[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 22, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47070-47072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-4086]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


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

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of contractual actions that have been 
proposed to the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and are new, 
modified, discontinued, or completed since the last publication of this 
notice on May 15, 2007. 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: Sandra L. Simons, Manager, Contract 
Services Office, Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box 25007, Denver, Colorado 
80225-0007 telephone 303-445-2902.

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. Announcments 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 or 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 coditions of the contract may be 
invovled.
    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 approproate regional or project office of Reclamation.
    3. Written correspondence regarding contracts may be made available 
to the general public pursuant to the terms and procedures of the 
Freedom of Information Act, as needed.
    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 hearing will be reviewed and summarized by the appropriate 
regional office for use by the contract approving authority.
    6. Copies of specific proposed contracts may be obtained from the 
appropriate regional director or his designated public contact as they 
become available for review and comment.
    7. In the event modifications are made in the form of a proposed 
contract, the appropriate regional director shall determine whether 
republication of the notice and/or extension of the comment period is 
necessary.
    Factors considered in making such a determination shall include, 
but are not limited to (i) The significance of the modification, and 
(ii) the degree of public interest which has been expressed over the 
course of the negotiations. At a minimum, the regional director shall 
furnish revised contracts to all parties who requested the contract in 
response to the initial public notice.

Definitions of Abbreviations Frequently Used in This Document

BCP Boulder Canyon Project
Reclamation Bureau of Reclamation
CAP Central Arizona Project
CVP Central Valley Project
CRSP Colorado River Storage Project
FR Federal Register
IDD Irrigation and Drainage District
ID Irrigation District
M&I Municipal and Industrial
NMISC New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission
O&M Operation and Maintenance
P-SMBP Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program
PPR Present Perfected Right
RRA Reclamation Reform Act of 1982
SOD Safety of Dams
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.

Discontinued Contract Actions

    9. Burley ID, Minidoka Project, Idaho-Wyoming: Supplemental and 
amendatory contract providing for the transfer of O&M of the headworks 
of the Main South Side Canal and works incidental thereto.

[[Page 47071]]

    10. Minidoka ID, Minidoka Project, Idaho-Wyoming: Supplemental and 
amendatory contract providing for the transfer of O&M of the headworks 
of the Main North Side Canal and works incidental thereto.
    12. Vale and Warmsprings IDs, Vale Project, Oregon: Repayment 
contract for reimbursable cost of SOD modifications to Warm Springs 
Dam.

Completed Contract Action

    16. One irrigation water user entity, Boise Project, Idaho: Long-
term renewal and/or conversion of one irrigation water service contract 
for supplemental irrigation use of up to 1,718 acre-feet of storage 
space in Lucky Peak Reservoir, a USACE project on the Boise River, 
Idaho. Seventeen water service contracts have been converted to 
repayment contracts for a total of 68,500 acre-feet of storage space. 
All original 17 water service contracts have been converted to 
repayment contracts.
    Mid-Pacific Region: Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, 
Sacramento, California 95825-1898, telephone 916-978-5250.

Modified Contract Action

    25. Orland Unit Water User's Association, Orland Project, 
California: Repayment contract for SOD costs assigned to the irrigation 
purposes of Stony Gorge Dam.

Completed Contract Action

    37. Gray Lodge Wildlife Area Deep Well Pumping Reimbursement 
Agreement, Central Valley Project Improvement Act, California: 
Amendment to extend termination date for 1 more year will be executed 
by December 2007. Contract executed January 31, 2007.
    Lower Colorado Region: Bureau of Reclamation, PO box 61470 (Nevada 
Highway and Park Street), Boulder City, Nevada 89006-1470, telephone 
702-293-8192.

New Contract Actions

    32. Basic Management, Inc., BCP, Nevada: Amend contract to add 
additional service areas where part of the contractor's entitlement can 
be used.
    33. City of Yuma, BCP, Arizona: Amendment to extend contract to 
allow for the diversion of water through Yuma Project facilities for an 
additional term of 10 years.

Completed Contract Action

    30. City of Needles and The Metropolitan WD of Southern California, 
Lower Colorado Water Supply Project, California: Contract for 
acquisition and delivery of Lower Colorado Water Supply Project water. 
Contract executed March 26, 2007.
    Upper Colorado Region: Bureau of Reclamation, 125 South State 
Street, Room 6107, Salt Lake City, Utah 84138-1102, telephone 801-524-
3964.

New Contract Actions

    1.(d) John and Joan Holton, Aspinall Storage Unit, CRSP: Mr. and 
Mrs. Holton have requested a 40-year water service contract for 1 acre-
foot of M&I water out of Blue Mesa reservoir, which requires Mr. and 
Mrs. Holton to present a Plan of Augmentation to the Division 4 Water 
Court.
    1.(e) Old Castle SW Group dba United Companies, Aspinall Storage 
Unit, CRSP: United Companies has requested a 40-year water service 
contract for 36 acre-feet of M&I water out of Blue Mesa reservoir, 
which requires United Companies to present a Plan of Augmentation to 
the Division 4 Water Court.
    32. Aaron Million, Million Conservation Resource Group, Flaming 
Gorge Storage Unit, CRSP: Mr. Million has requested a Standby Contract 
to secure the first right to contract up to 165,000 acre-feet annually 
of M&I water service from Flaming Gorge Reservoir for a proposed, 
privately financed and constructed transbasin diversion project.
    33. Uintah Water Conservancy District, Jensen Unit, Central Utah 
Project, Utah: Temporary water service contract for 2,520 acre-feet of 
unsubscribed Jensen Unit M&I water.
    34. Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, Weber Basin Project, 
Utah: Contract providing for the district to repay to the United States 
15 percent of the cost of Phase I SOD modifications to Arthur V. 
Watkins Dam.
    35. Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, Weber Basin Project, 
Utah: Contract providing for the district to repay to the United States 
15 percent of the cost of Phase II SOD modifications to Arthur V. 
Watkins Dam.

Completed Contract Actions

    1.(a) Oxbow Mining, LLC, Aspinall Storage Unit, CRSP: Oxbow Mining, 
LLC has requested a 40-year water service contract for 242 acre-feet of 
M&I water out of Blue Mesa Reservoir, which requires that an 
augmentation plan be presented to the Division 4 Water Court. Contract 
executed April 11, 2007.
    21. Carbon Water Conservancy District, Scofield Project, Utah: 
Contract providing for the district to repay to the United States 15 
percent of the cost of SOD modifications to the spillway at Scofield 
Dam. Contract executed June 1, 2007.
    Great Plains Region: Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box 36900, Federal 
Building, 316 North 26th Street, Billings, Montana 59101, telephone 
406-247-7752.

New Contract Actions

    52. Hamlin Construction, Inc., Helena Valley Unit, P-SMBP, Montana: 
Request for a long-term water service contract for M&I purposes for up 
to 500 acre-feet of water per year.
    53. Richard Davis, Helena Valley Unit, P-SMBP, Montana: Request for 
a long-term water service contract for M&I purposes for up to 24 acre-
feet of water per year.
    54. Individual Irrigators, Canyon Ferry Unit, P-SMBP, Montana: 
Replace temporary 1-year contracts with long-term water service 
contracts for minor amounts of less than 1,000 acre-feet of irrigation 
water annually from the Missouri River below Canyon Ferry Dam.
    55. Individual Irrigators, Lower Marias Unit, P-SMBP, Montana: 
Execute long-term water service contracts for commercial irrigation 
from Lake Elwell and the Marias River below Tiber Dam.
    56. Turtle Lake ID, Garrison Diversion Unit, North Dakota: Turtle 
Mountain ID has requested a water service contract under the Dakota 
Water Resources Act of 2000 as part of the Garrison Diversion Unit.

Modified Contract Actions

    5. City of Rapid City, Rapid Valley Unit, P-SMBP, South Dakota: 
Contract renewal for storage capacity in Pactola Reservoir. A temporary 
(1 year not to exceed 10,000 acre-feet) water service contract has been 
executed with the City of Rapid City, Rapid Valley Unit, for use of 
water from Pactola Reservoir. A long-term storage contract for 49,000 
acre-feet has been negotiated with the City, and a final draft of the 
contract has been tansmitted to the City for approval by their City 
Council. Execution of the long-term contract is anticipated within the 
next 2 months.
    6. Mid-Dakota Rural Water System, Inc., South Dakota: Pursuant to 
the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992, the 
Secretary of the Interior is authorized to make grants and loans to 
Mid-Dakota Rural Water System, Inc., a non-profit corporation for the 
planning and construction of a rural water supply system. Construction 
of the rural water supply system was completed in September 2006.

Completed Contract Actions

    7. City of Berthoud, Colorado-Big Thompson Project, Colorado: Long-
term

[[Page 47072]]

contract for conveyance of nonproject M&I water through Colorado-Big 
Thompson Project facilities. Contract was executed March 23, 2007.
    29. Buford-Trenton ID, Buford-Ternton Project, P-SMBP, North 
Dakota: Enter into a new repayment contract and power contract for 
additional project use pumping power for project purposes in irrigating 
bench lands existing within the district. Contract was executed May 7, 
2007.
    31. Ainsworth ID, Ainsworth Unit, Sandhills Division, P-SMBP, 
Ainsworth, Nebraska: Contract renewal for a long-term water service 
contract. Contract was executed December 26, 2006.
    35. Frenchman-Cambridge ID; Meeker-Driftwood, Red Willow, and 
Cambridge Units; Frenchman Division: P-SMBP; Cambridge, Nebraska: Amend 
the repayment contract for equalization of the construction obligation 
payments over the remaining years of the water supply repayment 
obligation period, and to delay the increase in the reserve fund 
payments pursuant to Public Law 109-386, which was enacted on December 
12, 2006. Contract was executed June 8, 2007.
    36. Kansas-Bostwick ID No. 2; Courtland Unit, Bostwick Division, P-
SMBP; Courtland, Kansas: Amend the repayment contract for equalization 
of the construction obligation payments over the remaining years of the 
water supply repayment obligation period, and to delay the increase in 
the reserve fund payments pursuant to Public Law 109-386, which was 
enacted on December 12, 2006. Contract was executed June 8, 2007.
    37. Bostwick ID in Nebraska; Superior-Courtland and Franklin Units, 
Bostwick Division, P-SMBP; Red Cloud, Nebraska: Amend the repayment 
contract for equalization of the construction obligation payments over 
the remaining years of the water supply repayment obligation period, 
and to delay the increase in the reserve fund payments pursuant to 
Public Law 109-386, which was enacted on December 12, 2006. Contract 
was executed June 8, 2007.
    38. Webster ID; Webster Unit, Solomon Division, P-SMBP; Gaylord 
Kansas: Amend the repayment contract for equalization of the 
construction obligation payments over the remaining years of the water 
supply repayment obligation period, and to delay the increase in the 
reserve fund payments pursuant to Public Law 109-386, which was enacted 
on December 12, 2006. Contract was executed June 8, 2007.

    Dated: July 5, 2007.
Roseann Gonzales,
Director, Office of Program and Policy Services.
[FR Doc. 07-4086 Filed 8-21-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-M