[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 134 (Friday, July 12, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33280-33283]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-14824]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
[190A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900]
Rate Adjustments for Indian Irrigation Projects
AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) owns or has an interest in
irrigation projects located on or associated with various Indian
reservations throughout the United States. We are required to establish
irrigation assessment rates to recover the costs to administer,
operate, maintain, and rehabilitate these projects. We are notifying
you that we have adjusted the irrigation assessment rates at several of
our irrigation projects and facilities to reflect current costs of
administration, operation, maintenance, and rehabilitation.
DATES: The irrigation assessment rates are current as of January 1,
2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For details about a particular BIA
irrigation project or facility, please use the tables in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section to identify contacts at the regional
or local office at which the project or facility is located.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A Notice of Proposed Rate Adjustment was
published in the Federal Register on December 21, 2018 (83 FR 65714) to
propose adjustments to the irrigation assessment rates at several BIA
irrigation projects. The public and interested parties were provided an
opportunity to submit written comments during the 60-day period that
ended February 19, 2019. A Correction Notice of Proposed Rate
Adjustment was published in the Federal Register on February 7, 2019
(84 FR 2564) to correct proposed adjustments to the Fort Hall--Michaud
Unit 2019 and 2020 O&M Rates; to correct proposed adjustments to the
Pine River Irrigation Project 2018 and 2020 O&M Rates; and to correct
the table heading on page 65718 to read ``Western Region Rate Table''
rather than ``Northwest Region Rate Table.''
Did BIA defer or change any proposed rate increases?
No. BIA did not defer or change any proposed rate increases.
Did BIA receive any comments on the proposed irrigation assessment rate
adjustments?
No. BIA did not receive any comments on the proposed irrigation
assessment rate adjustments.
Does this notice affect me?
This notice affects you if you own or lease land within the
assessable acreage of one of our irrigation projects or if you have a
carriage agreement with one of our irrigation projects.
Where can I get information on the regulatory and legal citations in
this notice?
You can contact the appropriate office(s) stated in the tables for
the irrigation project that serves you, or you can use the internet
site for the Government Printing Office at www.gpo.gov.
What authorizes you to issue this notice?
Our authority to issue this notice is vested in the Secretary of
the Interior (Secretary) by 5 U.S.C. 301 and the Act of August 14, 1914
(38 Stat. 583; 25 U.S.C. 385). The Secretary has in turn delegated this
authority to the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs under Part 209,
Chapter 8.1A, of the Department of the Interior's Departmental Manual.
Whom can I contact for further information?
The following tables are the regional and project/agency contacts
for our irrigation facilities.
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Project name Project/agency contacts
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Northwest Region Contacts
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Bryan Mercier, Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Northwest
Regional Office, 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97232-4169, Telephone:
(503) 231-6702.
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Flathead Irrigation Project....... Robert Compton, Acting
Superintendent, Peter Plant,
Irrigation Project Manager, P.O.
Box 40, Pablo, MT 59855,
Telephones: (406) 675-0207 Acting
Superintendent, (406) 745-2661
Project Manager.
Fort Hall Irrigation Project...... David Bollinger, Irrigation Project
Manager, Building #2 Bannock
Avenue, Fort Hall, ID 83203-0220,
Telephone: (208) 238-6264.
Wapato Irrigation Project......... Dale Sebastian, Acting
Superintendent, Jeff Harlan, Acting
Project Administrator, 413 South
Camas Avenue, Wapato, WA 98951-
0220, Telephones: (509) 865-2421
Acting Superintendent, (509) 877-
3155 Acting Project Administrator.
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Rocky Mountain Region Contacts
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Susan Messerly, Acting Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Rocky Mountain Regional Office, 2021 4th Avenue North, Billings, MT
59101, Telephone: (406) 247-7943.
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Blackfeet Irrigation Project...... Thedis Crowe, Superintendent, Greg
Tatsey, Irrigation Project Manager,
Box 880, Browning, MT 59417,
Telephones: (406) 338-7544
Superintendent, (406) 338-7519
Irrigation Project Manager.
Crow Irrigation Project........... Clifford Serawop, Superintendent,
Jim Gappa, Acting Irrigation
Project Manager, (Project operation
& maintenance performed by Water
Users Association), P.O. Box 69,
Crow Agency, MT 59022, Telephones:
(406) 638-2672 Superintendent,
(406) 247-7998 Acting Irrigation
Project Manager.
[[Page 33281]]
Fort Belknap Irrigation Project... Mark Azure, Superintendent, Jim
Gappa, Irrigation Project Manager
(BIA), (Project operation &
maintenance contracted to Tribes
under PL 93-638), R.R.1, Box 980,
Harlem, MT 59526, Telephones: (406)
353-2901 Superintendent, (406) 353-
8454 Irrigation Project Manager
(Tribal Office).
Fort Peck Irrigation Project...... Howard Beemer, Superintendent, Jim
Gappa, Acting Irrigation Project
Manager, (Project operation &
maintenance performed by Water
Users Association), P.O. Box 637,
Poplar, MT 59255, Telephones: (406)
768-5312 Superintendent, (406) 653-
1752 Huber Wright--Lead ISO.
Wind River Irrigation Project..... Trish Perry, Acting Superintendent,
Jim Gappa, Acting Irrigation
Project Manager, (Project operation
& maintenance for Little Wind,
Johnstown, and Lefthand Units
contracted to Tribes under PL 93-
638; Little Wind-Ray and Upper Wind
Units operation & maintenance
performed by Waters Users
Association), P.O. Box 158, Fort
Washakie, WY 82514, Telephones:
(307) 332-7810 Superintendent,
(406) 247-7998 Acting Irrigation
Project Manager.
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Southwest Region Contacts
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Patricia L. Mattingly, Acting Regional Director, Bureau of Indian
Affairs, Southwest Regional Office, 1001 Indian School Road,
Albuquerque, NM 87104, Telephone: (505) 563-3100.
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Pine River Irrigation Project..... Priscilla Bancroft, Superintendent,
Vickie Begay, Irrigation Project
Manager, P.O. Box 315, Ignacio, CO
81137-0315, Telephones: (970) 563-
4511, Superintendent, (970) 563-
9484, Irrigation Project Manager.
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Western Region Contacts
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Bryan Bowker, Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Western
Regional Office, 2600 North Central Avenue, 4th Floor Mailroom, Phoenix,
AZ 85004, Telephone: (602) 379-6600.
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Colorado River Irrigation Project. Clarence Begay, Acting
Superintendent, Gary Colvin,
Irrigation Project Manager, 12124
1st Avenue, Parker, AZ 85344,
Telephone: (928) 669-7111.
Duck Valley Irrigation Project.... Joseph McDade, Superintendent,
(Project operation & management
compacted to Tribes), 2719 Argent
Avenue, Suite 4, Gateway Plaza,
Elko, NV 89801, Telephone: (775)
738-5165, (208) 759-3100 (Tribal
Office).
Yuma Project Indian Unit.......... Denni Shields, Superintendent, 256
South Second Avenue, Suite D, Yuma,
AZ 85364, Telephone: (928) 782-
1202.
San Carlos Irrigation Project Ferris Begay, Project Manager, Kyle
(Indian Works and Joint Works). Varvel, Acting Irrigation Manager,
13805 North Arizona Boulevard,
Coolidge, AZ 85128, Telephone:
(520) 723-6225.
Uintah Irrigation Project......... Antonio Pingree, Acting
Superintendent, Ken Asay,
Irrigation System Manager, P.O. Box
130, Fort Duchesne, UT 84026,
Telephone: (435) 722-4300, (435)
722-4344.
Walker River Irrigation Project... Robert Eben, Superintendent, 311
East Washington Street, Carson
City, NV 89701, Telephone: (775)
887-3500.
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What irrigation assessments or charges are adjusted by this notice?
The rate table below contains the final rates for the 2019 and 2020
calendar years for all irrigation projects where we recover costs of
administering, operating, maintaining, and rehabilitating them. An
asterisk immediately following the rate category notes the irrigation
projects where 2019 or 2020 rates are different from the 2018 and/or
2019 rates.
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Project name Rate category Final 2018 rate Final 2019 rate Final 2020 rate
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Northwest Region Rate Table
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Flathead Irrigation Project..... Basic per acre--A $29.00............ $33.50............ $33.50.
*.
Basic per acre--B 14.50............. 16.75............. 16.75.
*.
Minimum Charge per 75.00............. 75.00............. 75.00.
tract.
Fort Hall Irrigation Project.... Basic per acre *.. 56.00............. 57.00............. 58.50.
Minimum Charge per 39.00............. 39.00............. 39.00.
tract.
Fort Hall Irrigation Project-- Basic per acre *.. 35.00............. 37.00............. 38.00.
Minor Units.
Minimum Charge per 39.00............. 39.00............. 39.00.
tract.
Fort Hall Irrigation Project-- Basic per acre *.. 59.50............. 62.00............. 63.50.
Michaud Unit.
Pressure per acre 92.50............. 96.00............. 98.50.
*.
Minimum Charge per 39.00............. 39.00............. 39.00.
tract.
Wapato Irrigation Project-- Minimum Charge per 25.00............. 25.00............. 25.00.
Toppenish/Simcoe Units. bill.
Basic per acre.... 25.00............. 25.00............. 25.00.
Wapato Irrigation Project-- Minimum Charge per 30.00............. 30.00............. 30.00.
Ahtanum Units. bill.
Basic per acre.... 30.00............. 30.00............. 30.00.
Wapato Irrigation Project--Satus Minimum Charge per 79.00............. 79.00............. 79.00.
Unit. bill.
``A'' Basic per 79.00............. 79.00............. 79.00.
acre.
``B'' Basic per 85.00............. 85.00............. 85.00.
acre.
Wapato Irrigation Project-- Minimum Charge per 80.00............. 80.00............. 80.00.
Additional Works. bill.
Basic per acre.... 80.00............. 80.00............. 80.00.
Wapato Irrigation Project--Water Minimum Charge per 86.00............. 86.00............. 86.00.
Rental. bill.
[[Page 33282]]
Basic per acre.... 86.00............. 86.00............. 86.00.
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Rocky Mountain Region Rate Table
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Blackfeet Irrigation Project.... Basic per acre.... 20.00............. 20.00............. 20.00.
Crow Irrigation Project--Willow Basic per acre.... 28.00............. 28.00............. 28.00.
Creek O&M (includes Agency,
Lodge Grass #1, Lodge Grass #2,
Reno, Upper Little Horn, and
Forty Mile Units).
Crow Irrigation Project--All Basic per acre.... 28.00............. 28.00............. 28.00.
Others (includes Bighorn, Soap
Creek, and Pryor Units).
Crow Irrigation Project--Two Basic per acre.... 14.00............. 14.00............. 14.00.
Leggins Unit.
Crow Irrigation Two Leggins Basic per acre.... 2.00.............. 2.00.............. 2.00.
Drainage District.
Fort Belknap Irrigation Project. Basic per acre *.. 16.00............. 16.00............. 17.00.
Fort Peck Irrigation Project.... Basic per acre *.. 26.50............. 27.00............. 27.00.
Wind River Irrigation Project-- Basic per acre *.. 24.00............. 24.50............. 25.00.
Units 2, 3 and 4.
Wind River Irrigation Project-- Basic per acre.... 22.00............. 22.00............. 22.00.
Unit 6.
Wind River Irrigation Project-- Basic per acre.... 47.00............. 47.00............. 47.00.
LeClair District (See Note #1).
Wind River Irrigation Project-- Basic per acre.... 16.50............. 16.50............. 16.50.
Crow Heart Unit.
Wind River Irrigation Project--A Basic per acre.... 16.50............. 16.50............. 16.50.
Canal Unit.
Wind River Irrigation Project-- Basic per acre.... 30.65............. 30.65............. 30.65.
Riverton Valley Irrigation
District (See Note #1).
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Southwest Region Rate Table
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Pine River Irrigation Project... Minimum Charge per 50.00............. 50.00............. 50.00.
tract.
Basic per acre *.. 20.00............. 21.00............. 21.50.
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Western Region Rate Table
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Colorado River Irrigation Basic per acre up 54.00............. 56.50............. 59.00.
Project. to 5.75 acre-feet
*.
Excess Water per 17.00............. 18.00............. 18.00.
acre-foot over
5.75 acre-feet *.
Duck Valley Irrigation Project Basic per acre.... 5.30.............. 5.30.............. ( + ).
(See Note #2).
Yuma Project, Indian Unit (See Basic per acre up 147.00............ 153.50............ ( + ).
Note #3). to 5.0 acre-feet
*.
Excess Water per 30.00............. 30.00............. ( + ).
acre-foot over
5.0 acre-feet.
Basic per acre up 147.00............ 153.50............ ( + ).
to 5.0 acre-feet
(Ranch 5) *.
San Carlos Irrigation Project Basic per acre *.. 27.90............. 31.25............. 20.00.
(Joint Works) (See Note #4).
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Final 2018, 2019, and 2020 Construction Water Rate Schedule:
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Off Project On Project On Project
Construction. Construction--Gra Construction--Pum
vity Water. p Water.
Administrative Fee 300.00............ 300.00............ 300.00.
Usage Fee......... 250.00 per month.. No Fee............ 100.00 per acre
foot.
Excess Water Rate 5.00 per 1,000 gal No Charge......... No Charge.
[dagger].
San Carlos Irrigation Project Basic per acre *.. 87.60............. 95.40............. 86.00.
(Indian Works) (See Note #5).
Uintah Irrigation Project....... Basic per acre *.. 20.00............. 21.00............. 23.00.
Minimum Bill...... 25.00............. 25.00............. 25.00.
Walker River Irrigation Project. Basic per acre.... 31.00............. 31.00............. 31.00.
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* Notes irrigation projects where rates are adjusted.
+ These rates have not yet been determined; BIA will publish a separate notice for these rates at a later date.
[dagger] The excess water rate applies to all water used in excess of 50,000 gallons in any one month.
Note #1--O&M rates for LeClair and Riverton Valley Irrigation Districts apply to Trust lands that are serviced
by each irrigation district. The annual O&M rates are based on budgets submitted by LeClair and Riverton
Valley Irrigation Districts, respectively.
Note #2--The annual O&M rate is established by the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes who perform O&M under a self-
governance compact.
Note #3--The O&M rate for the Yuma Project, Indian Unit has two components. The first component of the O&M rate
is established by the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), the owner and operator of the Project. BOR's rate, which is
based upon the annual budget submitted by BOR, is $150.00 for 2019 but has not been established for 2020. The
second component of the O&M rate is established by BIA to cover administrative costs, which includes billing
and collections for the Project. The final 2019 and 2020 BIA rate component is $3.50/acre.
Note #4--The Construction Water Rate Schedule identifies the fees assessed for use of irrigation water for non-
irrigation purposes.
Note #5--The Final 2020 O&M rate for the San Carlos Irrigation Project--Indian Works has three components. The
first component is the O&M rate established by the San Carlos Irrigation Project--Indian Works, the owner and
operator of the Project; this final rate is $50.00 per acre. The second component is for the O&M rate
established by the San Carlos Irrigation Project--Joint Works and is determined to be $20.00 per acre for
2020. The third component is the O&M rate established by the San Carlos Irrigation Project Joint Control Board
and is $16.00 per acre for 2020.
[[Page 33283]]
Consultation and Coordination With Tribal Governments (Executive Order
13175)
The Department of the Interior strives to strengthen its
government-to-government relationship with Indian Tribes through a
commitment to consultation with Indian Tribes and recognition of their
right to self-governance and Tribal sovereignty. We have evaluated this
notice under the Department's consultation policy and under the
criteria of Executive Order 13175 and have determined there to be
substantial direct effects on federally recognized Tribes because the
irrigation projects are located on or associated with Indian
reservations. To fulfill its consultation responsibility to Tribes and
Tribal organizations, BIA communicates, coordinates, and consults on a
continuing basis with these entities on issues of water delivery, water
availability, and costs of administration, operation, maintenance, and
rehabilitation of projects that concern them. This is accomplished at
the individual irrigation project by project, agency, and regional
representatives, as appropriate, in accordance with local protocol and
procedures. This notice is one component of our overall coordination
and consultation process to provide notice to, and request comments
from, these entities when we adjust irrigation assessment rates.
Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use (Executive Order 13211)
The rate adjustments are not a significant energy action under the
definition in Executive Order 13211. A Statement of Energy Effects is
not required.
Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Order 12866)
These rate adjustments are not a significant regulatory action and
do not need to be reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget under
Executive Order 12866.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
These rate adjustments are not a rule for the purposes of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act because they establish ``a rule of
particular applicability relating to rates.'' 5 U.S.C. 601(2).
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
These rate adjustments do not impose an unfunded mandate on state,
local, or Tribal governments in the aggregate, or on the private
sector, of more than $130 million per year. They do not have a
significant or unique effect on state, local, or Tribal governments or
the private sector. Therefore, the Department is not required to
prepare a statement containing the information required by the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Takings (Executive Order 12630)
These rate adjustments do not effect a taking of private property
or otherwise have ``takings'' implications under Executive Order 12630.
The rate adjustments do not deprive the public, state, or local
governments of rights or property.
Federalism (Executive Order 13132)
Under the criteria in section 1 of Executive Order 13132, these
rate adjustments do not have sufficient federalism implications to
warrant the preparation of a federalism summary impact statement
because they will not affect the States, the relationship between the
national government and the States, or the distribution of power and
responsibilities among various levels of government. A federalism
summary impact statement is not required.
Civil Justice Reform (Executive Order 12988)
This notice complies with the requirements of Executive Order
12988. Specifically, in issuing this notice, the Department has taken
the necessary steps to eliminate drafting errors and ambiguity,
minimize potential litigation, and provide a clear legal standard for
affected conduct as required by section 3 of Executive Order 12988.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
These rate adjustments do not affect the collections of information
which have been approved by the Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), under the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995. BIA has requested revision of the OMB Control
Number, which is 1076-0141 and expires June 30, 2019.
National Environmental Policy Act
The Department has determined that these rate adjustments do not
constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality
of the human environment and that no detailed statement is required
under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4321-
4370(d), pursuant to 43 CFR 46.210(i). In addition, the rate
adjustments do not present any of the 12 extraordinary circumstances
listed at 43 CFR 46.215.
Dated: June 24, 2019.
Tara Sweeney,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2019-14824 Filed 7-11-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337-15-P