Notice2024-17669
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 9, 2024
Effective
January 1, 2025
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 89 Issue 154 (Friday, August 9, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 154 (Friday, August 9, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65384-65389]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-17669]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
[245A2100DD/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 2025 Irrigation Assessment Rates are effective on January 1,
2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leslie Underwood, Program Specialist,
Division of Water and Power, Office of Trust Services, (406) 657-5985.
For details about a particular BIA irrigation project, please use the
tables in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section to contact the BIA
regional or local office where the irrigation project is located.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notices of Proposed Rate Adjustment were
published in the Federal Register on February 8, 2024 (89 FR 8707) and
May 6, 2024 (89 FR 37238) 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 8, 2024, and July 5,
2024, respectively.
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?
Yes. BIA received five (5) written comments related to the proposed
2025 irrigation assessment rate adjustment for the BIA Colorado River
Irrigation Project (CRIP). Comments were received by letter and email.
What issues were of concern to the commenters?
Comments received relate specifically to the proposed 2025 rate
adjustment for CRIP and other issues associated only with CRIP. BIA's
summary of the issues and responses are provided below.
Comment: Four commenters state a general opposition to the proposed
CRIP 2025 rate increase because commenters believe basic services, such
as water delivery, maintenance, and measurements are not being
provided. The fifth commenter, Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT),
generally supports the proposed 2025 rate adjustment and recommends BIA
increase future rates because CRIT believes CRIP's operations and
maintenance (O&M) are underfunded. CRIT further requests that the
additional revenues from the rate increase be used to improve system
performance and reliability.
Response: As noted when rates were proposed in the Federal Register
on February 8, 2024 (89 FR 8707) and May 6, 2024 (89 FR 37238), BIA is
required to establish irrigation assessment rates that recover the
costs to administer, operate, maintain, and rehabilitate our projects.
As owner of CRIP, BIA assesses rates to ensure adequate resources are
made available to meet the requirements noted above. BIA's authority to
assess
[[Page 65385]]
rates is codified at 25 U.S.C. 381 et seq. and is addressed in BIA's
regulations at 25 CFR part 171. See also February 29, 2008 (73 FR
11028). The procedures followed by BIA in adjusting its irrigation
assessment rates are consistent with applicable law and past practice,
and the methodology used by BIA to determine the O&M assessment rates
for CRIP is reasonable.
The proposed 2025 irrigation assessment adjustments for CRIP's
basic per acre rate categories are necessary and justified due to the
increased costs associated with administering, operating, maintaining,
and rehabilitating CRIP. In accordance with BIA financial guidelines
and 25 CFR part 171, BIA developed the CRIP budget for 2025
expenditures and income approximately two years in advance. BIA relied
on financial reports generated by the Financial and Business Management
System and procurement files to review past expenditures and project a
future budget. The CRIP Project Manager also used his discretion to
assess and anticipate upcoming financial needs and priorities. The 2025
expenses were then divided by the total assessable acres within CRIP.
The $5.00 per acre assessment increase for the ``basic per acre'' rate
category is necessary to ensure CRIP can pay its anticipated expenses
for 2025.
The BIA Colorado River Agency Superintendent and CRIP Project
Manager routinely attend the CRIT Irrigation Committee's monthly
meetings to provide project updates and explain proposed rate
increases. BIA also met with CRIT's Tribal Council on March 25, 2024.
On March 28, 2024, BIA held a water user meeting and attendees included
individual water users, CRIT's legal counsel, CRIT's farm director, and
a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biological science technician. During
all of these meetings, BIA presented details supporting the 2025
budget, upcoming expenses, and the proposed O&M assessment increase
from $64 to $69 per acre. BIA also explained it provides irrigation
service commensurate with its resources, meaning the $5.00 per acre
assessment increase is needed to improve the project's quality of
service.
BIA agrees with commenters that CRIP's water measurement devices
can be operated and maintained better to meet water delivery
requirements, and BIA is working to resolve this issue with our
contractors and experts. BIA is addressing priority deferred
maintenance projects at CRIP by providing supplemental funding,
engineering, design, and construction resources to CRIP. From 2022
through 2024, BIA allocated over $17 million in supplemental funding
for deferred maintenance projects, such as Lateral 73-36 Check 1 and
Main Canal Check rehabilitation. BIA provided this supplemental funding
in addition to revenues collected from CRIP's assessable acres.
We appreciate water users' participation in our meetings and
comments, and we have sent a follow-up letter to CRIT in response to
their unique questions and concerns.
Comment: Commenters state CRIP is chronically understaffed due to
its lengthy hiring process and Indian preference requirements, and
request BIA hire more staff to improve water deliveries along with a
specific concern that the project is understaffed and personnel costs
should not increase until vacant positions are filled.
Response: Due to a variety of reasons, recruitment for CRIP
positions has proved to be challenging. The BIA Western Regional
Director and Human Resources team remain committed to filling vacancies
in CRIP's 78-position organizational chart as rapidly as possible. We
are currently seeking applicants for the following 13 positions: 2
Maintenance Workers, 3 Engineering Equipment Operators, 7 Irrigation
System Operators, and 1 Accounting Technician. Applications are
reviewed on a rolling basis, and all positions are open until filled.
Preference in filing vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates
in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (25 U.S.C. 5116).
Given our difficulties with filling the Irrigation System Operator
positions, BIA's Human Resources opened these positions to the public
in April and authorized recruitment or relocation incentives. All
applicants must apply online at <a href="http://www.usajobs.gov">www.usajobs.gov</a> (search for BIA
positions in Poston, Arizona). BIA also posted application information
in local newspapers, and the Superintendent will be attending job fairs
at local colleges to recruit.
CRIP's 2025 budget can support personnel salary, benefits, and
overtime for up to 45 employees, which is an increase of 17 CRIP
employees above the current 2024 staffing levels. The remaining 33
vacant positions in CRIP's organizational chart are not accounted for
or funded in the 2025 budget. The quality of irrigation service will
improve as vacancies are filled, while also retaining and increasing
experience levels of existing CRIP staff.
Comment: Commenters state BIA should have anticipated lost revenue
from 2023 excess water sales and is punishing irrigators for using less
water.
Response: All presently assessable acres within CRIP must pay an
annual basic per acre charge for up to 5.75 acre-feet of water. If
additional water is available, irrigators may request more water and
pay our per acre-foot fee for ``excess water.'' Because the
availability of excess water fluctuates year-to-year along with
irrigators' demands, CRIP's excess water revenue fluctuates. In
calendar years 2020, 2021, and 2022, CRIP's excess water revenues were
around $480,000, $830,000, and $650,000, respectively. Based on prior
revenues, BIA budgeted for 2023 excess water revenues of $580,000. This
estimate, however, fell short, and the actual excess water revenue was
around $170,000 for 2023. While we do not know why irrigators ordered
less excess water in 2023 than in prior years, we believe it might be
in part due to the unusually wet spring in 2023.
Given the difficulties of predicting an upcoming year's rainfall
and the amount of excess water irrigators will order, BIA's budgets
will no longer rely on excess water revenues to fund operational
expenses. Accordingly, BIA's budgeted excess water revenue for 2024 and
2025 has been reduced to $150,000 per year. If the revenues from excess
water sales exceed our budgeted amounts, CRIP will allocate the extra
funds to filling vacancies or addressing deferred maintenance. Going
forth, CRIP's budget will instead rely on collections from our basic
per acre assessment to fund O&M expenses. We do not intend to punish
irrigators for ordering less water. Rather, our budgets must account
for the fact that irrigators are conserving and improving their on-farm
watering techniques.
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
[[Page 65386]]
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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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 Eric Bruguier, Acting Irrigation Project
Project. Manager, 220 Project Drive, St.
Ignatius, MT 59865. Telephone: (406) 745-
2661
Fort Hall Irrigation Project. David Bollinger, Irrigation Project
Manager, 36 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
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Leslie Shakespeare, 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. Kenneth Bird, Superintendent, Greg
Tatsey, Irrigation Project Manager, P.O.
Box 880, Browning, MT 59417. Telephones:
Superintendent (406) 338-7544;
Irrigation Project Manager (406) 338-
7519.
Crow Irrigation Project...... Clifford Serawop, Superintendent, Jim
Gappa, Acting Irrigation Project Manager
(BIA), (Project O&M performed by Water
Users Association), P.O. Box 69, Crow
Agency, MT 59022. Telephones:
Superintendent (406) 638-2672; Acting
Irrigation Project Manager (406) 247-
7998.
Fort Belknap Irrigation Mark Azure, Superintendent, Jim Gappa,
Project. Acting Irrigation Project Manager (BIA),
(Project O&M contracted to Tribes under
PL 93-638), 158 Tribal Way, Suite B,
Harlem, MT 59526. Telephones:
Superintendent (406) 353-2901;
Irrigation Project Manager, Tribal
Office (406) 353-8454.
Fort Peck Irrigation Project. Anna Eder, Superintendent, Jim Gappa,
Acting Irrigation Project Manager (BIA),
(Project O&M performed by Fort Peck
Water Users Association), P.O. Box 637,
Poplar, MT 59255. Telephones:
Superintendent (406) 768-5312; Acting
Irrigation Project Manager (406) 247-
7998.
Wind River Irrigation Project Leslie Shakespeare, Superintendent, Jim
Gappa, Acting Irrigation Project Manager
(BIA), (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:
Superintendent (307) 332-7810; Acting
Irrigation Project Manager (406) 247-
7998.
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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 NW, 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: Superintendent (970)
563-4511; Irrigation Project Manager
(970) 563-9484.
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Western Region Contacts
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Jessie Durham, 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 Davetta Ameelyenah, Superintendent, Gary
Project. Colvin, Irrigation Project Manager,
12124 1st Avenue, Parker, AZ 85344.
Telephones: Superintendent (928) 669-
7111; (928) 662-4392 Irrigation Project
Manager.
Duck Valley Irrigation Phaline Conklin, Superintendent, (Project
Project. O&M compacted to Shoshone-Paiute Tribes
under PL 93-638), 2719 Argent Avenue,
Suite 4, Gateway Plaza, Elko, NV 89801.
Telephones: Superintendent (775) 738-
5165; Tribal Office (208) 759-3100.
Yuma Project, Indian Unit.... Maureen Brown, Superintendent, (Bureau of
Reclamation (BOR) owns the Project and
is responsible for O&M), 256 South
Second Avenue, Suite D, Yuma, AZ 85364.
Telephones: Superintendent (928) 782-
1202; BOR Area Office Manager (928) 343-
8100.
San Carlos Irrigation Project Ferris Begay, Project Manager (BIA),
(Indian Works and Joint Clarence Begay, Supervisory Civil
Works). Engineer (BIA), (Portions of Indian
Works O&M compacted to Gila River Indian
Community under PL 93-638; Joint Control
Board is responsible for portions of
Joint Works maintenance pursuant to Gila
River Indian Community Water Rights
Settlement Act of 2004, 118 Stat. 3499),
13805 North Arizona Boulevard, Coolidge,
AZ 85128. Telephones: Project Manager
(520) 723-6225; Supervisory Civil
Engineer (520) 723-6203; Gila River
Indian Irrigation & Drainage District
(520) 562-6720; Joint Control Board
(520) 562-9760, (520) 723-5408.
Uintah Irrigation Project.... Antonio Pingree, Superintendent, Ken
Asay, Irrigation System Manager (BIA),
(Project O&M performed by Uintah Indian
Irrigation Project Operation and
Maintenance Company), P.O. Box 130, Fort
Duchesne, UT 84026. Telephones:
Superintendent (435) 722-4300;
Irrigation System Manager (435) 722-
4344; Uintah Indian Irrigation Operation
and Maintenance Company (435) 724-5200.
Walker River Irrigation Colleen Labelle, Superintendent, 311 East
Project. Washington Street, Carson City, NV
89701. Telephone: (775) 887-3500.
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[[Page 65387]]
What irrigation assessments or charges are adjusted by this notice?
The rate table below contains final rates for the 2024 and 2025
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 irrigation
projects where 2024 rates are different from the 2025 rates.
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Final 2024 Final 2025
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............... $39.00 $39.00
Basic per acre--B............... 19.50 19.50
Minimum Charge per tract........ 75.00 75.00
Fort Hall Irrigation Project.................. Basic per acre *................ 65.50 66.50
Minimum Charge per tract *...... 41.00 43.00
Fort Hall Irrigation Project--Minor Units..... Basic per acre *................ 45.00 45.50
Minimum Charge per tract *...... 41.00 43.00
Fort Hall Irrigation Project--Michaud Unit.... Basic per acre *................ 75.00 75.50
Pressure per acre *............. 116.50 117.00
Minimum Charge per tract *...... 41.00 43.00
Wapato Irrigation Project--Toppenish/Simcoe Minimum Charge per bill......... 28.00 28.00
Units.
Basic per acre.................. 28.00 28.00
Wapato Irrigation Project--Ahtanum Units...... Minimum Charge per bill......... 35.00 35.00
Basic per acre.................. 35.00 35.00
Wapato Irrigation Project--Satus Unit......... Minimum Charge per bill......... 100.00 100.00
``A'' Basic per acre............ 86.00 86.00
``B'' Basic per acre............ 92.00 92.00
Wapato Irrigation Project--Additional Works... Minimum Charge per bill......... 100.00 100.00
Basic per acre.................. 87.00 87.00
Wapato Irrigation Project--Water Rental....... Minimum Charge per bill......... 100.00 100.00
Basic per acre.................. 100.00 100.00
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Rocky Mountain Region Rate Table
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Blackfeet Irrigation Project.................. Basic-per acre.................. 21.50 21.50
Crow Irrigation Project--Willow Creek O&M Basic-per acre.................. 30.00 30.00
(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.................. 30.00 30.00
Bighorn, Soap Creek, and Pryor Units).
Crow Irrigation Project--Two Leggins Unit..... Basic-per acre.................. 15.00 15.00
Crow Irrigation Two Leggins Drainage District. Basic-per acre.................. 3.00 3.00
Fort Belknap Irrigation Project............... Basic-per acre.................. 20.00 20.00
Fort Peck Irrigation Project.................. Basic-per acre.................. 29.00 29.00
Wind River Irrigation Project--Units 2, 3 and Basic-per acre.................. 26.00 26.00
4.
Wind River Irrigation Project--Unit 6......... Basic-per acre.................. 23.00 23.00
Wind River Irrigation Project--LeClair Basic-per acre.................. 47.00 47.00
District (See Note #1).
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........ 75.00 75.00
Basic-per acre *................ 23.50 24.00
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Western Region Rate Table
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Colorado River Irrigation Project............. Basic per acre up to 5.75 acre- 64.00 69.00
feet *.
Excess Water per acre-foot over 18.00 18.00
5.75 acre-feet.
Duck Valley Irrigation Project................ Basic per acre *................ 5.30 11.00
Yuma Project, Indian Unit (See Note #2)....... Basic per acre up to 5.0 acre- 184.00 ( + )
feet *.
Excess Water per acre-foot over 35.00 ( + )
5.0 acre-feet.
Basic per acre up to 5.0 acre- 184.00 ( + )
feet (Ranch 5).
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[[Page 65388]]
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San Carlos Irrigation Project (Joint Works) (See Note #3).................................. Basic per acre $26.00................. $26.00
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Proposed 2025 Construction Water Rate Schedule:
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Off project............. On project............. On project
construction............ construction--gravity construction--pump
water. 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 2024 Final 2025
Project name Rate category rate rate
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San Carlos Irrigation Project (Indian Works) Basic per acre.................. $99.62 $93.85
(See Note #4).
Uintah Irrigation Project..................... Basic per acre *................ 23.00 25.00
Minimum Charge per bill......... 25.00 25.00
Walker River Irrigation Project............... Basic per acre *................ 31.00 32.00
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** Notes irrigation projects where BIA 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 $180.00 for 2024 but has not been established for 2025. 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 2024 BIA rate component is $4.00 per acre. The final 2025 BIA rate
component is $4.50 per 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 final 2024 and 2025 rate is
$55.85 per acre. The second component is established by BIA San Carlos Irrigation Project--Joint Works; the
final 2024 and 2025 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 2024 rate is $17.77 per acre, and the 2025 rate is $12.00 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
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)
These 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, as Amended by
Executive Order 14094)
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, as amended by Executive Order 14094.
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
[[Page 65389]]
the States, or the distribution of power and responsibilities among the
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
March 31, 2026.
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,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2024-17669 Filed 8-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337-15-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on August 9, 2024.
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.