[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 150 (Tuesday, August 4, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47235-47238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16881]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
[201A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900 253G]
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,
2020.
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 February 25, 2020 (85 FR 10715) 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 April 27, 2020.
Did BIA defer or change any proposed rate increases?
Yes. The 2021 Operation and Maintenance (O&M) rate for San Carlos
Irrigation Project--Indian Works of $104.00 per acre will not be
implemented as originally proposed. A component of the San Carlos
Irrigation Project--Indian Works rate is established by the San Carlos
Irrigation Project Joint Control Board (comprised of representatives
from the Gila River Indian Community and the San Carlos Irrigation and
Drainage District), which is responsible for maintenance of the San
Carlos Irrigation Project Joint Delivery Facilities. The Joint Control
Board has changed its 2021 rate from $22.22 per acre to $16.00 per
acre. The other two components of the San Carlos Irrigation Project--
Indian Works rate (San Carlos Irrigation Project--Indian Works and San
Carlos Irrigation Project--Joint Works) are established by BIA and will
be implemented as proposed in the Federal Register. Because the Joint
Control Board changed its rate component, this notice of rate
adjustment reflects an equivalent change and a final 2021 O&M rate of
$97.78 per acre for San Carlos Irrigation Project--Indian Works. All
other rates are to be implemented at the respective irrigation projects
as proposed.
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 Publishing 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.
[[Page 47236]]
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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 Indian Irrigation Project Robert Compton, Acting
Superintendent, Larry Nelson,
Acting 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...... Tim Gardner, Acting Irrigation
Project Manager, Building #2
Bannock Avenue, Fort Hall, ID 83203-
0220, Telephone: (208) 238-1992.
Wapato Irrigation Project......... Wyeth Wallace, Acting
Superintendent, Pete Plant, 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 O&M
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.
Fort Belknap Irrigation Project... Mark Azure, Superintendent, Jim
Gappa, Acting Irrigation Project
Manager (BIA), (Project O&M
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 O&M performed by
Fort Peck 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..... Leslie Shakespeare, Superintendent,
Jim Gappa, Acting Irrigation
Project Manager, (Project O&M for
Little Wind, Johnstown, and
Lefthand Units contracted to Tribes
under PL 93-638; Little Wind-Ray
and Upper Wind Units O&M performed
by Ray Canal, A Canal, and
Crowheart Water Users
Associations), 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, 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. Davetta Ameelyenah, Superintendent,
Gary Colvin, Irrigation Project
Manager, 12124 1st Avenue, Parker,
AZ 85344, Telephone: (928) 669-
7111.
Duck Valley Irrigation Project.... Joseph McDade, Superintendent,
(Project O&M 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 Supervisory Civil
Engineer, 13805 North Arizona
Boulevard, Coolidge, AZ 85128,
Telephone: (520) 723-6225.
Uintah Irrigation Project......... Antonio Pingree, Superintendent, Ken
Asay, Irrigation System Manager,
(Project O&M performed by Uintah
Indian Irrigation Project Operation
and Maintenance Company), 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 final rates for the 2020 and 2021
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 2020 rates are different from the 2021 rates.
[[Page 47237]]
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Final 2020 Final 2021
Project name Rate category rate rate
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Northwest Region Rate Table
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Flathead Irrigation Project.......................................................... Basic per acre--A................ $33.50 $33.50
Basic per acre--B................ 16.75 16.75
Minimum Charge per tract......... 75.00 75.00
Fort Hall Irrigation Project......................................................... Basic per acre................... 58.50 58.50
Minimum Charge per tract......... 39.00 39.00
Fort Hall Irrigation Project--Minor Units............................................ Basic per acre................... 38.00 38.00
Minimum Charge per tract......... 39.00 39.00
Fort Hall Irrigation Project--Michaud Unit........................................... Basic per acre................... 63.50 63.50
Pressure per acre *.............. 98.50 99.50
Minimum Charge per tract......... 39.00 39.00
Wapato Irrigation Project--Toppenish/Simcoe Units.................................... Minimum Charge per bill.......... 25.00 25.00
Basic per acre................... 25.00 25.00
Wapato Irrigation Project--Ahtanum Units............................................. Minimum Charge per bill.......... 30.00 30.00
Basic per acre................... 30.00 30.00
Wapato Irrigation Project--Satus Unit................................................ Minimum Charge per bill.......... 79.00 79.00
``A'' Basic per acre............. 79.00 79.00
``B'' Basic per acre............. 85.00 85.00
Wapato Irrigation Project--Additional Works.......................................... Minimum Charge per bill.......... 80.00 80.00
Basic per acre................... 80.00 80.00
Wapato Irrigation Project--Water Rental.............................................. Minimum Charge per bill.......... 86.00 86.00
Basic per acre................... 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 $20.50
Crow Irrigation Project--Willow Creek O&M (includes Agency, Lodge Grass #1, Lodge Basic per acre *................. 28.00 28.50
Grass #2, Reno, Upper Little Horn, and Forty Mile Units).
Crow Irrigation Project--All Others (includes Bighorn, Soap Creek, and Pryor Units).. Basic per acre *................. 28.00 28.50
Crow Irrigation Project--Two Leggins Unit............................................ Basic per acre................... 14.00 14.00
Crow Irrigation Two Leggins Drainage District........................................ Basic per acre................... 2.00 2.00
Fort Belknap Irrigation Project...................................................... Basic per acre................... 17.00 17.00
Fort Peck Irrigation Project......................................................... Basic per acre................... 27.00 27.00
Wind River Irrigation Project--Units 2, 3 and 4...................................... Basic per acre................... 25.00 25.00
Wind River Irrigation Project--Unit 6................................................ Basic per acre................... 22.00 22.00
Wind River Irrigation Project--LeClair District (See Note #1)........................ Basic per acre................... 47.00 47.00
Wind River Irrigation Project--Crow Heart Unit....................................... Basic per acre................... 16.50 16.50
Wind River Irrigation Project--A Canal Unit.......................................... Basic per acre................... 16.50 16.50
Wind River Irrigation Project--Riverton Valley Irrigation District (See Note #1)..... Basic per acre................... 30.65 30.65
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Southwest Region Rate Table
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Pine River Irrigation Project........................................................ Minimum Charge per tract......... 50.00 50.00
Basic per acre *................. 21.50 22.00
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Western Region Rate Table
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Colorado River Irrigation Project.................................................... Basic per acre up to 5.75 acre- 59.00 61.50
feet *.
Excess Water per acre-foot over 18.00 18.00
5.75 acre-feet.
Duck Valley Irrigation Project (See Note #2)......................................... Basic per acre................... 5.30 5.30
Yuma Project, Indian Unit (See Note #3).............................................. Basic per acre up to 5.0 acre- 154.50 ( + )
feet.
Excess Water per acre-foot over 30.00 ( + )
5.0 acre-feet.
Basic per acre up to 5.0 acre- 154.50 ( + )
feet (Ranch 5).
San Carlos Irrigation Project (Joint Works) (See Note #4)............................ Basic per acre *................. 20.00 25.78
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Final 2020 and 2021 Construction Water Rate Schedule:
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On project On project
Off project construction-- construction--
construction gravity water pump water
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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].
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Final 2020 Final 2021
Project name Rate category rate rate
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San Carlos Irrigation Project (Indian Works) (See Note #5)........................... Basic per acre *................. $86.00 $97.78
Uintah Irrigation Project............................................................ Basic per acre................... 23.00 23.00
Minimum Bill..................... 25.00 25.00
Walker River Irrigation Project...................................................... Basic per acre................... 31.00 31.00
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* Notes irrigation projects where rates are adjusted.
+ The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) rate component has not been established. See Note #3.
[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.
[[Page 47238]]
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 $151.00 for 2020 but
has not been established for 2021. 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 2020 and 2021 BIA rate component is $3.50/acre.
Note #4 The Construction Water Rate Schedule identifies fees assessed for use of irrigation water for non-irrigation purposes.
Note #5 The O&M rate for the San Carlos Irrigation Project--Indian Works has three components. The first component is established by the BIA San Carlos
Irrigation Project--Indian Works, the owner and operator of the Project; the final 2021 Indian Works rate component is $56.00 per acre. The second
component is established by the BIA San Carlos Irrigation Project--Joint Works; the final 2021 Joint Works rate component is $25.78 per acre. The
third component is established by the San Carlos Irrigation Project Joint Control Board and is $16.00 per acre for 2021.
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. The OMB Control Number is 1076-0141 and expires
January 31, 2023.
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.
Tara Sweeney,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2020-16881 Filed 8-3-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337-15-P