[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 27 (Thursday, February 8, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8707-8712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02596]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[245A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900]


Rate Adjustments for Indian Irrigation Projects

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) owns or has an interest in 
irrigation projects located on or associated with various Indian 
reservations throughout the United States. We are required to establish 
irrigation assessment rates to recover the costs to administer, 
operate, maintain, and rehabilitate these projects. We request your 
comments on the proposed rate adjustments.

DATES: Interested parties may submit comments on the proposed rate 
adjustments on or before April 8, 2024.

ADDRESSES: All comments on the proposed rate adjustments must be in 
writing. You may send comments via email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bad9d5d7d7dfd4cec9fad8d3db94ddd5cc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b7d4d8dadad2d9c3c4f7d5ded699d0d8c1">[email protected]</span></a>. Please 
reference ``Rate Adjustments for Indian Irrigation Projects'' in the 
subject line. Or you may submit comments to the Program Specialist, 
Division of Water and Power, Office of Trust Services, 2021 4th Avenue 
North, Billings, Montana 59101.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leslie Underwood, Program Specialist, 
Division of Water and Power, Office of Trust Services, (406) 657-5985. 
For details about a particular irrigation project, please use the table 
in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section to contact the BIA regional or 
local office where the project is located.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The first table in this notice provides 
contact information for individuals who can give further information 
about the irrigation projects covered by this notice. The second table 
provides the proposed rates for calendar year (CY) 2025 for all 
irrigation projects.

What is the meaning of the key terms used in this notice?

    In this notice:
    Administrative costs mean all costs we incur to administer our 
irrigation projects at the local project level and are a cost factor 
included in calculating your operation and maintenance assessment. 
Costs incurred at the local project level do not normally include 
agency, region, or central office costs unless we state otherwise in 
writing.
    Assessable acre means lands designated by us to be served by one of 
our irrigation projects, for which we collect assessments in order to 
recover costs for the provision of irrigation service. (See also 
``total assessable acres.'')
    BIA means the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
    Bill means our statement to you of the assessment charges and/or 
fees you owe the United States for administration, operation, 
maintenance, and/or rehabilitation. The date we mail or hand-deliver 
your bill will be stated on it.
    Costs means the costs we incur for administration, operation, 
maintenance, and rehabilitation to provide direct support or benefit to 
an irrigation facility. (See administrative costs, operation costs, 
maintenance costs, and rehabilitation costs).
    Customer means any person or entity to whom or to which we provide 
irrigation service.
    Due date is the date on which your bill is due and payable. This 
date will be stated on your bill.
    I, me, my, you and your mean all persons or entities that are 
affected by this notice.
    Irrigation project means a facility or portion thereof for the 
delivery, diversion, and storage of irrigation water that we own or 
have an interest in, including all appurtenant works. The term 
``irrigation project'' is used interchangeably with irrigation 
facility, irrigation system, and irrigation area.
    Irrigation service means the full range of services we provide 
customers of our irrigation projects. This includes our activities to 
administer, operate, maintain, and rehabilitate our projects in order 
to deliver water.
    Maintenance costs means costs we incur to maintain and repair our 
irrigation projects and associated equipment and is a cost factor 
included in calculating your operation and maintenance assessment.
    Operation and maintenance (O&M) assessment means the periodic 
charge you must pay us to reimburse costs of administering, operating, 
maintaining, and rehabilitating irrigation projects consistent with 
this notice and our supporting policies, manuals, and handbooks.

[[Page 8708]]

    Operation or operating costs means costs we incur to operate our 
irrigation projects and equipment and is a cost factor included in 
calculating your O&M assessment.
    Past due bill means a bill that has not been paid by the close of 
business on the 30th day after the due date as stated on the bill. 
Beginning on the 31st day after the due date, we begin assessing 
additional charges accruing from the due date.
    Rehabilitation costs means costs we incur to restore our irrigation 
projects or features to original operating condition or to the nearest 
state which can be achieved using current technology and is a cost 
factor included in calculating your O&M assessment.
    Responsible party means an individual or entity that owns or leases 
land within the assessable acreage of one of our irrigation projects 
and is responsible for providing accurate information to our billing 
office and paying a bill for an annual irrigation rate assessment.
    Total assessable acres mean the total acres served by one of our 
irrigation projects.
    Water delivery is an activity that is part of the irrigation 
service we provide our customers when water is available.
    We, us, and our mean the United States Government, the Secretary of 
the Interior, the BIA, and all who are authorized to represent us in 
matters covered under this notice.

Does this notice affect me?

    This notice affects you if you own or lease land within the 
assessable acreage of one of our irrigation projects or if you have a 
carriage agreement with one of our irrigation projects.

Where can I get information on the regulatory and legal citations in 
this notice?

    You can contact the appropriate office(s) for the irrigation 
project that serves you. Please use the table in the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section to contact the regional or local office where the 
project is located.

Why are you publishing this notice?

    We are publishing this notice to inform you that we propose to 
adjust our irrigation assessment rates. This notice is published in 
accordance with the BIA's regulations governing its operation and 
maintenance of irrigation projects, found at 25 CFR part 171. This 
regulation provides for the establishment and publication of the 
proposed rates for annual irrigation assessments as well as related 
information about our irrigation projects.

What authorizes you to issue this notice?

    Our authority to issue this notice is vested in the Secretary of 
the Interior by 5 U.S.C. 301 and the Act of August 14, 1914 (38 Stat. 
583; 25 U.S.C. 385). The Secretary has in turn delegated this authority 
to the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs under part 209, Chapter 
8.1A, of the Department of the Interior's Departmental Manual.

When will you put the rate adjustments into effect?

    We will put the rate adjustments into effect for CY 2024.

How do you calculate irrigation rates?

    We calculate annual irrigation assessment rates in accordance with 
25 CFR 171.500 by estimating the annual costs of operation and 
maintenance at each of our irrigation projects and then dividing by the 
total assessable acres for that particular irrigation project. The 
result of this calculation for each project is stated in the rate table 
in this notice.

What kinds of expenses do you consider in determining the estimated 
annual costs of operation and maintenance?

    Consistent with 25 CFR 171.500, these expenses include the 
following:
    (a) Personnel salary and benefits for the project engineer/manager 
and project employees under the project engineer/manager's management 
or control;
    (b) Materials and supplies;
    (c) Vehicle and equipment repairs;
    (d) Equipment costs, including lease fees;
    (e) Depreciation;
    (f) Acquisition costs;
    (g) Maintenance of a reserve fund available for contingencies or 
emergency costs needed for the reliable operation of the irrigation 
facility infrastructure;
    (h) Maintenance of a vehicle and heavy equipment replacement fund;
    (i) Systematic rehabilitation and replacement of project 
facilities;
    (j) Contingencies for unknown costs and omitted budget items; and
    (k) Other expenses we determine necessary to properly perform the 
activities and functions characteristic of an irrigation project.

When should I pay my irrigation assessment?

    We will mail or hand deliver your bill notifying you (a) the amount 
you owe to the United States; and (b) when such amount is due. If we 
mail your bill, we will consider it as being delivered no later than 
five (5) business days after the day we mail it. You should pay your 
bill by the due date stated on the bill.

What information must I provide for billing purposes?

    All responsible parties are required to provide the following 
information to the billing office associated with the irrigation 
project where you own or lease land within the project's assessable 
acreage or to the billing office associated with the irrigation project 
with which you have a carriage agreement:
    (1) The full legal name of the person or entity responsible for 
paying the bill;
    (2) An adequate and correct address for mailing or hand delivering 
our bill; and
    (3) The taxpayer identification number or social security number of 
the person or entity responsible for paying the bill.

Why are you collecting my taxpayer identification number or social 
security number?

    Public Law 104-134, the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, 
requires that we collect the taxpayer identification number or social 
security number before billing a responsible party and as a condition 
to servicing the account.

What happens if I am a responsible party but I fail to furnish the 
information required to the billing office responsible for the 
irrigation project within which I own or lease assessable land or for 
which I have a carriage agreement?

    If you are late paying your bill because of your failure to furnish 
the required information listed above, you will be assessed interest 
and penalties as provided below, and your failure to provide the 
required information will not provide grounds for you to appeal your 
bill or any penalties assessed.

What can happen if I do not provide the information required for 
billing purposes?

    We can refuse to provide you irrigation service.

If I allow my bill to become past due, could this affect my water 
delivery?

    Yes. 25 CFR 171.545(a) states: ``We will not provide you irrigation 
service until: (1) Your bill is paid; or (2) You make arrangement for 
payment pursuant to Sec.  171.550 of this part.'' If we do not receive 
your payment before the close of business on the 30th day after the due

[[Page 8709]]

date stated on your bill, we will send you a past due notice. This past 
due notice will have additional information concerning your rights. We 
will consider your past due notice as delivered no later than five (5) 
business days after the day we mail it. We follow the procedures 
provided in 31 CFR 901.2, ``Demand for Payment,'' when demanding 
payment of your past due bill.

Are there any additional charges if I am late paying my bill?

    Yes. We are required to assess interest, penalties, and 
administrative costs on past due bills in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 
3717 and 31 CFR 901.9. The rate of interest is established annually by 
the Secretary of the United States Treasury (Treasury) and accrues from 
the date your bill is past due. If your bill becomes more than 90 days 
past due, you will be assessed a penalty charge of no more than six 
percent per year, which accrues from the date your bill became past 
due. Each time we try to collect your past due bill, you will be 
charged an administrative fee of $12.50 for processing and handling.

What else will happen to my past due bill?

    If you do not pay your bill or make payment arrangements to which 
we agree, we are required to transfer your past due bill to Treasury 
for further action. Pursuant to 31 CFR 285.12, bills that are 120 days 
past due will be transferred to Treasury.

Who can I contact for further information?

    The contact table below contains the regional and project/agency 
contacts for our irrigation facilities.

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                        Northwest Region Contacts
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Bryan Mercier, Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Northwest
 Regional Office, 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97232-4169.
 Telephone: (503) 231-6702.
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Flathead Indian Irrigation Project  Eric Bruguier, Acting Irrigation
                                     Project Manager, 220 Project Drive,
                                     St. Ignatius, MT 59865. Telephone:
                                     (406) 745-2661.
Fort Hall Irrigation Project......  David Bollinger, Irrigation Project
                                     Manager, 36 Bannock Avenue, Fort
                                     Hall, ID 83203-0220.
                                     Telephone:(208) 238-1992.
Wapato Irrigation Project.........  Pete Plant, Project Administrator,
                                     413 South Camas Avenue, Wapato, WA
                                     98951-0220. Telephone: (509) 877-
                                     3155.
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                     Rocky Mountain Region Contacts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Susan Messerly, Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Rocky
 Mountain Regional Office, 2021 4th Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101.
 Telephone: (406) 247-7943.
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Blackfeet Irrigation Project......  Kenneth Bird, Superintendent, Greg
                                     Tatsey, Irrigation Project Manager,
                                     P.O. Box 880, Browning, MT 59417.
                                     Telephones: Superintendent (406)
                                     338-7544; Irrigation Project
                                     Manager (406) 338-7519.
Crow Irrigation Project...........  Clifford Serawop, Superintendent,
                                     Jim Gappa, Acting Irrigation
                                     Project Manager (BIA), (Project O&M
                                     performed by Water Users
                                     Association), P.O. Box 69, Crow
                                     Agency, MT 59022. Telephones:
                                     Superintendent (406) 638-2672;
                                     Acting Irrigation Project Manager
                                     (406) 247-7998.
Fort Belknap Irrigation Project...  Mark Azure, Superintendent, Jim
                                     Gappa, Acting Irrigation Project
                                     Manager (BIA), (Project O&M
                                     contracted to Tribes under PL 93-
                                     638),158 Tribal Way, Suite B,
                                     Harlem, MT 59526. Telephones:
                                     Superintendent (406) 353-2901;
                                     Irrigation Project Manager, Tribal
                                     Office (406) 353-8454.
Fort Peck Irrigation Project......  Anna Eder, Superintendent, Jim
                                     Gappa, Acting Irrigation Project
                                     Manager (BIA), (Project O&M
                                     performed by Fort Peck Water Users
                                     Association), P.O. Box 637, Poplar,
                                     MT 59255. Telephones:
                                     Superintendent (406) 768-5312;
                                     Acting Irrigation Project Manager
                                     (406) 247-7998
Wind River Irrigation Project.....  Leslie Shakespeare, Superintendent,
                                     Jim Gappa, Acting Irrigation
                                     Project Manager (BIA), (Project O&M
                                     for Little Wind, Johnstown, and
                                     Lefthand Units contracted to Tribes
                                     under PL 93-638; Little Wind-Ray
                                     and Upper Wind Units O&M performed
                                     by Ray Canal, A Canal, and
                                     Crowheart Water Users
                                     Associations), P.O. Box 158, Fort
                                     Washakie, WY 82514. Telephones:
                                     Superintendent (307) 332-7810;
                                     Acting Irrigation Project Manager
                                     (406) 247-7998.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Southwest Region Contacts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Patricia L. Mattingly, Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs,
 Southwest Regional Office, 1001 Indian School Road NW, Albuquerque, NM
 87104. Telephone: (505) 563-3100..
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pine River Irrigation Project.....  Priscilla Bancroft, Superintendent,
                                     Vickie Begay, Irrigation Project
                                     Manager, P.O. Box 315, Ignacio, CO
                                     81137-0315. Telephones:
                                     Superintendent (970) 563-4511;
                                     Irrigation Project Manager (970)
                                     563-9484.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Western Region Contacts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jessie Durham, Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Western
 Regional Office, 2600 North Central Avenue, 4th Floor Mailroom,
 Phoenix, AZ 85004. Telephone: (602) 379-6600.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colorado River Irrigation Project.  Davetta Ameelyenah, Superintendent,
                                     Gary Colvin, Irrigation Project
                                     Manager, 12124 1st Avenue, Parker,
                                     AZ 85344. Telephones:
                                     Superintendent (928) 669-7111;
                                     (928) 662-4392 Irrigation Project
                                     Manager.
Duck Valley Irrigation Project....  Phaline Conklin, Superintendent,
                                     (Project O&M compacted to Shoshone-
                                     Paiute Tribes under PL 93-638),
                                     2719 Argent Avenue, Suite 4,
                                     Gateway Plaza, Elko, NV 89801.
                                     Telephones: Superintendent (775)
                                     738-5165; Tribal Office (208) 759-
                                     3100.
Yuma Project, Indian Unit.........  Maureen Brown, Superintendent,
                                     (Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) owns
                                     the Project and is responsible for
                                     O&M), 256 South Second Avenue,
                                     Suite D, Yuma, AZ 85364.
                                     Telephones: Superintendent (928)
                                     782-1202; BOR Area Office Manager
                                     (928) 343-8100.

[[Page 8710]]

 
San Carlos Irrigation Project       Ferris Begay, Project Manager (BIA),
 (Indian Works and Joint Works).     Clarence Begay, Supervisory Civil
                                     Engineer (BIA), (Portions of Indian
                                     Works O&M compacted to Gila River
                                     Indian Community under PL 93-638;
                                     Joint Control Board is responsible
                                     for portions of Joint Works
                                     maintenance pursuant to Gila River
                                     Indian Community Water Rights
                                     Settlement Act of 2004, 118 Stat.
                                     3499), 13805 North Arizona
                                     Boulevard, Coolidge, AZ 85128.
                                     Telephones: Project Manager (520)
                                     723-6225; Supervisory Civil
                                     Engineer (520) 723-6203; Gila River
                                     Indian Irrigation & Drainage
                                     District (520) 562-6720; Joint
                                     Control Board (520) 562-9760, (520)
                                     723-5408.
Uintah Irrigation Project.........  Antonio Pingree, Superintendent, Ken
                                     Asay, Irrigation System Manager
                                     (BIA), (Project O&M performed by
                                     Uintah Indian Irrigation Project
                                     Operation and Maintenance Company),
                                     P.O. Box 130, Fort Duchesne, UT
                                     84026. Telephones: Superintendent
                                     (435) 722-4300; Irrigation System
                                     Manager (435) 722-4344; Uintah
                                     Indian Irrigation Operation and
                                     Maintenance Company (435) 724-5200.
Walker River Irrigation Project...  Colleen Labelle, Superintendent, 311
                                     East Washington Street, Carson
                                     City, NV 89701. Telephone: (775)
                                     887-3500.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

What irrigation assessments or charges are proposed for adjustment by 
this notice?

    The rate table below contains final CY 2024 rates for irrigation 
projects where we recover costs of administering, operating, 
maintaining, and rehabilitating them. The table also contains proposed 
CY 2025 rates for all irrigation projects. An asterisk immediately 
following the rate category notes irrigation projects where rates are 
proposed for adjustment.

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                                                                                    Final 2024     Proposed 2025
                 Project name                             Rate category                rate            rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Northwest Region Rate Table
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead Irrigation Project...................  Basic per acre--A...............          $39.00          $39.00
                                                Basic per acre--B...............           19.50           19.50
                                                Minimum Charge per tract........           75.00           75.00
Fort Hall Irrigation Project..................  Basic per acre *................           65.50           66.50
                                                Minimum Charge per tract *......           41.00           43.00
Fort Hall Irrigation Project--Minor Units.....  Basic per acre *................           45.00           45.50
                                                Minimum Charge per tract *......           41.00           43.00
Fort Hall Irrigation Project--Michaud Unit....  Basic per acre *................           75.00           75.50
                                                Pressure per acre *.............          116.50          117.00
                                                Minimum Charge per tract *......           41.00           43.00
Wapato Irrigation Project--Toppenish/Simcoe     Minimum Charge per bill.........           28.00           28.00
 Units.
                                                Basic per acre..................           28.00           28.00
Wapato Irrigation Project--Ahtanum Units......  Minimum Charge per bill.........           35.00           35.00
                                                Basic per acre..................           35.00           35.00
Wapato Irrigation Project--Satus Unit.........  Minimum Charge per bill.........          100.00          100.00
                                                ``A'' Basic per acre............           86.00           86.00
                                                ``B'' Basic per acre............           92.00           92.00
Wapato Irrigation Project--Additional Works...  Minimum Charge per bill.........          100.00          100.00
                                                Basic per acre..................           87.00           87.00
Wapato Irrigation Project--Water Rental.......  Minimum Charge per bill.........          100.00          100.00
                                                Basic per acre..................          100.00          100.00
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                                        Rocky Mountain Region Rate Table
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blackfeet Irrigation Project..................  Basic-per acre..................           21.50           21.50
Crow Irrigation Project--Willow Creek O&M       Basic-per acre..................           30.00           30.00
 (includes Agency, Lodge Grass #1, Lodge Grass
 #2, Reno, Upper Little Horn, and Forty Mile
 Units).
Crow Irrigation Project--All Others (includes   Basic-per acre..................           30.00           30.00
 Bighorn, Soap Creek, and Pryor Units).
Crow Irrigation Project--Two Leggins Unit.....  Basic-per acre..................           15.00           15.00
Crow Irrigation Two Leggins Drainage District.  Basic-per acre..................            3.00            3.00
Fort Belknap Irrigation Project...............  Basic-per acre..................           20.00           20.00
Fort Peck Irrigation Project..................  Basic-per acre..................           29.00           29.00
Wind River Irrigation Project--Units 2, 3 and   Basic-per acre..................           26.00           26.00
 4.
Wind River Irrigation Project--Unit 6.........  Basic-per acre..................           23.00           23.00
Wind River Irrigation Project--LeClair          Basic-per acre..................           47.00           47.00
 District (See Note #1).
Wind River Irrigation Project--Crow Heart Unit  Basic-per acre..................           16.50           16.50
Wind River Irrigation Project--A Canal Unit...  Basic-per acre..................           16.50           16.50
Wind River Irrigation Project--Riverton Valley  Basic-per acre..................           30.65           30.65
 Irrigation District (See Note #1).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Southwest Region Rate Table
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pine River Irrigation Project.................  Minimum Charge per tract........           75.00           75.00
                                                Basic-per acre *................           23.50           24.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 8711]]

 
                                            Western Region Rate Table
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colorado River Irrigation Project.............  Basic per acre up to 5.75 acre-            64.00           69.00
                                                 feet *.
                                                Excess Water per acre-foot over            18.00           18.00
                                                 5.75 acre-feet.
Duck Valley Irrigation Project................  Basic per acre..................            5.30            5.30
Yuma Project, Indian Unit (See Note #2).......  Basic per acre up to 5.0 acre-            184.00           ( + )
                                                 feet *.
                                                Excess Water per acre-foot over            35.00           ( + )
                                                 5.0 acre-feet.
                                                Basic per acre up to 5.0 acre-            184.00           ( + )
                                                 feet (Ranch 5).


 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Carlos Irrigation Project (Joint Works) (See Note #3)..................................                    Basic per acre                    $26.00.................  $26.00
                                                                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                       Proposed 2025 Construction Water Rate Schedule:
                                                                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                       Off project.............  On project.............  On project
                                                                                                                       construction............  construction--.........  construction--
                                                                                                                                                 gravity water..........  pump water
                                                                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                             Administrative Fee......  $300.00.................  $300.00................  $300.00.
                                                                                             Usage Fee...............  $250.00 per month.......  No Fee.................  $100.00 per acre foot.
                                                                                             Excess Water Rate         $5.00 per 1,000 gal.....  No Charge..............  No Charge.
                                                                                              [dagger].
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 
                                                                                    Final 2024     Proposed 2025
                 Project name                             Rate category                rate            rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Carlos Irrigation Project (Indian Works)    Basic per acre..................          $99.62          $93.85
 (See Note #4).
Uintah Irrigation Project.....................  Basic per acre *................           23.00           25.00
                                                Minimum Bill....................           25.00           25.00
Walker River Irrigation Project...............  Basic per acre *................           31.00           32.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Notes irrigation projects where rates are adjusted.
+ These rates have not yet been determined.
[dagger] The excess water rate applies to all water used in excess of 50,000 gallons in any one month.
Note #1: O&M rates for LeClair and Riverton Valley Irrigation Districts apply to Trust lands that are serviced
  by each irrigation district. The annual O&M rates are based on budgets submitted by LeClair and Riverton
  Valley Irrigation Districts, respectively.
Note #2: The O&M rate for the Yuma Project, Indian Unit has two components. The first component of the O&M rate
  is established by the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), the owner and operator of the Project. BOR's rate, which is
  based upon the annual budget submitted by BOR is $180.00 for 2024 but has not been established for 2025. The
  second component of the O&M rate is established by BIA to cover administrative costs, which includes billing
  and collections for the Project. The final 2024 BIA rate component is $4.00 per acre. The proposed 2025 BIA
  rate component is $4.50 per acre.
Note #3: The Construction Water Rate Schedule identifies fees assessed for use of irrigation water for non-
  irrigation purposes.
Note #4: The O&M rate for the San Carlos Irrigation Project--Indian Works has three components. The first
  component is established by BIA San Carlos Irrigation Project--Indian Works, the owner and operator of the
  Project; the final 2024 rate is $55.85 per acre, and proposed 2025 rate is $55.85 per acre. The second
  component is established by BIA San Carlos Irrigation Project--Joint Works; the final 2024 rate is $26.00 per
  acre, and proposed 2025 rate is $26.00 per acre. The third component is established by the San Carlos
  Irrigation Project Joint Control Board (comprised of representatives from the Gila River Indian Community and
  the San Carlos Irrigation and Drainage District); the 2024 rate is $17.77 per acre, and 2025 rate is $12.00
  per acre.

Consultation and Coordination With Tribal Governments (Executive Order 
13175)

    The Department of the Interior strives to strengthen its 
government-to-government relationship with Indian Tribes through a 
commitment to consultation with Indian Tribes and recognition of their 
right to self-governance and Tribal sovereignty. We have evaluated this 
notice under the Department's consultation policy and under the 
criteria of Executive Order 13175 and have determined there to be 
substantial direct effects on federally recognized Tribes because the 
irrigation projects are located on or associated with Indian 
reservations. To fulfill its consultation responsibility to Tribes and 
Tribal organizations, BIA communicates, coordinates, and consults on a 
continuing basis with these entities on issues of water delivery, water 
availability, and costs of administration, operation, maintenance, and 
rehabilitation of projects that concern them. This is accomplished at 
the individual irrigation project by project, agency, and regional 
representatives, as appropriate, in accordance with local protocol and 
procedures. This notice is one component of our overall coordination 
and consultation process to provide notice to, and request comments 
from, these entities when we adjust irrigation assessment rates.

Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, 
Distribution, or Use (Executive Order 13211)

    The proposed rate adjustments are not a significant energy action 
under the definition in Executive Order 13211. A Statement of Energy 
Effects is not required.

Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Order 12866), as Amended by 
E.O. 14094)

    These proposed rate adjustments are not a significant regulatory 
action and do not need to be reviewed by the Office of Management and 
Budget under Executive Order 12866, as Amended by E.O. 14094.

[[Page 8712]]

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    These proposed rate adjustments are not a rule for the purposes of 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act because they establish ``a rule of 
particular applicability relating to rates.'' 5 U.S.C. 601(2).

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    These proposed rate adjustments do not impose an unfunded mandate 
on state, local, or Tribal governments in the aggregate, or on the 
private sector, of more than $130 million per year. They do not have a 
significant or unique effect on State, local, or Tribal governments or 
the private sector. Therefore, the Department is not required to 
prepare a statement containing the information required by the Unfunded 
Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Takings (Executive Order 12630)

    These proposed rate adjustments do not effect a taking of private 
property or otherwise have ``takings'' implications under Executive 
Order 12630. The proposed rate adjustments do not deprive the public, 
State, or local governments of rights or property.

Federalism (Executive Order 13132)

    Under the criteria in section 1 of Executive Order 13132, these 
proposed rate adjustments do not have sufficient federalism 
implications to warrant the preparation of a federalism summary impact 
statement because they will not affect the States, the relationship 
between the national government and the States, or the distribution of 
power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. A 
federalism summary impact statement is not required.

Civil Justice Reform (Executive Order 12988)

    This notice complies with the requirements of Executive Order 
12988. Specifically, in issuing this notice, the Department has taken 
the necessary steps to eliminate drafting errors and ambiguity, 
minimize potential litigation, and provide a clear legal standard for 
affected conduct as required by section 3 of Executive Order 12988.

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    These proposed rate adjustments do not affect the collections of 
information which have been approved by the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The OMB Control Number is 1076-0141 
and expires March 31, 2026.

National Environmental Policy Act

    The Department has determined that these proposed rate adjustments 
do not constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the 
quality of the human environment and that no detailed statement is 
required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 
4321-4370(d), pursuant to 43 CFR 46.210(i). In addition, the proposed 
rate adjustments do not present any of the 12 extraordinary 
circumstances listed at 43 CFR 46.215.

Bryan Newland,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2024-02596 Filed 2-7-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337-15-P


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