82_FR_61830 82 FR 61582 - Notice Regarding Upper Klamath Basin Comprehensive Agreement

82 FR 61582 - Notice Regarding Upper Klamath Basin Comprehensive Agreement

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of the Secretary

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 248 (December 28, 2017)

Page Range61582-61584
FR Document2017-28050

The Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) is publishing this Notice under subsection 10.2 of the Upper Klamath Basin Comprehensive Agreement (UKBCA), executed by the Klamath Tribes (Tribes), State of Oregon (State), and numerous irrigators in the Upper Klamath Basin. The UKBCA contains measures to address the needs of water users in the Upper Klamath Basin, who are not affiliated with the Bureau of Reclamation's Klamath Project (Project). The UKBCA also contains conditions that must be achieved before the UKBCA can become permanent. Despite the efforts of the UKBCA parties, one or more conditions in subsection 10.1 of the UKBCA have failed to occur. Accordingly, pursuant to the terms of subsection 10.2 of the UKBCA and as further described below, this statement serves as a ``Negative Notice'' that the UKBCA is terminated as set forth in UKBCA subsection 10.2.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 248 (Thursday, December 28, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 248 (Thursday, December 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61582-61584]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-28050]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary

[189A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900 253G]


Notice Regarding Upper Klamath Basin Comprehensive Agreement

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) is publishing this 
Notice under subsection 10.2 of the Upper Klamath Basin Comprehensive 
Agreement (UKBCA), executed by the Klamath Tribes (Tribes), State of 
Oregon (State), and numerous irrigators in the Upper Klamath Basin. The 
UKBCA contains measures to address the needs of water users in the 
Upper Klamath Basin, who are not affiliated with the Bureau of 
Reclamation's Klamath Project (Project). The UKBCA also contains 
conditions that must be achieved before the UKBCA can become permanent. 
Despite the efforts of the UKBCA parties, one or more conditions in 
subsection 10.1 of the UKBCA have failed to occur. Accordingly, 
pursuant to the terms of subsection 10.2 of the UKBCA and as further 
described below, this statement serves as a ``Negative Notice'' that 
the UKBCA is terminated as set forth in UKBCA subsection 10.2.

DATES: The termination of the UKBCA is effective on December 28, 2017 
or, if judicial review of the termination is timely sought, then the 
effective date of the termination shall be the date on which the 
termination is sustained following any and all appeals.

ADDRESSES: The Upper Klamath Basin Comprehensive Agreement (UKBCA) is 
available at www.oregon.gov/gov/policy/environment/taskforce/Pages/Final_Upper_Klamath_Basin_Comprehensive_Agreement_Documents.aspx.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Address all comments and requests for 
additional information to Christina Kalavritinos, Senior Advisor, 
Commissioner's Office, Bureau of Reclamation, (202) 513-0509.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 18, 2010, the Tribes joined more 
than 60 other parties in signing the Klamath Basin Restoration 
Agreement (KBRA). A subset of those parties signed a second agreement, 
the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA), that same day. 
Those two agreements aimed to restore the Basin fisheries and sustain 
local economies by restoring fish habitat and implementing a water-
sharing agreement among the parties who rely upon water from Upper 
Klamath Lake (Lake) and the Klamath River. A majority of the water 
users living above (upstream of) the Lake did not agree to this water-
sharing agreement, so the KBRA provided only general direction on a 
possible Upper Basin water-sharing agreement.
    In spring 2013, the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) ruled 
that the Tribes and United States held water rights for maintaining 
water levels in the major tributaries above the Lake. The Klamath 
County Circuit Court subsequently determined that enforcement of those 
determined in-stream flow rights should not be stayed. In summer 2013, 
at the request of the Governor of Oregon and several Congressional 
representatives, the Tribes began negotiating with the State and the 
non-Indian water users who are upstream of the Lake and not affiliated 
with the Project (referred to as ``Off-Project irrigators''), in an 
effort to reach a water-sharing and habitat restoration agreement that 
would benefit their respective interests. The resulting agreement, the 
UKBCA, was executed on April 18, 2014.
    The UKBCA included:
     A Water Use Program that would increase inflow into the 
Lake by an annual average of at least 30,000 acre feet by reducing 
consumptive water use in key reaches of the tributaries above the Lake, 
while also providing a stable, sustainable basis for the continuation 
of irrigated agriculture;
     A Riparian Program designed to improve and protect 
riparian conditions;
     An Economic Development Program designed to create 
economic opportunities for the Tribes and its members;
     Increased opportunities for the exercise of Tribal 
cultural rights; and
     A Transition Period to allow for the elements of the UKBCA 
to be phased in over time.
    The UKBCA established a five-year transition period with interim 
milestones and operating procedures. The parties anticipated that once 
the conditions contained in subsection 10.1 of the UKBCA were achieved, 
the UKBCA would become permanent. During the transition period, the 
Tribes

[[Page 61583]]

agreed to limit the enforcement of their determined water rights so 
long as the other parties to the UKBCA met specific interim milestones. 
In 2017, those interim milestones were not achieved and the Tribes 
(with the concurrence of the United States as trustee) requested that 
OWRD fully enforce their determined water rights; OWRD complied with 
the request.
    All three settlement agreements (KBRA, KHSA, and UKBCA) have 
interdependencies. For example, the UKBCA was premised in key part on 
Federal funding being provided for certain actions under the KBRA. 
Because the KBRA required congressional approval to become fully 
enforceable and funded, and because Congress failed to act within the 
time frame set by the KBRA, the KBRA expired of its own terms on 
December 31, 2015.
    After the KBRA expired, the Tribes notified the Secretary in a 
January 12, 2016, letter that they believed their bargained-for 
benefits under the UKBCA and KBRA could not be realized. The Tribes 
asked the Secretary to issue a Negative Notice as contemplated under 
subsection 10.2 of the UKBCA. Subsection 10.2 of the UKBCA states that 
the Secretary shall issue a Negative Notice resulting in termination of 
the UKBCA if, after completion of required dispute resolution 
processes, the Secretary determines that there is ``no reasonable 
likelihood'' that all required conditions set out in subsection 10.1 of 
the UKBCA can be met. As noted in the Tribes' letter, several 
conditions listed in subsection 10.1 required the enactment of Federal 
legislation, which did not and has not happened.
    The UKBCA allows the Secretary to make a preliminary determination 
regarding whether the conditions contained in subsection 10.1 can be 
achieved. On April 4, 2016, the Deputy Secretary responded with a 
preliminary determination, tentatively agreeing with the Tribes but 
nonetheless noting that subsection 10.2 of the UKBCA requires a ``meet 
and confer'' process among the parties before a Negative Notice could 
be issued. The Tribes invoked the meet and confer provisions in an 
August 11, 2016, letter, and the parties met and conferred on October 
4, 2016. That meeting was unsuccessful in resolving the issues between 
the parties.
    On December 4, 2016, some Off-Project irrigators invoked the 
mediation provision in subsection 11.2 of the UKBCA in an effort to aid 
the meet and confer process. The Tribes also invoked this mediation 
provision on December 12, 2016. The parties selected a neutral third-
party mediator and held a confidential mediation session on February 
23, 2017. That effort did not resolve the differences between the 
parties. The Tribes sent letters to the Secretary on April 26, 2017, 
and September 11, 2017, reiterating their request that the Secretary 
issue a Negative Notice. The Off-Project irrigators sent a letter to 
the Secretary on April 28, 2017, asking that the Secretary refrain from 
issuing a Negative Notice.
    The Tribes are of the view that all three agreements--the KBRA, the 
KHSA, and the UKBCA--need to be fully implemented in order to receive 
their bargained-for benefits. The Tribes have highlighted this position 
and concern to the other UKBCA parties and in their correspondence 
requesting a Negative Notice. The UKBCA and KBRA were inextricably 
linked. Many of the bargained-for benefits for the Klamath Tribes, 
including funding for fishery and Tribal programs and the purchase of 
land, were embedded in the KBRA. Funding for many of the actions in the 
UKBCA, including water right retirements to achieve 30,000 acre-feet of 
water savings and riparian corridor restoration, was similarly included 
in the KBRA.

Statement of Findings

    Subsection 10.1 of the UKBCA contains fifteen (15) conditions 
(subsections 10.1.1 through 10.1.15) that all must occur before an 
Affirmative Notice can be issued that would make the UKBCA permanent. 
If I find that one or more of these conditions has not or cannot be 
achieved, and thus there is no reasonable likelihood that an 
Affirmative Notice will occur under section 10.1, then section 10.2 
directs that a Negative Notice be published.
    Subsection 10.1.3 of the UKBCA requires enactment of Federal 
legislation authorizing the execution and implementation of the KBRA, 
which the UKBCA defines as ``the agreement dated February 18, 2010, as 
amended December 29, 2012.'' No legislation was passed by Congress 
before December 31, 2015, and the KBRA expired of its own terms. Thus, 
subsection 10.1.3 cannot be met. This fact alone means I will not be 
able to issue an Affirmative Notice, and warrants issuance of a 
Negative Notice.
    I have reached a similar conclusion for subsections 10.1.1, 10.1.2, 
and 10.1.4, which also require enactment of Federal legislation that 
would authorize Federal participation in the UKBCA's Water Use or 
Riparian Protection Programs and Federal participation on the Joint 
Management Entity. No legislation was passed by Congress to enact these 
provisions, and I am not aware of any pending legislation that would do 
so in the foreseeable future. Accordingly, I also conclude that there 
is no reasonable likelihood that these conditions will be met at any 
time in the foreseeable future.
    The lack of Federal legislation as required by subsections 10.1.1 
through 10.1.4 also leads to the conclusion that there is no reasonable 
likelihood that the additional conditions contained in subsections 
10.1.10 through 10.1.13 will be met either. Without legislation 
authorizing the KBRA, the Tribes do not intend to provide a notice of 
willingness to proceed with the UKBCA (subsection 10.1.10). Moreover, 
without authorizing legislation, I cannot sign the UKBCA (subsection 
10.1.13). Similarly, the Landowner Entity and State of Oregon, like the 
Tribes, must determine that Federal legislation authorizing the UKBCA 
is materially consistent with the UKBCA (subsections 10.1.11 and 
10.1.12).
    In addition, other conditions in the UKBCA (subsections 10.1.6 and 
10.1.7) require the appropriation of Federal funds to provide an 
economic development fund for the Tribes, as well as funding to enable 
the Joint Management Entity and Landowner Entity to carry out their 
responsibilities under the UKBCA. Those funds have not been 
appropriated, and I am not aware of any plans to provide this funding 
in the foreseeable future.
    Finally, the UKBCA contains a condition requiring the Klamath 
County Circuit Court to enter a decree affirming the Tribes' water 
rights as modified by the UKBCA (subsection 10.1.15). Again, without an 
Act of Congress, there will be no finalized UKBCA, nor the settlement 
it contemplates for the Klamath County Circuit Court to approve. The 
unlikely completion of this final condition is further cause to find 
that no reasonable likelihood remains for me to issue an Affirmative 
Notice.
    Thus, I conclude that the condition in subsection 10.1.3 cannot be 
met and therefore there is no reasonable likelihood that I can issue an 
Affirmative Notice. Moreover, consideration of all the other 
unsatisfied conditions also leads me to the conclusion there is no 
reasonable likelihood that I can issue an Affirmative Notice under 
section 10.1. Each of the unsatisfied conditions alone is enough for me 
to reach this conclusion and, when taken together as a whole, the same 
is true. Accordingly, under the terms of the UKBCA, this Negative 
Notice denotes the termination of the UKBCA.

[[Page 61584]]

    Therefore, in accordance with section 10.2 of the UKBCA, I find as 
follows:
    (A) One or more conditions that must occur before I can issue an 
Affirmative Notice have not been achieved and do not seem reasonably 
likely to be achieved.
    (B) There is no reasonable likelihood that an Affirmative Notice 
can occur under subsection 10.1 of the UKBCA.
    (C) As provided by subsection 10.2 of the UKBCA, I am publishing 
this Negative Notice and stating that an Affirmative Notice under 
section 10.1 will not be published.
    (D) Under the terms of subsection 10.2 of the UKBCA, ``this 
Agreement shall terminate on the date'' of publication of this Negative 
Notice, or in the event that judicial review of the Negative Notice is 
timely sought, on the date on which the Negative Notice ``is sustained 
following any and all appeals.''

    Dated: December 22, 2017.
Ryan Zinke,
Secretary of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 2017-28050 Filed 12-27-17; 8:45 am]
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                                                61582                     Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 248 / Thursday, December 28, 2017 / Notices

                                                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:      Ms.                 Authority: 5 U.S.C. Appendix 5; 20 U.S.C.           more than 60 other parties in signing the
                                                Jennifer Davis, Designated Federal                      1400 et seq.                                          Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement
                                                Officer, Bureau of Indian Education,                      Dated: December 12, 2017.                           (KBRA). A subset of those parties signed
                                                2600 N. Central Ave. Suite 800,                         John Tahsuda,                                         a second agreement, the Klamath
                                                Phoenix, AZ 85004; telephone number                     Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary—Indian           Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement
                                                (480) 777–7986.                                         Affairs, Exercising the Authority of the              (KHSA), that same day. Those two
                                                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This                         Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs.                   agreements aimed to restore the Basin
                                                meeting is being held under the                         [FR Doc. 2017–28055 Filed 12–27–17; 8:45 am]          fisheries and sustain local economies by
                                                provisions of the Federal Advisory                      BILLING CODE 4337–15–P
                                                                                                                                                              restoring fish habitat and implementing
                                                Committee Act of 1972 (5 U.S.C.                                                                               a water-sharing agreement among the
                                                Appendix 2, as amended). The Advisory                                                                         parties who rely upon water from Upper
                                                Board was established under IDEA to                     DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                            Klamath Lake (Lake) and the Klamath
                                                advise the Secretary of the Interior,                                                                         River. A majority of the water users
                                                through the Assistant Secretary-Indian                  Office of the Secretary                               living above (upstream of) the Lake did
                                                Affairs, on the needs of Indian children                                                                      not agree to this water-sharing
                                                                                                        [189A2100DD/AAKC001030/
                                                with disabilities. The meetings are open                A0A501010.999900 253G]
                                                                                                                                                              agreement, so the KBRA provided only
                                                to the public.                                                                                                general direction on a possible Upper
                                                  The following items will be on the                    Notice Regarding Upper Klamath Basin                  Basin water-sharing agreement.
                                                                                                        Comprehensive Agreement                                  In spring 2013, the Oregon Water
                                                agenda:
                                                                                                                                                              Resources Department (OWRD) ruled
                                                • Introduction of Advisory Board                        AGENCY:   Office of the Secretary, Interior.          that the Tribes and United States held
                                                  members                                               ACTION:   Notice.                                     water rights for maintaining water levels
                                                • Report from Tony Dearman, Director,                                                                         in the major tributaries above the Lake.
                                                  BIE Director’s Office                                 SUMMARY:    The Secretary of the Interior             The Klamath County Circuit Court
                                                • Report from Dr. Jeffrey Hamley                        (Secretary) is publishing this Notice                 subsequently determined that
                                                  Associate Deputy Director, BIE,                       under subsection 10.2 of the Upper                    enforcement of those determined in-
                                                  Division of Performance and                           Klamath Basin Comprehensive                           stream flow rights should not be stayed.
                                                  Accountability (DPA)                                  Agreement (UKBCA), executed by the                    In summer 2013, at the request of the
                                                • Report from Donald Griffin,                           Klamath Tribes (Tribes), State of Oregon              Governor of Oregon and several
                                                  Supervisory Education Specialist,                     (State), and numerous irrigators in the               Congressional representatives, the
                                                  BIE, DPA/Special Education                            Upper Klamath Basin. The UKBCA                        Tribes began negotiating with the State
                                                • Board work on Priorities for 2018                     contains measures to address the needs                and the non-Indian water users who are
                                                • Public Comment (via conference call,                  of water users in the Upper Klamath                   upstream of the Lake and not affiliated
                                                  Friday, January 12th meeting only*).                  Basin, who are not affiliated with the                with the Project (referred to as ‘‘Off-
                                                • BIE Advisory Board—Advice and                         Bureau of Reclamation’s Klamath                       Project irrigators’’), in an effort to reach
                                                  Recommendations                                       Project (Project). The UKBCA also                     a water-sharing and habitat restoration
                                                                                                        contains conditions that must be                      agreement that would benefit their
                                                  The meeting on January 12, 2018, will                 achieved before the UKBCA can become
                                                include a public comment period via                                                                           respective interests. The resulting
                                                                                                        permanent. Despite the efforts of the                 agreement, the UKBCA, was executed
                                                conference call from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00                UKBCA parties, one or more conditions
                                                p.m. Depending on the number of                                                                               on April 18, 2014.
                                                                                                        in subsection 10.1 of the UKBCA have                     The UKBCA included:
                                                persons wishing to comment and time                     failed to occur. Accordingly, pursuant to                • A Water Use Program that would
                                                available, the amount of time for                       the terms of subsection 10.2 of the                   increase inflow into the Lake by an
                                                individual oral comments may be                         UKBCA and as further described below,                 annual average of at least 30,000 acre
                                                limited. To allow for full consideration                this statement serves as a ‘‘Negative                 feet by reducing consumptive water use
                                                of information by the Advisory Board,                   Notice’’ that the UKBCA is terminated                 in key reaches of the tributaries above
                                                written comments must be provided to                    as set forth in UKBCA subsection 10.2.                the Lake, while also providing a stable,
                                                Jennifer Davis, Designated Federal                                                                            sustainable basis for the continuation of
                                                                                                        DATES: The termination of the UKBCA is
                                                Officer, Bureau of Indian Education,                                                                          irrigated agriculture;
                                                                                                        effective on December 28, 2017 or, if
                                                2600 N. Central Avenue, Suite 800,                                                                               • A Riparian Program designed to
                                                                                                        judicial review of the termination is
                                                Phoenix, AZ 85004; or by telephone                                                                            improve and protect riparian
                                                                                                        timely sought, then the effective date of
                                                (480) 777–7986, no later than Thursday,                                                                       conditions;
                                                                                                        the termination shall be the date on
                                                January 11, 2018. All written comments                                                                           • An Economic Development
                                                                                                        which the termination is sustained
                                                received will be provided to the                                                                              Program designed to create economic
                                                                                                        following any and all appeals.
                                                Advisory Board. The call-in information                                                                       opportunities for the Tribes and its
                                                for the public comment period is 1–                     ADDRESSES: The Upper Klamath Basin
                                                                                                        Comprehensive Agreement (UKBCA) is                    members;
                                                888–417–0376, Passcode: 2509140.                                                                                 • Increased opportunities for the
                                                  Before including your address, phone                  available at www.oregon.gov/gov/policy/
                                                                                                                                                              exercise of Tribal cultural rights; and
                                                number, email address, or other                         environment/taskforce/Pages/Final_                       • A Transition Period to allow for the
                                                personal identifying information in your                Upper_Klamath_Basin_Comprehensive_                    elements of the UKBCA to be phased in
                                                comment, you should be aware that                       Agreement_Documents.aspx.                             over time.
                                                your entire comment—including your                      FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                         The UKBCA established a five-year
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                                                personal identifying information—may                    Address all comments and requests for                 transition period with interim
                                                be made publicly available at any time.                 additional information to Christina                   milestones and operating procedures.
                                                While you can ask us in your comment                    Kalavritinos, Senior Advisor,                         The parties anticipated that once the
                                                to withhold your personal identifying                   Commissioner’s Office, Bureau of                      conditions contained in subsection 10.1
                                                information from public review, we                      Reclamation, (202) 513–0509.                          of the UKBCA were achieved, the
                                                cannot guarantee that we will be able to                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On                         UKBCA would become permanent.
                                                do so.                                                  February 18, 2010, the Tribes joined                  During the transition period, the Tribes


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                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 248 / Thursday, December 28, 2017 / Notices                                           61583

                                                agreed to limit the enforcement of their                confidential mediation session on                     aware of any pending legislation that
                                                determined water rights so long as the                  February 23, 2017. That effort did not                would do so in the foreseeable future.
                                                other parties to the UKBCA met specific                 resolve the differences between the                   Accordingly, I also conclude that there
                                                interim milestones. In 2017, those                      parties. The Tribes sent letters to the               is no reasonable likelihood that these
                                                interim milestones were not achieved                    Secretary on April 26, 2017, and                      conditions will be met at any time in the
                                                and the Tribes (with the concurrence of                 September 11, 2017, reiterating their                 foreseeable future.
                                                the United States as trustee) requested                 request that the Secretary issue a                       The lack of Federal legislation as
                                                that OWRD fully enforce their                           Negative Notice. The Off-Project                      required by subsections 10.1.1 through
                                                determined water rights; OWRD                           irrigators sent a letter to the Secretary on          10.1.4 also leads to the conclusion that
                                                complied with the request.                              April 28, 2017, asking that the Secretary             there is no reasonable likelihood that
                                                   All three settlement agreements                      refrain from issuing a Negative Notice.               the additional conditions contained in
                                                (KBRA, KHSA, and UKBCA) have                               The Tribes are of the view that all                subsections 10.1.10 through 10.1.13 will
                                                interdependencies. For example, the                     three agreements—the KBRA, the                        be met either. Without legislation
                                                UKBCA was premised in key part on                       KHSA, and the UKBCA—need to be                        authorizing the KBRA, the Tribes do not
                                                Federal funding being provided for                      fully implemented in order to receive                 intend to provide a notice of willingness
                                                certain actions under the KBRA.                         their bargained-for benefits. The Tribes              to proceed with the UKBCA (subsection
                                                Because the KBRA required                               have highlighted this position and                    10.1.10). Moreover, without authorizing
                                                congressional approval to become fully                  concern to the other UKBCA parties and                legislation, I cannot sign the UKBCA
                                                enforceable and funded, and because                     in their correspondence requesting a                  (subsection 10.1.13). Similarly, the
                                                Congress failed to act within the time                  Negative Notice. The UKBCA and KBRA                   Landowner Entity and State of Oregon,
                                                frame set by the KBRA, the KBRA                         were inextricably linked. Many of the                 like the Tribes, must determine that
                                                expired of its own terms on December                    bargained-for benefits for the Klamath                Federal legislation authorizing the
                                                31, 2015.                                               Tribes, including funding for fishery                 UKBCA is materially consistent with the
                                                   After the KBRA expired, the Tribes                   and Tribal programs and the purchase of               UKBCA (subsections 10.1.11 and
                                                notified the Secretary in a January 12,                 land, were embedded in the KBRA.                      10.1.12).
                                                2016, letter that they believed their                   Funding for many of the actions in the                   In addition, other conditions in the
                                                bargained-for benefits under the UKBCA                  UKBCA, including water right                          UKBCA (subsections 10.1.6 and 10.1.7)
                                                and KBRA could not be realized. The                     retirements to achieve 30,000 acre-feet               require the appropriation of Federal
                                                Tribes asked the Secretary to issue a                   of water savings and riparian corridor                funds to provide an economic
                                                Negative Notice as contemplated under                   restoration, was similarly included in
                                                                                                                                                              development fund for the Tribes, as well
                                                subsection 10.2 of the UKBCA.                           the KBRA.
                                                                                                                                                              as funding to enable the Joint
                                                Subsection 10.2 of the UKBCA states
                                                that the Secretary shall issue a Negative               Statement of Findings                                 Management Entity and Landowner
                                                Notice resulting in termination of the                     Subsection 10.1 of the UKBCA                       Entity to carry out their responsibilities
                                                UKBCA if, after completion of required                  contains fifteen (15) conditions                      under the UKBCA. Those funds have
                                                dispute resolution processes, the                       (subsections 10.1.1 through 10.1.15) that             not been appropriated, and I am not
                                                Secretary determines that there is ‘‘no                 all must occur before an Affirmative                  aware of any plans to provide this
                                                reasonable likelihood’’ that all required               Notice can be issued that would make                  funding in the foreseeable future.
                                                conditions set out in subsection 10.1 of                the UKBCA permanent. If I find that one                  Finally, the UKBCA contains a
                                                the UKBCA can be met. As noted in the                   or more of these conditions has not or                condition requiring the Klamath County
                                                Tribes’ letter, several conditions listed               cannot be achieved, and thus there is no              Circuit Court to enter a decree affirming
                                                in subsection 10.1 required the                         reasonable likelihood that an                         the Tribes’ water rights as modified by
                                                enactment of Federal legislation, which                 Affirmative Notice will occur under                   the UKBCA (subsection 10.1.15). Again,
                                                did not and has not happened.                           section 10.1, then section 10.2 directs               without an Act of Congress, there will
                                                   The UKBCA allows the Secretary to                    that a Negative Notice be published.                  be no finalized UKBCA, nor the
                                                make a preliminary determination                           Subsection 10.1.3 of the UKBCA                     settlement it contemplates for the
                                                regarding whether the conditions                        requires enactment of Federal                         Klamath County Circuit Court to
                                                contained in subsection 10.1 can be                     legislation authorizing the execution                 approve. The unlikely completion of
                                                achieved. On April 4, 2016, the Deputy                  and implementation of the KBRA,                       this final condition is further cause to
                                                Secretary responded with a preliminary                  which the UKBCA defines as ‘‘the                      find that no reasonable likelihood
                                                determination, tentatively agreeing with                agreement dated February 18, 2010, as                 remains for me to issue an Affirmative
                                                the Tribes but nonetheless noting that                  amended December 29, 2012.’’ No                       Notice.
                                                subsection 10.2 of the UKBCA requires                   legislation was passed by Congress                       Thus, I conclude that the condition in
                                                a ‘‘meet and confer’’ process among the                 before December 31, 2015, and the                     subsection 10.1.3 cannot be met and
                                                parties before a Negative Notice could                  KBRA expired of its own terms. Thus,                  therefore there is no reasonable
                                                be issued. The Tribes invoked the meet                  subsection 10.1.3 cannot be met. This                 likelihood that I can issue an
                                                and confer provisions in an August 11,                  fact alone means I will not be able to                Affirmative Notice. Moreover,
                                                2016, letter, and the parties met and                   issue an Affirmative Notice, and                      consideration of all the other unsatisfied
                                                conferred on October 4, 2016. That                      warrants issuance of a Negative Notice.               conditions also leads me to the
                                                meeting was unsuccessful in resolving                      I have reached a similar conclusion                conclusion there is no reasonable
                                                the issues between the parties.                         for subsections 10.1.1, 10.1.2, and                   likelihood that I can issue an
                                                   On December 4, 2016, some Off-                       10.1.4, which also require enactment of               Affirmative Notice under section 10.1.
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                                                Project irrigators invoked the mediation                Federal legislation that would authorize              Each of the unsatisfied conditions alone
                                                provision in subsection 11.2 of the                     Federal participation in the UKBCA’s                  is enough for me to reach this
                                                UKBCA in an effort to aid the meet and                  Water Use or Riparian Protection                      conclusion and, when taken together as
                                                confer process. The Tribes also invoked                 Programs and Federal participation on                 a whole, the same is true. Accordingly,
                                                this mediation provision on December                    the Joint Management Entity. No                       under the terms of the UKBCA, this
                                                12, 2016. The parties selected a neutral                legislation was passed by Congress to                 Negative Notice denotes the termination
                                                third-party mediator and held a                         enact these provisions, and I am not                  of the UKBCA.


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                                                61584                     Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 248 / Thursday, December 28, 2017 / Notices

                                                  Therefore, in accordance with section                 a day, seven days a week, to leave a                  Impact Report (EIS/EIR). Two public
                                                10.2 of the UKBCA, I find as follows:                   message or question with the above                    meetings will be held to receive
                                                  (A) One or more conditions that must                  individual. You will receive a reply                  comments from individuals and
                                                occur before I can issue an Affirmative                 during normal business hours.                         organizations on the Draft EIS/EIR.
                                                Notice have not been achieved and do                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The                        DATES: Submit written comments on the
                                                not seem reasonably likely to be                        supplemental plat of sections 35 and 36               Draft EIS/EIR on or before February 15,
                                                achieved.                                               in Township 13 South, Range 90 West,                  2018.
                                                  (B) There is no reasonable likelihood                 Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado, was                  Two meetings have been scheduled to
                                                that an Affirmative Notice can occur                    accepted on November 29, 2017, and                    receive oral or written comments
                                                under subsection 10.1 of the UKBCA.                     filed on November 30, 2017.                           regarding environmental effects:
                                                  (C) As provided by subsection 10.2 of                    A person or party who wishes to                       • Wednesday, January 17, 2018, 6:00
                                                the UKBCA, I am publishing this                         protest the above survey must file a                  p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Woodland, California.
                                                Negative Notice and stating that an                     written notice of protest within 30                      • Thursday, January 18, 2018, 1:30
                                                Affirmative Notice under section 10.1                   calendar days from the date of this                   p.m. to 3:30 p.m., West Sacramento,
                                                will not be published.                                  publication at the address listed in the              California.
                                                  (D) Under the terms of subsection 10.2                ADDRESSES section of this notice. A                   ADDRESSES: Send written comments on
                                                of the UKBCA, ‘‘this Agreement shall                    statement of reasons for the protest may              the Draft EIS/EIR to Mr. Ben Nelson,
                                                terminate on the date’’ of publication of               be filed with the notice of protest and               Bureau of Reclamation, 801 I Street,
                                                this Negative Notice, or in the event that              must be filed within 30 calendar days                 Suite 140, Sacramento, CA 95814, or via
                                                judicial review of the Negative Notice is               after the protest is filed.                           email to bcnelson@usbr.gov.
                                                timely sought, on the date on which the                    Before including your address, phone                  The public meetings will be held at
                                                Negative Notice ‘‘is sustained following                number, email address, or other                       the following locations:
                                                any and all appeals.’’                                  personal identifying information in your                 • West Sacramento—Community
                                                  Dated: December 22, 2017.                             protest, please be aware that your entire             Center, 1075 West Capitol Ave., West
                                                Ryan Zinke,                                             protest, including your personal                      Sacramento, CA 95691.
                                                Secretary of the Interior.                              identifying information, may be made                     • Woodland—Woodland Community
                                                [FR Doc. 2017–28050 Filed 12–27–17; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                        publicly available at any time. While                 and Senior Center, 2001 East Street,
                                                                                                        you can ask us in your comment to                     Woodland, CA 95776.
                                                BILLING CODE 4337–15–P
                                                                                                        withhold your personal identifying                       Electronic CD copies of the Draft EIS/
                                                                                                        information from public review, we                    EIR may be requested from the Bureau
                                                DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                              cannot guarantee that we will be able to              of Reclamation, at (916) 414–2424, or
                                                                                                        do so.                                                bcnelson@usbr.gov. The Draft EIS/EIR is
                                                Bureau of Land Management                                 Authority: 43 U.S.C. Chap. 3.                       also accessible from the following
                                                                                                                                                              website: https://www.usbr.gov/mp/
                                                [LLCO956000 L14400000.BJ0000 18X]                       Randy A. Bloom,                                       BayDeltaOffice/yolo-bypass.html.
                                                                                                        Chief Cadastral Surveyor for Colorado.                   Copies of the Draft EIR/EIS are
                                                Notice of Filing of Plats of Survey;
                                                Colorado                                                [FR Doc. 2017–28061 Filed 12–27–17; 8:45 am]          available for public review at the
                                                                                                        BILLING CODE 4310–P                                   following locations:
                                                AGENCY:    Bureau of Land Management,                                                                            1. Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific
                                                Interior.                                                                                                     Region, Regional Library, 2800 Cottage
                                                ACTION:  Notice of official filing.                     DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                            Way, Sacramento, CA 95825.
                                                                                                                                                                 2. Bureau of Reclamation, Bay-Delta
                                                SUMMARY:   The Bureau of Land                           Bureau of Reclamation                                 Office, 801 I Street, Suite 140,
                                                Management (BLM) Colorado State                         [RR02800000, 17XR0687ND,                              Sacramento, CA 95814.
                                                Office is publishing this notice to                     RX185279402000000]                                       3. Sacramento Public Library, 828 I
                                                inform the public of the official filing of                                                                   Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.
                                                the survey plat listed below. The survey,               Draft Environmental Impact Statement/                 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                which was executed at the request of the                Environmental Impact Report for the                   Please contact Mr. Ben Nelson, Bureau
                                                BLM, is necessary for the management                    Yolo Bypass Salmonid Habitat                          of Reclamation, at (916) 414–2424, or
                                                of these lands. The plat will be available              Restoration and Fish Passage Project,                 via email at bcnelson@usbr.gov; or Ms.
                                                for viewing in the BLM Colorado State                   Yolo, Sutter, and Solano Counties,                    Karen Enstrom, Department of Water
                                                Office.                                                 California                                            Resources, at (916) 376–9778, or via
                                                DATES: The plat described in this notice                                                                      email at Karen.Enstrom@water.ca.gov.
                                                                                                        AGENCY:   Bureau of Reclamation,
                                                was filed on November 30, 2017.                                                                               SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Draft
                                                                                                        Interior.
                                                ADDRESSES: You may submit written                                                                             EIS/EIR addresses methods to improve
                                                                                                        ACTION: Notice of availability and notice
                                                protests to the BLM Colorado State                                                                            fish passage and increase floodplain
                                                                                                        of public meetings.
                                                Office, Cadastral Survey, 2850                                                                                fisheries rearing habitat in the Yolo
                                                Youngfield Street, Lakewood, CO                         SUMMARY:   The Bureau of Reclamation,                 Bypass to benefit Sacramento River
                                                80215–7093.                                             as the National Environmental Policy                  winter-run Chinook salmon, Central
                                                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        Act Federal lead agency, and the                      Valley spring-run Chinook salmon,
                                                Randy Bloom, Chief Cadastral Surveyor                   California Department of Water                        Central Valley steelhead, and Southern
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES




                                                for Colorado, (303) 239–3856; rbloom@                   Resources, as the California                          Distinct Population Segment North
                                                blm.gov. Persons who use a                              Environmental Quality Act State lead                  American green sturgeon. The Project
                                                telecommunications device for the deaf                  agency, have made available for public                actions would implement Reasonable
                                                may call the Federal Relay Service at 1–                review and comment the Yolo Bypass                    and Prudent Alternative (RPA) actions
                                                800–877–8339 to contact the above                       Salmonid Habitat Restoration and Fish                 I.6.1 and I.7, as described in the 2009
                                                individual during normal business                       Passage Project Draft Environmental                   National Oceanic and Atmospheric
                                                hours. The Service is available 24 hours                Impact Statement/Environmental                        Administration National Marine


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Document Created: 2017-12-28 00:43:49
Document Modified: 2017-12-28 00:43:49
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.
DatesThe termination of the UKBCA is effective on December 28, 2017 or, if judicial review of the termination is timely sought, then the effective date of the termination shall be the date on which the termination is sustained following any and all appeals.
FR Citation82 FR 61582 

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