Notice of Public Comment Period on Proposed Agreement for Leasing of Colorado River Water and Non-Irrigation of Lands on Chemehuevi Indian Reservation

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

Notice of Public Comment Period on Proposed Agreement for Leasing

of Colorado River Water and Non-Irrigation of Lands on Chemehuevi

Indian Reservation

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of second opportunity for public comment.

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SUMMARY: On June 22, 1998, a notice of opportunity for public comment

was published in the Federal Register (Volume 63, Number 119)

concerning the proposed agreement for leasing of Colorado River water

and non-irrigation of lands on the Chemehuevi Reservation. A second

comment period was requested by interested parties and is being

provided.

The Chemehuevi Indian Tribe entered into an agreement with

Southeastern Nevada Water Company, Inc., dated January 31, 1998, for a

25-year lease of 5,000 acre-feet per year of the Tribes's Colorado

River water entitlement. The agreement has been submitted to the

Secretary of the Interior with a request for the Secretary's approval

as a lease of Indian lands within the meaning of 25 U.S.C. 415 and for

approval under 25 U.S.C. 81. As part of the Secretary's review, the

Bureau of Indian Affairs has determined it is in the public interest to

allow an opportunity for interested parties to comment on the proposed

lease.

DATES: Any comments must be received by the Agency on or before

November 24, 1998.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments to the

Area Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Attention: Ms. Cathy Wilson,

Phoenix Area Office, P.O. Box 10, MS 420, Phoenix, AZ 85004.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Chemehuevi Indian Tribe is a federally

recognized Indian tribe organized under Sec. 16 of the Indian

Reorganization Act of 1934 (25 U.S.C. Sec. 476). The Tribe is the

beneficial owner of the Chemehuevi Indian Reservation which is located

entirely within San Bernadino County, California. On February 2, 1998,

the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe provided the proposed Agreement for the

Leasing of Reservation Water and for Non-Irrigation of Reservation

Lands to the Secretary of the Interior with a request for the

Secretary's approval. If the lease is approved by the Secretary, it

will become effective upon that approval and remain in effect for a

term of 25 years.

Under the proposed lease agreement, the Tribe will lease 5,000

acre-feet of Colorado River water per year to the lessee, Southeastern

Nevada Water Company, Inc. The lessee is a for-profit corporation,

organized under the laws of the State of Nevada and based in

Scottsdale, Arizona. The lessee is authorized to do business in the

State of California and will use the water acquired during the period

of the lease to meet the present and future water demands of the lessee

and any sublessees or assignees in the State of California.

Copies of the lease are available from the Bureau of Indian Affairs

at the address listed under ADDRESSES. In addition, the Tribe is

assessing the environmental impacts of the lease. Any documents created

during the environmental compliance process will be made available, as

appropriate, from the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Phoenix Area Office at

the address listed under ADDRESSES.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Cathy Wilson, telephone (602) 379-

6789.

Dated: September 15, 1998.

Kevin Gover,

Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.

[FR Doc. 98-25652 Filed 9-24-98; 8:45 am]

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