Blackfeet Irrigation Project O&M Rate Increase, Montana

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