[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 156 (Tuesday, August 12, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46917-46919]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-18556]


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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 and are new, modified, 
discontinued, or completed since the last publication of this notice on 
May 9, 2008. 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: Michelle Kelly, Water and 
Environmental Resources Office, Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box 25007, 
Denver, Colorado 80225-0007; telephone 303-445-2888.

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. Announcements 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 of 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 conditions of the contract may 
be involved.
    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 appropriate regional or project office of Reclamation.
    3. Written correspondence regarding proposed contracts may be made 
available to the general public pursuant to the terms and procedures of 
the Freedom of Information Act, as amended.
    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 hearings 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

[[Page 46918]]

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 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
SRPA--Small Reclamation Projects Act of 1956
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 Action

    6. North Unit ID, Deschutes Project, Oregon: Warren Act contract 
with cost of service charge to allow for use of project facilities to 
convey nonproject water.
    Mid-Pacific Region: Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, 
Sacramento, California 95825-1898, telephone 916-978-5250.

New Contract Actions

    34. Ivanhoe ID, CVP, California: Proposed partial assignment of 
1,200 acre-feet of class 1 and 7,400 acre-feet of class 2 of the 
district's CVP water supply to Kaweah Delta Conservation District for 
irrigation purposes.
    35. Cawelo WD, CVP, California: Long-term Warren Act contract for 
conveying up to 10,000 acre-feet of nonproject water (exchanged banked 
groundwater) via the Friant-Kern Canal for irrigation and M&I purposes.

Modified Contract Action

    21. Delta Lands Reclamation District No. 770, CVP, California: 
Long-term Warren Act contract for conveying up to 300,000 acre-feet of 
nonproject flood flows via the Friant-Kern Canal for flood control 
purposes.

Completed Contract Action

    31. Contract for exchange of water among the United States, San 
Luis WD, and Meyers Farms Family Trust. The contract will allow for an 
exchange with Reclamation of previously banked water for a like amount 
of project water made available to San Luis WD on behalf of Meyers 
Farms. Contract executed May 2, 2008.
    Lower Colorado Region: Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box 61470 (Nevada 
Highway and Park Street), Boulder City, Nevada 89006-1470, telephone 
702-293-8192.
    The Lower Colorado Region has no update to report for this quarter.
    Upper Colorado Region: Bureau of Reclamation, 125 South State 
Street, Room 6107, Salt Lake City, Utah 84138-1102, telephone 801-524-
3864.

New Contract Actions

    1. (e) Mesa County (Solid Waste), Aspinall Storage Unit, CRSP: The 
County has requested a 40-year water service contract for 44 acre-feet 
of M&I water out of Blue Mesa Reservoir, which requires them to present 
a Plan of Augmentation to the Division 4 Water Court.
    1. (f) Mike and Marsha Jackson, Aspinall Storage Unit, CRSP: The 
Jackson's have requested a 40-year water service contract for 1 acre-
foot of M&I out of Blue Mesa Reservoir, which requires them to present 
a Plan of Augmentation to the Division 4 Water Court.
    1. (g) Dick Morfitt, Aspinall Storage Unit, CRSP: Mr. Morfitt has 
requested a 40-year water service contract for 35 acre-feet of M&I 
water out of Blue Mesa Reservoir, which requires him to present a Plan 
of Augmentation to the Division 4 Water Court.
    1. (h) Western Gravel, Aspinall Storage Unit, CRSP: Western Gravel 
has requested a 40-year water service contract for 3 acre-feet of M&I 
water out of Blue Mesa Reservoir, which requires them to present a Plan 
of Augmentation to the Division 4 Water Court.
    33. Elkhead Reservoir Enlargement: This contract will supersede 
contract No. 05-WC-40-420. The proposed contract will include the 
Recovery Programs pro-rata share of the actual construction cost plus 
fish screen costs. Also identified in this proposed contract is the 
pro-rata share of the actual construction costs for the other signatory 
parties. Upon payment by Recovery Program, this proposed contract will 
ensure permanent water supply for the endangered fish.

Completed Contract Actions

    1. (b) Maureen A. Call, Aspinall Storage Unit, CRSP: Ms. Call has 
requested a 40-year water service contract for 1 acre-foot of M&I water 
out of Blue Mesa Reservoir, which requires Ms. Call to present a Plan 
of Augmentation to the Division 4 Water Court. Contract was executed 
February 15, 2008.
    1. (c) Vanessa Rueckert (Hidden Mesa Estates), Aspinall Storage 
Unit, CRSP: Ms. Rueckert has requested a 40-year water service contract 
for 1 acre-foot of M&I water out of Blue Mesa Reservoir, which requires 
Ms. Rueckert to present a Plan of Augmentation to the Division 4 Water 
Court. Contract was executed February 15, 2008.
    1. (d) Thomas Alan Kay (North Fork Reserve), Aspinall Storage Unit, 
CRSP: Mr. Kay has requested a 40-year water service contract for 11 
acre-feet of M&I water out of Blue Mesa Reservoir, which requires them 
to present a Plan of Augmentation to the Division 4 Water Court. 
Contract was executed February 12, 2008.
    1. (e) Mesa County (Solid Waste), Aspinall Storage Unit, CRSP: The 
County has requested a 40-year water service contract for 44 acre-feet 
of M&I water out of the Blue Mesa Reservoir, which requires them to 
present a Plan of Augmentation to the Division 4 Water Court. Contract 
was executed February 12, 2008.
    24. 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 the foundation 
at Arthur V. Watkins Dam. Contract was executed April 7, 2008.
    25. 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 the foundation 
at Arthur V. Watkins Dam. Contract was executed May 2, 2008.
    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

    40. LU Sheep Company, Boysen Unit, P-SMBP, Wyoming: Contract 
renewal of long-term water service contract.
    41. Busch Farms, Inc., Boysen Unit, P-SMBP, Wyoming: Contract 
renewal of long-term water service contract.

[[Page 46919]]

    42. Gorst Ranch, Boysen Unit, P-SMBP, Wyoming: Contract renewal of 
long-term water service contract.

Modified Contract Actions

    5. Highland-Hanover ID, Hanover-Bluff Unit, P-SMBP, Wyoming: 
Execute long-term water service contract.
    6. Upper Bluff ID, Hanover-Bluff Unit, P-SMBP, Wyoming: Execute 
long-term water service contract.
    37. Big Horn Canal ID, Boysen Unit, P-SMBP, Wyoming: Big Horn Canal 
ID has requested the renewal of their long-term water service contract.
    38. Treeline Springs, LLC., Canyon Ferry Unit, Montana: Request for 
water service contract for up to 620 acre-feet of water per year for 
replacement of water for senior water rights.
    39. Hanover ID, Boysen Unit, P-SMBP, Wyoming: Hanover ID has 
requested the renewal of their long-term water service contract.

    Dated: June 25, 2008.
Roseann Gonzales,
Director, Policy and Program Services, Denver Office.
[FR Doc. E8-18556 Filed 8-11-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P