[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 33 (Friday, February 17, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 9574]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-4056]




[[Page 9573]]

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Part XI





Department of the Interior





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Bureau of Indian Affairs



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Blackfeet Irrigation Project O&M Rate Increase, Montana; Notice

Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 33 / Friday, February 17, 1995 / 
Notices 
[[Page 9574]] 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Blackfeet Irrigation Project O&M Rate Increase, Montana

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of rate change.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs is increasing the Blackfeet 
Irrigation Project's operation and maintenance assessment rate to $11 
per assessable acre for the 1995 irrigation season and subsequent 
seasons. The $3 increase to the current rate of $8 per acre will help 
offset cost increases for personnel, supplies, materials and services.

DATES: This rate is effective for the 1995 irrigation season and will 
remain in effect until modified.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Area Director, Billings Area Office, 
Bureau of Indian Affairs, 316 North 26th Street, Billings, Montana 
59101. Telephone number: (406) 657-6315.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The authority to issue this document 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), and has been delegated 
to the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs pursuant to Part 209 
Departmental Manual Chapter 8.1A and Memorandum, from Chief of Staff, 
Department of the Interior, to Assistant Secretaries, Heads of Bureaus 
and Offices, dated January 25, 1994.
    The operation and maintenance assessment per assessable acre is 
based on the estimated normal operation and maintenance cost of the 
Project for one fiscal year. Normal operation and maintenance is 
defined as the cost of all activities involved in delivering irrigation 
water, including, but not limited to, labor, materials, equipment and 
services for irrigation canals, dams, flow control gates, pumps and 
other facilities.
    The Notice proposing this increase to the Blackfeet Irrigation 
Project's operation and maintenance assessment rate was published on 
November 16, 1994, (59 FR 59244). A 30-day comment period was allowed. 
The Bureau received 13 comments from water users and other interested 
persons.
    While all 13 comments opposed the rate increase, most recognized 
that the Project experiences delivery problems and requires better 
maintenance. The rate increase established herein will allow for the 
performance of this and will enable the Project to deliver water as 
required. The commentators failed to identify other means of achieving 
these goals without raising the operation and maintenance assessment 
rates. The BIA has therefore determined to proceed with the rate 
increase as established herein. The BIA will respond to each 
commentator further by letter.
    Without this rate increase, critically needed maintenance cannot be 
completed, and the project's ability to deliver water will be 
diminished.

    Dated: February 8, 1995.
Ada E. Deer,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 95-4056 Filed 2-16-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-02-P