settlement Act, section 
11.12(i) of the Amended and Restated Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch Water 
Rights Settlement Agreement, and section 10.13(i) of the Amended and 
Restated Hualapai Tribe Bill Williams River Water Rights Settlement 
Agreement, I find as follows:
    (1)(A) To the extent that the Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch 
Agreement or the Hualapai Tribe Agreement conflict with the Settlement 
Act, the applicable agreement has been revised to eliminate the 
conflict; and
    (B) the Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch Agreement, as revised, and the 
Hualapai Tribe Agreement, as revised, have been executed by all parties 
to those agreements;
    (2) Freeport Minerals Corporation has submitted to the Arizona 
Department of Water Resources (ADWR) a conditional amendment of the 
sever and transfer applications for the Lincoln Ranch water right and 
amendments to sever and transfer applications for Planet Ranch and 
Lincoln Ranch water rights consistent with section 4.2.1(ii)(a) of the 
Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch Agreement;
    (3) the Secretary and the Arizona Game and Fish Commission have 
executed and filed with ADWR a conditional withdrawal of each objection 
described in section 4(b)(3) of the Settlement Act and as provided in 
subsections 4.2.1(ii)(b) and 4.2.1(ii)(c) of the Big Sandy River-Planet 
Ranch Agreement;
    (4)(A) ADWR has issued a conditional order approving the sever and 
transfer applications of Freeport Minerals Corporation; and
    (B) all objections to the sever and transfer applications have been 
(i) conditionally withdrawn; or (ii) resolved in a decision issued by 
ADWR that is final and nonappealable;
    (5) notice has been provided to the parties to the Big Sandy River-
Planet Ranch Agreement and the Hualapai Tribe Agreement that the 
Department has completed the legally required environmental compliance 
described in section 8;
    (6) the steering committee for the Lower Colorado River Multi-
Species Conservation Program has approved and authorized the manager of 
the Conservation Program to execute the lease in the form as set forth 
in exhibit 2.33 to the Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch Agreement; and
    (7) the waivers and releases authorized by section 6 have been 
executed by the Tribe and the Secretary.

    Dated: December 7, 2015.
Sally Jewell,
Secretary of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 2015-31301 Filed 12-10-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4334-63-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 238 / Friday, December 11, 2015 / Notices 76999 In accordance with National every 15 years in accordance with the structure, and function of the natural Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (40 Administration Act. and modified habitats within the Refuge CFR 1506.6(b)) requirements, this notice Complex. We will consider the CCP Alternatives and Selected announces the availability of the ROD ecological site characteristics and Alternative for the final CCP and final EIS for San wildlife species needs on our Refuge Luis Valley NWR Complex. We Our final CCP and final EIS (80 FR Complex lands by developing sound completed a thorough analysis of the 48328; August 12, 2015) addressed and sustainable management strategies environmental, social, and economic several issues. To address these, we that preserve and restore ecological considerations associated with our developed and evaluated the following (biological) integrity, productivity, and actions. The ROD documents our alternatives: Alternative A—No Action; biological diversity. We will apply selection of alternative B, the preferred Alternative B—Wildlife Populations, strategic habitat conservation principles alternative. Strategic Habitat Restoration, and (a structured, science-driven, and The CCP will guide us in managing Enhanced Public Uses; Alternative C— adaptive approach) in determining how and administering the Refuge Complex Habitat Restoration and Ecological to best manage our lands for native fish, for the next 15 years. Alternative B, as Processes; and Alternative D—Maximize wildlife, and plant species, with a we described in the final EIS/ROD, is Public Use Opportunities. particular emphasis on migratory birds, the foundation for the CCP. After consideration of the more than waterfowl, and declining species listed Background 1,000 comments that we received on the under the Endangered Species Act draft CCP and draft EIS, we have (listed species). Compatible wildlife- The CCP Process selected alternative B—Wildlife dependent public uses will be enhanced The National Wildlife Refuge System Populations, Strategic Habitat and expanded to include all three Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. Restoration, and Enhanced Public Uses. refuges. We will facilitate the 668dd–668ee) (Administration Act), as It is the alternative that best meets the protection, restoration, and conservation amended by the National Wildlife purposes of the refuges, the mission of of important water resources through Refuge System Improvement Act of the National Wildlife Refuge System, partnerships, public education, and 1997, requires us to develop a CCP for and the vision and management goals stewardship. each national wildlife refuge. The set for the Refuge Complex; and it purpose for developing a CCP is to adheres to Service policies and Public Availability of Documents provide refuge managers with a 15-year guidelines. It considers the interests and In addition to any one method in plan for achieving refuge purposes and perspectives of many agencies, ADDRESSES, you can view or obtain contributing toward the mission of the organization, tribes, and the public. documents at the following locations: National Wildlife Refuge System, Additionally, it is the environmentally consistent with sound principles of fish preferred alternative. • Our Web site: http://www.fws.gov/ and wildlife management, conservation, Under alternative B and in mountain-prairie/refuges/ legal mandates, and our policies. We cooperation with our partners, we will refugesUpdate/alm_bac_mtv.php will review and update the CCP at least maintain or restore the composition, • Public libraries: Library Address Phone No. Alamosa Public Library ........................... 300 Hunt Avenue, Alamosa, CO 81101 .................................................................. (719) 589–6592 Carnegie Public Library ........................... 120 Jefferson Street, Monte Vista, CO 81144 ........................................................ (719) 852–3931 Baca Grande Library ............................... 67487 County Road T, Crestone, CO 81131 .......................................................... (719) 256–4100 Saguache Public Library ......................... 702 Pitkin Ave., Saguache, CO 81149 ................................................................... (719) 655–2551 Dated: December 4, 2015. Williams River Water Rights Settlement Settlement Agreement, to provide for Matt Hogan, Act of 2014 (P.L. 113–223) (Settlement the lease of certain land located within Acting Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Act). The publication of this notice Planet Ranch on the Bill Williams River Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. causes the waivers and release of certain in the State of Arizona to benefit the [FR Doc. 2015–31231 Filed 12–10–15; 8:45 am] claims to become effective as required to Lower Colorado River Multi-Species BILLING CODE 4333–15–P implement the Settlement. Conservation Program, and to provide DATES: This notice is effective December for the settlement of specific water 11, 2015. rights claims in the Bill Williams River DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR watershed in the State of Arizona. The FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: non-federal settling parties submitted a Office of the Secretary Address all comments and requests for signed settlement agreement to Congress additional information to Ruth Thayer, prior to enactment of the Settlement Act [16XD4523WS DS10100000 DWSN00000. Chair, Hualapai Tribe Water Rights 000000 DP10020] (Pub. L. 113–223). The purposes of the Settlement Negotiation Team, Settlement Act are: Department of the Interior, Bureau of (1) To achieve a fair, equitable, and Statement of Findings: Bill Williams Reclamation, Lower Colorado Region, River Water Rights Settlement Act of final settlement of certain claims among P.O. Box 61470, Boulder City, NV jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 2014 certain parties to water rights in the Bill 89006. (702) 293–8426. Williams River watershed in the State of AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Arizona for ACTION: Notice. Settlement Act directs the Secretary of (A) the Hualapai Tribe (acting on the Interior to enter into the Big Sandy behalf of the Tribe and members of the SUMMARY: The Secretary of the Interior River-Planet Ranch Water Rights Tribe); and (Secretary) is publishing this notice in Settlement Agreement and the Hualapai (B) the Department of the Interior, accordance with section 9 of the Bill Tribe Bill Williams River Water Rights acting on behalf of the Department and, VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:55 Dec 10, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00074 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1

77000 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 238 / Friday, December 11, 2015 / Notices as specified, the United States as trustee (B) to enable the Tribe to secure lease in the form as set forth in exhibit for the Hualapai Tribe, the members of Colorado River water rights and 2.33 to the Big Sandy River-Planet the Tribe, and the allottees; appurtenant land, increase security of Ranch Agreement; and (2) to approve, ratify, and confirm the water rights of the Tribe, and (7) the waivers and releases (A) the Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch facilitate a settlement of the claims of authorized by section 6 have been Water Rights Settlement Agreement (Big the Tribe for rights to Colorado River executed by the Tribe and the Secretary. Sandy River-Planet Ranch Agreement) water. Dated: December 7, 2015. entered into among the Hualapai Tribe, Statement of Findings Sally Jewell, the United States as trustee for the In accordance with section 9 of the Secretary of the Interior. Tribe, the members of the Tribe and allottees, the Secretary of the Interior, Settlement Act, section 11.12(i) of the [FR Doc. 2015–31301 Filed 12–10–15; 8:45 am] the Arizona department of water Amended and Restated Big Sandy River- BILLING CODE 4334–63–P resources (ADWR), Freeport Minerals Planet Ranch Water Rights Settlement Corporation, the Arizona Game and Fish Agreement, and section 10.13(i) of the Commission, to the extent the Big Sandy Amended and Restated Hualapai Tribe DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR River-Planet Ranch Agreement is Bill Williams River Water Rights Bureau of Land Management consistent with the Settlement Act; Settlement Agreement, I find as follows: (B) the Hualapai Tribe Bill Williams (1)(A) To the extent that the Big [LLMTM00000.L111100000.XP0000 River Water Rights Settlement Sandy River-Planet Ranch Agreement or 16XL1109AF MO#4500088646] Agreement (Hualapai Tribe Agreement) the Hualapai Tribe Agreement conflict entered into among the Tribe, the with the Settlement Act, the applicable Notice of Public Meeting; Central United States as trustee for the Tribe, agreement has been revised to eliminate Montana Resource Advisory Council members of the Tribe, the allotees, and the conflict; and AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, the Freeport Minerals Corporation, to (B) the Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch Interior. the extent the Hualapai Tribe Agreement, as revised, and the Hualapai ACTION: Notice of public meeting. Agreement is consistent with the Tribe Agreement, as revised, have been Settlement Act; executed by all parties to those SUMMARY: In accordance with the (3) to authorize and direct the agreements; Federal Land Policy and Management Secretary (2) Freeport Minerals Corporation has Act (FLPMA) and the Federal Advisory (A) to execute the duties and submitted to the Arizona Department of Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. obligations of the Secretary under the Water Resources (ADWR) a conditional Department of the Interior, Bureau of Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch amendment of the sever and transfer Land Management (BLM) Central Agreement, the Hualapai Tribe applications for the Lincoln Ranch Montana Resource Advisory Council Agreement, and the Settlement Act; water right and amendments to sever (RAC) will meet as indicated below. (B)(i) to remove objections to the and transfer applications for Planet DATES: The Central Montana Resource applications for the severance and Ranch and Lincoln Ranch water rights Advisory Council Meeting will be held transfer of certain water rights, in partial consistent with section 4.2.1(ii)(a) of the January 26–27, 2015 in Great Falls, consideration of the agreement of the Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch Montana. The January 26 meeting will parties to impose certain limits on the Agreement; begin at 10:00 a.m. with a 30-minute extent of the use and transferability of (3) the Secretary and the Arizona public comment period and will the severed and transferred water rights Game and Fish Commission have adjourn at 5:00 p.m. The January 27 and other water rights; and executed and filed with ADWR a meeting will begin at 8:00 a.m. with a (ii) to provide confirmation of those conditional withdrawal of each 30-minute public comment period water rights; and objection described in section 4(b)(3) of beginning at 10:00 a.m. and will adjourn (C) to carry out any other activity the Settlement Act and as provided in at 12:00 p.m. necessary to implement the Big Sandy subsections 4.2.1(ii)(b) and 4.2.1(ii)(c) of ADDRESSES: The meetings will be in the River-Planet Ranch Agreement and the the Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center Hualapai Tribe Agreement in Agreement; Conference Room at 4201 Giant Springs accordance with the Settlement Act; (4)(A) ADWR has issued a conditional Road, Great Falls, Montana. (4) to advance the purposes of the order approving the sever and transfer Lower Colorado River Multi-Species applications of Freeport Minerals FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Conservation Program (Conservation Corporation; and Mark Albers, HiLine District Manager, Program); (B) all objections to the sever and Great Falls Field Office, 1101 15th (5) to secure a long-term lease for a transfer applications have been (i) Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401, portion of Planet Ranch, along with conditionally withdrawn; or (ii) (406) 791–7789, malbers@blm.gov. appurtenant water rights primarily resolved in a decision issued by ADWR Persons who use a telecommunications along the Bill Williams River corridor, that is final and nonappealable; device for the deaf (TDD) may call the for use in the Conservation Program; (5) notice has been provided to the Federal Information Relay Service (6) to bring the leased portion of parties to the Big Sandy River-Planet (FIRS) at 1–800–677–8339 to contact the Planet Ranch into public ownership for Ranch Agreement and the Hualapai above individual during normal the long-term benefit of the Tribe Agreement that the Department business hours. The FIRS is available 24 has completed the legally required hours a day, 7 days a week to leave a jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Conservation Program; and (7) to secure from the Freeport environmental compliance described in message or question with the above Minerals Corporation non-Federal section 8; individual. You will receive a reply contributions (6) the steering committee for the during normal business hours. (A) to support a tribal water supply Lower Colorado River Multi-Species SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 15- study necessary for the advancement of Conservation Program has approved and member council advises the Secretary of a settlement of the claims of the Tribe authorized the manager of the the Interior, through the BLM, on a for rights to Colorado River water; and Conservation Program to execute the variety of management issues associated VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:55 Dec 10, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00075 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM 11DEN1


Document Created: 2018-03-02 09:12:31
Document Modified: 2018-03-02 09:12:31
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
DatesThis notice is effective December 11, 2015.
FR Citation80 FR 76999 
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