Acreage Limitation Rules and Regulations

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

43 CFR Part 426

[RIN 1006-AA38]

Acreage Limitation Rules and Regulations

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting and extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On December 18, 1996, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation)

published in 61 FR 66827, Dec. 18, 1996, an advance notice of proposed

rulemaking requesting public comment on possible revisions to existing

rules and regulations regarding the acreage limitation provisions of

the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 (RRA). During a recently completed

RRA rulemaking activity, 61 FR 66754, Dec. 18, 1996, the Department of

the Interior (Department) received a number of comments regarding the

compliance of certain large trusts with the acreage limitation

provisions of the RRA. Comments expressed a variety of viewpoints,

including the assertion that some trusts with landholdings (owned and

leased land) in excess of 960 acres may circumvent the requirements of

Federal reclamation law. To help facilitate the examination of the

application of the acreage limitation provisions to trusts with large

landholdings, Reclamation will host a meeting at which interested

parties will convene in a round table arrangement to explore this

issue. The public is invited to attend this session. This meeting is

not intended as a formal hearing for the submission of comments.

Rather, it is intended as an informal discussion so that those in

attendance will be better prepared to submit comments on the advance

notice of proposed rulemaking. To further facilitate the submittal of

comments, the comment period has been extended to April 17, 1997.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on March 14, 1997, at 10:00 a.m.

The comment period on the advance notice of proposed rulemaking is

extended to April 17, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at The Best Western Expo

Inn, 1413 Howe Avenue, Sacramento, CA Written comments are to be mailed

to the Commissioner's Office, Bureau of Reclamation, 1849 C Street

N.W., Washington, DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Richardson, Bureau of

Reclamation, Mail Code W-1500, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.

20240, telephone (202) 208-4291.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the December 18, 1996, Federal Register

notice, Reclamation requested comments and suggestions on:

Whether to limit nonfull-cost water deliveries to large

trusts with landholdings in excess of 960 acres (or other applicable

acreage thresholds under the RRA);

The criteria used to determine whether landholdings in

excess of 960 acres, operated under a trust arrangement, should be

eligible to receive nonfull-cost water deliveries;

Whether nonfull-cost water deliveries to such landholdings

are consistent with the principles of Federal reclamation law and sound

public policy and, if not, how to implement a limit on such deliveries;

What procedures might ensure fairness in transition to new

rules that would limit large trusts to 960 acres for nonfull-cost

water, and what safeguards would be necessary to avoid such trusts from

adopting some other, as yet unregulated form, to escape acreage

limitations; and

The extent of the Department's statutory authority to

address these issues, including, the extent of the Department's legal

authority to regulate: (a) future trusts, (b) trusts established from

1982 to the present, and (c) trusts established prior to 1982.

Dated: February 11, 1997.

J. Austin Burke,

Director, Program Analysis Office.

[FR Doc. 97-3962 Filed 2-18-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-94-M