[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 60 (Friday, March 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14942-14943]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-7948]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation


Review of Existing Coordinated Long-Range Operating Criteria for 
Colorado River Reservoirs

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation will be conducting a public meeting 
for a preliminary review of the comments received on the review of the 
1970 Criteria for Coordinated Long-Range Operation of Colorado River 
Reservoirs (Criteria). Members of the Reclamation review team will be 
available to discuss the comments and Reclamation's analyses and 
responses to the key issues, and to receive any additional input from 
the public regarding the analyses and responses. In addition to the 
public meeting, Reclamation will extend a final comment period through 
May 16, 1997.
    As part of the Criteria review, Reclamation has incorporated an 
active public involvement process that includes all interested 
stakeholders. This public process is designed to solicit comments on 
Criteria provisions that may need revision as the result of actual 
operating experience, and to disclose the results of the analysis.
    Reclamation published a notice in the Federal Register on October 
31, 1996, asking for written comments and announcing two public 
meetings to be held in November and December 1996. Detailed written 
comments were received from 17 interested agencies and the two public 
meetings provided Reclamation with numerous issues, comments, and 
concerns regarding possible changes to the Criteria.

DATE AND LOCATION: The public meeting will be held at the following 
time and location:
    Las Vegas, Nevada--Tuesday, April 22, 1997, at 12 noon at McCarran 
Airport, Commissioners Meeting Room, 5th Floor, Main Terminal.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bruce Moore, Bureau of Reclamation, 125 South State Street, Room 6107, 
Salt Lake City, Utah 84138-1102 telephone (801) 524-3702, or Jayne 
Harkins, Bureau of Reclamation, P.O. Box 61470, Boulder City, Nevada 
89005, telephone (702) 293-8190.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 1970 Criteria for Coordinated Long-Range 
Operation of Colorado River Reservoirs, promulgated pursuant to Public 
Law 90-537, were published in the Federal Register on June 10, 1970. 
The Criteria provided for the coordinated long-range operation of the 
reservoirs constructed and operated under the authority of the Colorado 
River Storage Project Act, the Boulder Canyon Project Act, and the 
Boulder Canyon Project Adjustment Act for the purposes of complying 
with and carrying out the provisions of the Colorado River Compact, the 
Upper Colorado River Basin Compact, and the Mexican Water Treaty.
    The 1970 Criteria specified that a formal review take place at 
least once every five years with participation by such Colorado River 
Basin state representatives as each Governor may designate, and other 
parties and agencies as the Secretary of the Interior may deem 
appropriate. Public Law 90-537 allows the Secretary, as a result of 
actual operating experience or unforeseen circumstances, to modify the 
Criteria to better accomplish the purposes of the two basin compacts 
and the Mexican Water Treaty. The Commissioner of Reclamation is the 
authorized agent of the Secretary for the purpose of conducting and 
coordinating this review.
    This is the fifth review of the Criteria conducted since its 
initial promulgation in 1970. Previous reviews of the Criteria were 
initiated in 1975, 1980, 1985, and 1990. They resulted in no changes to 
the operating Criteria.


[[Page 14943]]


    Dated: March 25, 1997.
Eluid L. Martinez,
Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation.
[FR Doc. 97-7948 Filed 3-27-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-94-M