Quarterly Status Report of Water Service and Repayment Contract Negotiations

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

Quarterly Status Report of Water Service and Repayment Contract

Negotiations

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of proposed contractual actions that

are new, modified, discontinued, or completed since the last

publication of this notice on January 22, 1999. The January 22, 1999,

notice should be used as a reference point to identify changes. 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. Additional Bureau of Reclamation

(Reclamation) 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. 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 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.

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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alonzo Knapp, Manager, Reclamation

Law, Contracts, and Repayment Office, Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box

25007, Denver, Colorado 80225-0007; telephone 303-445-2889.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 226 of the Reclamation

Reform Act of 1982 (96 Stat. 1273) and 43 CFR 426.20 of the rules and

regulations published in 52 FR 11954, Apr. 13, 1987, Reclamation will

publish notice of the 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. Pursuant to the ``Final Revised Public

Participation Procedures'' for water resource-related contract

negotiations, published in 47 FR 7763, Feb. 22, 1982, a tabulation is

provided of all proposed contractual actions in each of the five

Reclamation regions. Each proposed action is, or is expected to be, in

some stage of the contract negotiation process in 1999. 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

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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 (80 Stat. 383), 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 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. As a minimum, the regional director shall

furnish revised contracts to all parties who requested the contract in

response to the initial public notice.

Acronym Definitions Used Herein

(BCP)--Boulder Canyon Project

(CAP)--Central Arizona Project

(CUP)--Central Utah Project

(CVP)--Central Valley Project

(CRSP)--Colorado River Storage Project

(D&MC)--Drainage and Minor Construction

(FR)--Federal Register

(IDD)--Irrigation and Drainage District

(ID)--Irrigation District

(M&I)--Municipal and Industrial

(NEPA)--National Environmental Policy Act

(O&M)--Operation and Maintenance

(P-SMBP)--Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program

(PPR)--Present Perfected Right

(RRA)--Reclamation Reform Act

(R&B)--Rehabilitation and Betterment

(SOD)--Safety of Dams

(SRPA)--Small Reclamation Projects Act

(WCUA)--Water Conservation and Utilization Act

(WD)--Water District

Pacific Northwest Region

Bureau of Reclamation, 1150 North Curtis Road, Suite 100, Boise,

Idaho 83706-1234, telephone 208-378-5346.

The Pacific Northwest Region has no updates to report for this

quarter. Please refer to the January 22, 1999, publication of this

notice for current contract actions.

Mid-Pacific Region

Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California

95825-1898, telephone 916-978-5250.

New Contract Actions

36. Contra Costa WD, CVP, California: Amend water service contract

No. I75r-3401 for the purpose of renegotiating the provisions of

contract Article 12, ``Water Shortage and Apportionment,'' to conform

to current CVP M&I water shortage policy.

37. Plain View WD, CVP, California: Long-term Warren Act contract

for conveyance of non-project water in the Delta-Mendota Canal.

38. City of Redding, CVP, California: Amend water contract No. 14-

06-200-5272A for the purpose of renegotiating the provisions of

contract Article 15, ``Water Shortage and Apportionment,'' to conform

to current CVP M&I water shortage policy.

39. Tehama-Colusa Canal Authority, CVP, California: Amendment of

existing long-term O&M agreement to also include the O&M of the Red

Bluff Diversion Dam and related facilities.

Modified Contract Actions

2. Contractors from the American River Division, Buchanan Unit,

Colusa Basin Drain, Cross Valley Canal, Delta Division, East Side

Division, Friant Division, Hidden Unit, Sacramento River Division, San

Felipe Division, Shasta Division, Trinity River Division, and West San

Joaquin Division, CVP, California: Renewal of existing long-term and

interim renewal water service contracts with contractors whose

contracts expire between 2000 and 2001; water quantities for these

contracts total in excess of 5.6M acre-feet. These contract actions

will be accomplished through long-term renewal contracts pursuant to

Public Law 102-575. Prior to completion of negotiation of long-term

renewal contracts, existing interim renewal water service contracts may

be renewed through successive interim renewal of contracts.

4. Sacramento River settlement contractors, CVP, California:

Administrative policy for voluntary contract assignments which provides

for repayment of O&M deficit(s), and payment by assignee of the CVP

cost-of-service rate as determined in accordance with the current CVP

ratesetting policy.

14. Mercy Springs WD, CVP, California: Assignment of District's

water service contract to Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency. The

assignment will provide for delivery of up to 13,300 acre-feet annually

of water to the Agency from the CVP for agricultural purposes. Interim

assignment up to 6,260 acre-feet of water annually to Westlands and

Santa Clara Valley WDs until the Agency completes their water project.

17. M&T, Inc., Sacramento River Water Rights Contractors, CVP,

California: A proposed exchange agreement with M&T, Inc., to take Butte

Creek water rights water from the Sacramento River in exchange for CVP

water to facilitate habitat restoration.

32. Tuolumne Utilities District (formerly Tuolumne Regional WD),

CVP, California: Long-term water service contract for up to 9,000 acre-

feet from New Melones Reservoir, and possibly long-term contract for

storage of non-project water in New Melones Reservoir.

Discontinued Contract Actions

9. Mountain Gate Community Services District, CVP, California:

Amendment of existing long-term water service contract to include right

to renew. This amendment will also conform the contract to current

Reclamation law, including Public Law 102-575.

25. Centerville Community Services District, CVP, California: A

long-term supplemental repayment contract for reimbursement to the

United States for conveyance costs associated with CVP water conveyed

to Centerville.

Completed Contract Actions

16. Stony Creek WD, Black Butte Dam and Lake, Sacramento River

Division,

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CVP, California: Proposed amendment of Stony Creek Water District's

water service contract, No. 2-07-20-W0261, to allow the Contractor to

change from paying for all project water, whether used or not, to

paying only for project water scheduled or delivered and to add another

month to the irrigation period. Contract awarded January 13, 1999.

Lower Colorado Region

Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box 61470 (Nevada Highway and Park

Street), Boulder City, Nevada 89006-1470, telephone 702-293-8536.

Modified Contract Actions

1. Milton and Jean Phillips, Cameron Brothers Construction Co.,

Ogram Farms, Bruce Church, Inc., and Sunkist Growers, Inc., BCP,

Arizona: Water service contracts, as recommended by Arizona Department

of Water Resources, with agricultural entities located near the

Colorado River for up to 15,557 acre-feet per year total.

2. Arizona State Land Department, State of Arizona, BCP, Arizona:

Contract for 6,607 acre-feet per year of Colorado River water for

agricultural use and related purposes on State-owned land. Modified to

include Kenneth or Ann Easterday and Robert E. Harp, Co., previously in

item No. 1.

4. Brooke Water Co. and Havasu Water Co., BCP, Arizona: Contracts

for additional M&I allocations of Colorado River water to entities

located along the Colorado River in Arizona for up to 2,610 acre-feet

per year as recommended by the Arizona Department of Water Resources.

Discontinued Contract Actions

1. Kenneth or Ann Easterday and Robert E. Harp, Co., BCP, Arizona:

To be included in Arizona State Lands Department contract, item No. 2.

Completed Contract Actions

1. Clayton Farms, BCP, Arizona: Water service contract, as

recommended by the Arizona Department of Water Resources. Completed as

Raynor Ranches for Colorado River water for up to 4,500 acre-feet per

year total.

4. Town of Quartzsite, BCP, Arizona: Contract for additional M&I

allocation of Colorado River water to entities located along the

Colorado River in Arizona for up to 1,070 acre-feet per year as

recommended by the Arizona Department of Water Resources.

30. Mr. Robert H. Chesney, BCP, Arizona: Amend contract No. 5-07-

30-W0321 to increase the cubic-foot-per-second diversion and facilitate

the installation of a low-lift pump.

Upper Colorado Region

Bureau of Reclamation, 125 South State Street, Room 6107, Salt Lake

City, Utah 84138-1102, telephone 801-524-4419.

New Contract Actions

18. Carlsbad ID, Carlsbad Project, New Mexico: Contract to provide

for repayment of the District's 15 percent share of proposed

modifications to Avalon Dam under the SOD program.

Modified Contract Actions

1(b) City of Page, Arizona, Glen Canyon Unit, CRSP, Arizona: Long-

term contract for 1,000 acre-feet of water for municipal purposes.

1(c) LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation, Glen Canyon Unit, CRSP,

Arizona: Long-term contract for 1,000 acre-feet of water for municipal

purposes.

13. Public Service Company of New Mexico, Navajo Unit, CRSP, New

Mexico: New water service contract for diversion of 16,700 acre-feet,

not to exceed a depletion of 16,200 acre-feet of project water for

cooling purposes for a steam electric generation plant.

Completed Contract Actions

6. Carlsbad ID, Carlsbad Project, New Mexico: Multi-year contract

to allow the District to lease water to the New Mexico Interstate

Stream Commission to fulfill New Mexico's water obligation to Texas

under Supreme Court's Amended Decree in Texas v. New Mexico 485 U.S.

288(1988).

Great Plains Region

Bureau of Reclamation, PO Box 36900, Federal Building, 316 North

26th Street, Billings, Montana 59107-6900, telephone 406-247-7730.

New Contract Actions

37. Fort Shaw and Greenfields IDs, Sun River Project, Montana:

Contract for additional SOD costs for repairs to Willow Creek Dam. In

the process of preparing basis of negotiation for Greenfields ID.

38. Green Mountain Project, Colorado: Reclamation is currently

developing a contract for surplus HUP water for municipal/recreational

purposes in the Grand Valley. This contract is to benefit the

endangered fish recovery.

Modified Contract Actions

3. Ruedi Reservoir, Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, Colorado: Second

round water sales from the regulatory capacity of Ruedi Reservoir.

Water service and repayment contracts for up to 17,000 acre-feet

annually for M&I use; contract with Colorado Water Conservation Board

and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for 21,650 acre-feet for

endangered fishes.

32. Savage ID, P-SMBP, Montana: Negotiating a long-term irrigation

contract.

36. Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, Colorado: This contract action

amends contract No. 9-07-70-W099 with Busk-Ivanhoe, Inc.

Discontinued Contract Actions

30. Public Service Company of Colorado: Agreement to furnish

surplus water from the historic users pool at Green Mountain Reservoir

for the purpose of generating hydroelectric power at the Grand Valley

Powerplant, Palisades, Colorado.

Dated: April 20, 1999.

Wayne O. Deason,

Deputy Director, Program Analysis Office.

[FR Doc. 99-10470 Filed 4-26-99; 8:45 am]

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