[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 19, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 7431]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3962]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

43 CFR Part 426

[RIN 1006-AA38]


Acreage Limitation Rules and Regulations

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting and extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On December 18, 1996, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) 
published in 61 FR 66827, Dec. 18, 1996, an advance notice of proposed 
rulemaking requesting public comment on possible revisions to existing 
rules and regulations regarding the acreage limitation provisions of 
the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 (RRA). During a recently completed 
RRA rulemaking activity, 61 FR 66754, Dec. 18, 1996, the Department of 
the Interior (Department) received a number of comments regarding the 
compliance of certain large trusts with the acreage limitation 
provisions of the RRA. Comments expressed a variety of viewpoints, 
including the assertion that some trusts with landholdings (owned and 
leased land) in excess of 960 acres may circumvent the requirements of 
Federal reclamation law. To help facilitate the examination of the 
application of the acreage limitation provisions to trusts with large 
landholdings, Reclamation will host a meeting at which interested 
parties will convene in a round table arrangement to explore this 
issue. The public is invited to attend this session. This meeting is 
not intended as a formal hearing for the submission of comments. 
Rather, it is intended as an informal discussion so that those in 
attendance will be better prepared to submit comments on the advance 
notice of proposed rulemaking. To further facilitate the submittal of 
comments, the comment period has been extended to April 17, 1997.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on March 14, 1997, at 10:00 a.m. 
The comment period on the advance notice of proposed rulemaking is 
extended to April 17, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at The Best Western Expo 
Inn, 1413 Howe Avenue, Sacramento, CA Written comments are to be mailed 
to the Commissioner's Office, Bureau of Reclamation, 1849 C Street 
N.W., Washington, DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Richardson, Bureau of 
Reclamation, Mail Code W-1500, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 
20240, telephone (202) 208-4291.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the December 18, 1996, Federal Register 
notice, Reclamation requested comments and suggestions on:
    <bullet> Whether to limit nonfull-cost water deliveries to large 
trusts with landholdings in excess of 960 acres (or other applicable 
acreage thresholds under the RRA);
    <bullet> The criteria used to determine whether landholdings in 
excess of 960 acres, operated under a trust arrangement, should be 
eligible to receive nonfull-cost water deliveries;
    <bullet> Whether nonfull-cost water deliveries to such landholdings 
are consistent with the principles of Federal reclamation law and sound 
public policy and, if not, how to implement a limit on such deliveries;
    <bullet> What procedures might ensure fairness in transition to new 
rules that would limit large trusts to 960 acres for nonfull-cost 
water, and what safeguards would be necessary to avoid such trusts from 
adopting some other, as yet unregulated form, to escape acreage 
limitations; and
    <bullet> The extent of the Department's statutory authority to 
address these issues, including, the extent of the Department's legal 
authority to regulate: (a) future trusts, (b) trusts established from 
1982 to the present, and (c) trusts established prior to 1982.

    Dated: February 11, 1997.
J. Austin Burke,
Director, Program Analysis Office.
[FR Doc. 97-3962 Filed 2-18-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-M