Notice2021-16696
Rate Adjustments for Indian Irrigation Projects
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 5, 2021
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentIndian Affairs Bureau
Abstract
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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 148 (Thursday, August 5, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 148 (Thursday, August 5, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42873-42877]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16696]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
[212A2100DD/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
[[Page 42874]]
reflect current costs of administration, operation, maintenance, and
rehabilitation.
DATES: The irrigation assessment rates are current as of January 1,
2021.
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 May 10, 2021 (86 FR 24884) 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 July 9, 2021.
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 Publishing Office at <a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>.
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 Indian Irrigation Project Larry Nelson, Acting Irrigation
Project Manager, P.O. Box 40,
Pablo, MT 59855, Telephone: (406)
745-2661.
Fort Hall Irrigation Project...... David Bollinger, Irrigation Project
Manager, Building #2 Bannock
Avenue, Fort Hall, ID 83203-0220,
Telephone: (208) 238-1992.
Wapato Irrigation Project......... Pete Plant, Project Administrator,
413 South Camas Avenue, Wapato, WA
98951-0220, Telephone: (509) 877-
3155.
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Rocky Mountain Region Contacts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Susan Messerly, 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,
P.O. 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 (BIA), (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.
Fort Belknap Irrigation Project... Mark Azure, Superintendent, Jim
Gappa, Acting Irrigation Project
Manager (BIA), (Project operation &
maintenance contracted to Fort
Belknap Indian Community under PL
93-638), 158 Tribal Way, Suite B,
Harlem, MT 59526, Telephones: (406)
353-2901 Superintendent, (406) 247-
7998 Acting Irrigation Project
Manager, (406) 353-8466 Tribal
Irrigation Office.
Fort Peck Irrigation Project...... Anna Eder, Superintendent, Jim
Gappa, Acting Irrigation Project
Manager (BIA), (Project operation &
maintenance performed by Fort Peck
Water Users Association), P.O. Box
637, Poplar, MT 59255, Telephones:
(406) 768-5312 Superintendent,
(406) 247-7998 Acting Irrigation
Project Manager, (406) 653-1752
Lead ISO--Huber Wright.
Wind River Irrigation Project..... Leslie Shakespeare, Superintendent,
Jim Gappa, Acting Irrigation
Project Manager (BIA), (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 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
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Patricia L. Mattingly, Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Southwest Regional Office, 1001 Indian School Road NW, Albuquerque, NM
87104, Telephone: (505) 563-3100.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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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[[Page 42875]]
Western Region Contacts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colorado River Irrigation Project. Davetta Ameelyenah, Superintendent,
Gary Colvin, Irrigation Project
Manager, 12124 1st Avenue, Parker,
AZ 85344, Telephones: (928) 669-
7111 Superintendent, (928) 662-4392
Irrigation Project Manager.
Duck Valley Irrigation Project.... Joseph McDade, Superintendent,
(Project operation & maintenance
compacted to Shoshone-Paiute Tribes
under PL 93-638), 2719 Argent
Avenue, Suite 4, Gateway Plaza,
Elko, NV 89801, Telephones: (775)
738-5165 Superintendent, (208) 759-
3100 Tribal Office.
Yuma Project, Indian Unit......... Denni Shields, Superintendent,
(Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) owns
the Project and is responsible for
operation & maintenance), 256 South
Second Avenue, Suite D, Yuma, AZ
85364, Telephones: (928) 782-1202
Superintendent, (928) 343-8100 BOR
Area Office Manager.
San Carlos Irrigation Project Ferris Begay, Project Manager (BIA),
(Indian Works and Joint Works). Kyle Varvel, Acting Supervisory
Civil Engineer (BIA), (Portions of
Indian Works operation &
maintenance compacted to Gila River
Indian Community under PL 93-638),
13805 North Arizona Boulevard,
Coolidge, AZ 85128, Telephones:
(520) 723-6225 Project Manager,
(520) 562-3372 Acting Supervisory
Civil Engineer, (520) 562-6720 Gila
River Indian Irrigation & Drainage
District.
Uintah Irrigation Project......... Antonio Pingree, Superintendent, Ken
Asay, Irrigation System Manager
(BIA), (Project operation &
maintenance performed by Uintah
Indian Irrigation Project Operation
and Maintenance Company), P.O. Box
130, Fort Duchesne, UT 84026,
Telephones: (435) 722-4300
Superintendent, (435) 722-4344
Irrigation System Manager, (435)
724-5200 Uintah Indian Irrigation
Operation and Maintenance Company.
Walker River Irrigation Project... Gerry Emm, Acting Superintendent,
311 East Washington Street, Carson
City, NV 89701, Telephone: (775)
887-3500.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
What irrigation assessments or charges are adjusted by this notice?
The rate table below contains final rates for the 2021 and 2022
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 2021 rates are different from the 2022 rates.
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Final 2021 Final 2022
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 62.50
Minimum charge per tract *...... 39.00 40.00
Fort Hall Irrigation Project--Minor Units..... Basic per acre *................ 38.00 41.00
Minimum charge per tract *...... 39.00 40.00
Fort Hall Irrigation Project--Michaud Unit.... Basic per acre *................ 63.50 68.50
Pressure per acre *............. 99.50 106.50
Minimum charge per tract *...... 39.00 40.00
Wapato Irrigation Project--Toppenish/Simcoe Minimum charge per bill......... 25.00 25.00
Units.
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.................. 20.50 20.50
Crow Irrigation Project--Willow Creek O&M Basic per acre.................. 28.50 28.50
(includes Agency, Lodge Grass #1, Lodge Grass
#2, Reno, Upper Little Horn, and Forty Mile
Units).
Crow Irrigation Project--All Others (includes Basic per acre.................. 28.50 28.50
Bighorn, Soap Creek, and Pryor Units).
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 18.00
Fort Peck Irrigation Project.................. Basic per acre.................. 27.00 27.00
Wind River Irrigation Project--Units 2, 3 and Basic per acre.................. 25.00 25.00
4.
Wind River Irrigation Project--Unit 6......... Basic per acre.................. 22.00 22.00
Wind River Irrigation Project--LeClair Basic per acre.................. 47.00 47.00
District (See Note #1).
[[Page 42876]]
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 Basic per acre.................. 30.65 30.65
Irrigation District (See Note #1).
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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 *................ 22.00 22.50
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Western Region Rate Table
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Colorado River Irrigation Project............. Basic per acre up to 5.75 acre- 61.50 64.00
feet *.
Excess Water per acre-foot over 18.00 18.00
5.75 acre-feet.
Duck Valley Irrigation Project................ Basic per acre.................. 5.30 5.30
Yuma Project, Indian Unit (See Note #2)....... 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) Basic per acre *................ 25.78 26.00
(See Note #3).
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Final 2022 Construction Water Rate Schedule:
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Off project On project On project
construction construction--gravity construction--pump
water 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].
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Final 2021 Final 2022
Project name Rate category rate rate
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San Carlos Irrigation Project (Indian Works) Basic per acre *................ $97.78 $90.50
(See Note #4).
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.
+ These rates have not yet been determined.
[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 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 2021 but has not been established for 2022. 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 2021 BIA rate component is $3.50/acre. The final 2022 BIA rate component
is $4.00/acre.
Note #3: The Construction Water Rate Schedule identifies fees assessed for use of irrigation water for non-
irrigation purposes.
Note #4: The O&M rate for the San Carlos Irrigation Project--Indian Works has three components. The first
component is established by BIA San Carlos Irrigation Project--Indian Works, the owner and operator of the
Project; the 2021 rate is $56.00 per acre, and the final 2022 rate is $56.50 per acre. The second component is
established by BIA San Carlos Irrigation Project--Joint Works; the 2021 rate is $25.78, and the final 2022
rate is $26.00 per acre. The third component 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); the 2021 rate is $16.00 per acre, and the 2022 rate is $8.00 per acre.
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
[[Page 42877]]
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.
Bryan Newland,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2021-16696 Filed 8-4-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337-15-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on August 5, 2021.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.