81 FR 36344 - Quarterly Status Report of Water Service, Repayment, and Other Water-Related Contract Actions

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 108 (June 6, 2016)

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 on February 19, 2016 (81 FR 8537). 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 81, Number 108 (Monday, June 6, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36344-36346]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13237]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

[RR83550000, 167R5065C6, 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

[[Page 36345]]

(Reclamation) and are new, discontinued, or completed since the last 
publication of this notice on February 19, 2016 (81 FR 8537). 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 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
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:
    16. Clean Water Services and Tualatin Valley ID, Tualatin Project, 
Oregon: Long-term water service contract that provides for the District 
to allow Clean Water Services to beneficially use up to 6,000 acre-feet 
annually of stored water for water quality improvement.
    MID-PACIFIC REGION: Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, 
Sacramento, California 95825-1898, telephone 916-978-5250.
    The Mid-Pacific Region has no updates to report for this quarter.
    LOWER COLORADO REGION: Bureau of Reclamation, P.O. Box 61470 
(Nevada Highway and Park Street), Boulder City, Nevada 89006-1470, 
telephone 702-293-8192.
    Completed contract actions:
    15. La Paz County and Ehrenberg Improvement Association, BCP, 
Arizona: Review and approve a proposed partial assignment to the 
Association of 150 acre-feet per year of La Paz County's Arizona fourth 
priority water entitlement amount of 500 acre-feet per year and execute 
the associated amendments to La Paz County's and the Association's 
contracts. Contract executed on December 22, 2015.
    17. 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 790 acre-feet of its CAP water to the Pascua Yaqui Tribe 
during calendar year 2016. Contract executed on March 17, 2016.
    18. Chandler Heights Citrus ID and Central Arizona Water 
Conservation District, CAP, Arizona: Execute a proposed assignment to 
Central Arizona Water Conservation District of Chandler

[[Page 36346]]

Heights Citrus ID's 315 acre-foot annual CAP water entitlement. 
Contract executed on March 14, 2016.
    20. Mohave County Water Authority, BCP, Arizona: Amend Exhibit D to 
the Authority's Colorado River water delivery contract to update the 
list of subcontractors with the Authority. Contract executed on 
February 29, 2016.
    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. Ephraim Irrigation Company, Sanpete Project, Utah: The Company 
proposes to enclose the Ephraim Tunnel with a 54-inch pipe. A 
supplemental O&M agreement will be necessary to obtain the 
authorization to modify Federal facilities.
    27. Eden Valley Irrigation and Drainage District, Eden Project, 
Wyoming: The District proposes to raise the level of Big Sandy Dam to 
shore up its water rights. A supplemental O&M agreement will be 
necessary to obtain the authorization to modify Federal facilities.
    28. Uintah Water Conservancy District, Central Utah Project--Vernal 
Unit, Utah: Due to sloughing on the face of Steinaker Dam north of 
Vernal, Utah, a SOD fix authorized under the SOD Act of 1978 may be 
necessary to perform the various functions necessary to bring Steinaker 
Reservoir back to full capacity. This will require a repayment contract 
with the United States.
    29. Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project: Pursuant to legislation and 
Section 10602(h) of Pub. L. 111-11, project facilities may be used to 
treat and convey nonproject water. Before delivery of project water 
from the San Juan River, a need will exist for nonproject water to be 
delivered to the Navajo Nation. A carriage contract has been drafted 
and is currently under internal review (Reclamation) then will be 
negotiated with the Navajo Nation in a public setting.
    30. Jicarilla Apache Nation, Navajo Project, New Mexico: Water 
service agreement between the Jicarilla Apache Nation and the San Juan 
Basin Water Haulers Association for delivery of 200 acre-feet of M&I 
water from the Jicarilla's settlement water from the Navajo Reservoir 
Supply. This agreement will have a term of 5 years (2016-2020) and will 
replace the expired previous agreement which was in place for 10 years.
    31. North Fork Water Conservancy District and Ragged Mountain Water 
Users Association, Paonia Project, Colorado. An existing contract for 
2,000 acre-feet will expire on December 31, 2016. The parties have 
requested a 5-year contract that will begin when the existing contract 
expires. The new contract will be for up to 2,000 acre-feet of water 
with up to 200 acre-feet available for M&I uses.
    Modified contract action:
    14. South Cache Water Users Association, Hyrum Project, Utah: The 
Association desires to pipe approximately 2,100 linear feel of the 
Hyrum-Mendota Canal to combat seepage issues below Hyrum Dam. A 
supplemental O&M agreement is necessary for Reclamation to provide 
consent to the modification of the Federal facilities.
    Completed contract actions:
    5. Uintah Water Conservancy District; Vernal Unit, CUP; Utah: 
Proposed carriage contract to both store up to 35,000 acre-feet of 
nonproject water in Steinaker Reservoir and carry nonproject water in 
the Steinaker Service and Feeder Canals. Contract executed on February 
12, 2016.
    21. Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Animas-La Plata Project, Colorado: 
Requested a water delivery contract for 33,519 acre-feet of M&I water; 
contract terms to be consistent with the Colorado Ute Settlement Act 
Amendments of 2000 (Title III of Pub. L. 106-554). Contract executed on 
January 14, 2016.
    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:
    39. South Chester County Water District; Lower Marias Unit, P-SMBP; 
Montana: Consideration to renew of long-term M&I water service contract 
No. 14-06-600-2022A.
    40. Nathan D. and Kindra Young; Canyon Ferry Unit, P-SMBP; Montana: 
Consideration to renew short-term M&I water service contract No. 
129E670093.
    41. Central Oklahoma Master Conservancy District, Norman Project, 
Oklahoma: Consideration of a contract for a supply of water made 
possible when infrequent and otherwise unmanageable flood flows of 
short duration create a temporary supply of water.
    Modified contract action:
    22. Helena Valley ID; Helena Valley Unit, P-SMBP; Montana: 
Consideration of a contract to allow for delivery of up to 500 acre-
feet of water for M&I purposes.
    Completed contract action:
    29. Larry TenBensel; Frenchman Cambridge, P-SMBP; Nebraska: 
Consideration of a long-term Warren Act contract. Contract executed on 
March 15, 2016.

    Dated: April 14, 2016.
Roseann Gonzales,
Director, Policy and Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-13237 Filed 6-3-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4332-90-P