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.
Issuing agencies
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
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 162 (Monday, August 25, 2025)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 162 (Monday, August 25, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41404-41409]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-16221]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
[256A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.000000]
Rate Adjustments for Indian Irrigation Projects
AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 2026 Irrigation Assessment Rates are effective on January 1,
2026.
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.
Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of
hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or
TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A Notice of Proposed Rate Adjustment was
published in the Federal Register on December 26, 2024 (89 FR 105090)
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 24, 2025.
[[Page 41405]]
Did BIA defer or change any proposed rate increases?
Yes. After further consideration, we have decided to defer proposed
per acre increases to Flathead Irrigation Project and remain at the
2025 amounts of $39.00 for ``A'' acres and $19.50 for ``B'' acres. 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?
Yes. BIA received one written comment related to the proposed 2026
irrigation assessment rate adjustment for the BIA Fort Belknap Indian
Irrigation Project (FBIIP). The comment was received by letter and
email.
What issues were of concern to the commenters?
The comment received relates specifically to the proposed 2026 rate
adjustment for FBIIP and other issues associated only with FBIIP. BIA's
summary of the issues and responses are provided below.
Comment: The Fort Belknap Indian Community (FBIC) objects to the
proposed FBIIP 2026 rate increase because irrigators are experiencing
economic hardship and cannot afford an increase at this time.
Response: As noted, when rates were proposed in the Federal
Register on December 26, 2024 (89 FR 105090), BIA is required to
establish irrigation assessment rates that recover the costs to
administer, operate, maintain, and rehabilitate our projects. As owner
of FBIIP, it is BIA's responsibility to ensure adequate resources are
made available to meet the requirements noted above. BIA's authority to
assess 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 at 11039-11041). 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 operation
and maintenance (O&M) assessment rates for FBIIP is reasonable. FBIIP
is a federally owned irrigation project, which is operated and
maintained by the FBIC under a P.L. 93-638 Indian Self-Determination
and Education Assistance Act contract. BIA's projects are important
economic contributors to the local communities they serve, but the
costs associated with operating and maintaining them may increase
independently of prices and costs realized by irrigators. Historically,
BIA tempered O&M rates to demonstrate sensitivity to the economic
impact on water users, but that practice resulted in rate deficiencies
at some projects including FBIIP. FBIIP's O&M rates have not kept up
with costs, resulting in a growing backlog of deferred maintenance.
The BIA used its discretion to assess and anticipate upcoming
financial needs and priorities. The $5.00 per acre assessment increase
for the ``basic per acre'' rate category is necessary to ensure FBIIP
can pay its anticipated expenses for 2026. Increased expenses include
hiring an additional ditch rider and maintenance needs such as cleaning
and reshaping canals and ditches as well as replacement of headgates,
culverts, and rehabilitation of small structures. BIA also plans to
allocate a portion of the 2026 revenues to a fund for the systematic
rehabilitation and replacement of FBIIP facilities. 25 CFR 171.500.
Finally, in order to maintain at least the same level of O&M service,
assessment rates must increase annually to keep up with rising
irrigation inflation. According to the Bureau of Reclamation,
irrigation O&M inflation has increased by over 6 percent in each of the
last 3 years. Historical O&M Cost Index Values available at <a href="https://www.usbr.gov/assetmanagement/cost.html">https://www.usbr.gov/assetmanagement/cost.html</a>. Given FBIIP's assessment rate
did not increase in 2025, a larger increase for 2026 is appropriate.
Comment: FBIC also states that the 2026 assessment increase should
not occur because of the drought experienced in recent years and issues
plaguing the distribution of water from the Milk River and Fresno
Reservoir and breach of St Mary's Canal siphon.
Response: The amount of water FBIIP receives is based on its legal
entitlement and availability of water supply. 25 CFR 171.205; see also
Winters v. United States, 207 U.S. 564 (1908) (recognizing FBIC's
historic, senior entitlement to Milk River natural flow for irrigation
and other purposes).
The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) operates and maintains the Milk
River Project and Fresno Reservoir. Due to drought conditions in 2023
and 2024, the Milk River Basin experienced significantly reduced water
supplies resulting in BOR calling on junior (newer) water users to
cease diversions in August of each year so FBIIP could take all natural
flow from the Milk River. BOR is actively monitoring this summer's
drought situation and issued a press release on May 21, 2025, that
Fresno Reservoir's water levels are significantly below average. While
the natural flow of the Milk River is currently adequate, BOR may make
a call on junior water users later this summer to allow FBIIP to take
the remaining natural flow from the Milk River again this year. In
addition to BOR calling on junior water right holders to protect the
senior water right used by FBIIP, the BIA annually pays--subject to
availability of appropriations--for the right to use one-seventh of
stored water at Fresno Reservoir for the Fort Belknap Reservation. We
are not aware of any Fresno Reservoir issues currently plaguing FBIIP's
water distribution.
In addition to experiencing drought conditions, BOR's Milk River
Project has been water short due to the June 2024 failure of the St.
Mary Canal siphons at the St. Mary River crossing. The failure
contributed to the Milk River Project irrigation season being shorter
than normal. On June 25, 2025, water resumed flowing through the newly
replaced St. Mary siphons, and BOR expects the St. Mary Canal to fully
be operational going forth.
Future water shortages may still exist due to climatic conditions.
However, inadequate water supply due to natural conditions or climate
is not justification for BIA to delay an assessment increase. The O&M
costs BIA assesses--covering personnel, equipment, maintenance,
rehabilitation, etc.--persist regardless of drought conditions. See 25
CFR 171.500, 171.705.
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.
[[Page 41406]]
Whom can I contact for further information?
The following tables are the regional and project/agency contacts
for our irrigation facilities.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northwest Region Contacts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kurt Fredenburg, Acting Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Northwest Regional Office, 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97232-4169.
Telephone: (505) 220-9252.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead Indian Irrigation Gene ``Bear'' Hughes, Acting Irrigation
Project. Project Manager, 220 Project Drive, St.
Ignatius, MT 59865. Telephone: (406) 675-
2700.
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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rocky Mountain Region Contacts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Leslie Shakespeare, Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Rocky
Mountain Regional Office, 2021 4th Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101.
Telephone: (406) 247-7943.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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...... Harold ``Jess'' Brien, Superintendent,
Richard Taptto, 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) 698-5631.
Fort Belknap Irrigation Mark Azure, Superintendent, Richard
Project. Taptto, Acting Irrigation Project
Manager (BIA), (Project O&M contracted
to Tribes under Pub. L. 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, Richard
Taptto, 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) 698-
5631.
Wind River Irrigation Project Trish Perry, Acting Superintendent,
Richard Taptto, Acting Irrigation
Project Manager (BIA), (Project O&M for
Little Wind, Johnstown, and Lefthand
Units contracted to Tribes under Pub. L.
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) 698-
5631.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southwest Region Contacts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brian Bald Eagle, Acting 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: Superintendent (970)
200-8613; Irrigation Project Manager
(970) 236-4161.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western Region Contacts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jessie Durham, Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Western
Regional Office, 2600 North Central Avenue, 4th Floor Mailroom,
Phoenix, AZ 85004. Telephone: (480) 535-1552.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colorado River Irrigation Davetta Ameelyenah, Superintendent,
Project. Irrigation Project Manager (Vacant),
(Portions of Project O&M contracted to
Colorado River Indian Tribes under Pub.
L. 93-638), 12124 1st Avenue, Parker, AZ
85344. Telephones: Superintendent (928)
669-7111; Irrigation Project Manager
(928) 662-4392; Water Resources/
Irrigation Department of Colorado River
Indian Tribes (928) 669-1312.
Duck Valley Irrigation Jane Jackson-Bear, Superintendent,
Project. (Project O&M compacted to Shoshone-
Paiute Tribes under Pub. L. 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, 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.
[[Page 41407]]
San Carlos Irrigation Project Ferris Begay, General Manager (BIA),
(Indian Works and Joint Clarence Begay, Supervisory Civil
Works). Engineer (BIA), (Indian Works O&M
compacted to Gila River Indian Community
under Pub. L. 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: General 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,
Irrigation System Manager (BIA, Vacant),
(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; Uintah
Indian Irrigation Operation and
Maintenance Company (435) 724-5200.
Walker River Irrigation Cheryl Sam, Acting Superintendent, 311
Project. 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 2025 and 2026
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 2025 rates are different from the 2026 rates.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final 2025 Final 2026
Project name Rate category rate rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northwest Region Rate Table
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flathead Irrigation Project (See Note #1)..... Basic per acre--A............... $39.00 $39.00
Basic per acre--B............... 19.50 19.50
Minimum Charge per tract *...... 75.00 200.00
Fort Hall Irrigation Project.................. Basic per acre *................ 66.50 68.00
Minimum Charge per tract *...... 43.00 44.50
Fort Hall Irrigation Project--Minor Units..... Basic per acre *................ 45.50 46.50
Minimum Charge per tract *...... 43.00 44.50
Fort Hall Irrigation Project--Michaud Unit.... Basic per acre *................ 75.50 77.50
Pressure per acre *............. 117.00 120.00
Minimum Charge per tract *...... 43.00 44.50
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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rocky Mountain Region Rate Table
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blackfeet Irrigation Project.................. Basic-per acre *................ 21.50 22.00
Crow Irrigation Project--Willow Creek O&M Basic-per acre *................ 30.00 34.00
(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 34.00
Bighorn, Soap Creek, and Pryor Units).
Crow Irrigation Project--Two Leggins Unit..... Basic-per acre *................ 15.00 17.00
Crow Irrigation Two Leggins Drainage District. Basic-per acre *................ 3.00 5.00
Fort Belknap Indian Irrigation Project........ Basic-per acre *................ 20.00 25.00
Fort Peck Irrigation Project.................. Basic-per acre *................ 29.00 35.00
Wind River Irrigation Project--Units 2, 3 and Basic-per acre *................ 26.00 28.00
4.
Wind River Irrigation Project--Unit 6......... Basic-per acre *................ 23.00 28.00
Wind River Irrigation Project--LeClair Basic-per acre.................. 47.00 47.00
District (See Note #2).
Wind River Irrigation Project--Crow Heart Unit Basic-per acre *................ 16.50 17.50
Wind River Irrigation Project--A Canal Unit... Basic-per acre *................ 16.50 17.50
Wind River Irrigation Project--Riverton Valley Basic-per acre.................. 30.65 30.65
Irrigation District (See Note #2).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Southwest Region Rate Table
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pine River Irrigation Project................. Minimum Charge per tract........ 75.00 75.00
Basic-per acre *................ 24.00 24.50
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 41408]]
Western Region Rate Table
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colorado River Irrigation Project............. Basic per acre up to 5.75 acre- 69.00 85.00
feet *.
Excess Water per acre-foot over 18.00 18.00
5.75 acre-feet.
Duck Valley Irrigation Project................ Basic per acre *................ 11.00 12.00
Yuma Project, Indian Unit (See Note #3)....... Basic per acre up to 5.0 acre- 222.50 (+)
feet.
Excess Water per acre-foot over 35 (+)
5.0 acre-feet.
Basic per acre up to 5.0 acre- 222.50 (+)
feet (Ranch 5).
San Carlos Irrigation Project (Joint Works) Basic per acre *................ 26.00 28.00
(See Note #4).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final 2026 Construction Water Rate Schedule:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Off project On project On project
construction........ construction--.... construction--
gravity water..... pump 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].
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final 2025 Final 2026
Project name Rate category rate rate
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Carlos Irrigation Project (Indian Works) Basic per acre *................ $93.85 $98.85
(See Note #5).
Uintah Irrigation Project..................... Basic per acre.................. 25.00 25.00
Minimum Bill.................... 25.00 25.00
Walker River Irrigation Project............... Basic per acre.................. 32.00 32.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* 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: The Minimum Charge per tract for Flathead Irrigation Project is currently applied to parcels sized 2.00
acres or smaller. Starting in 2026, the Minimum Charge per tract will apply to parcels sized 4.54 acres or
smaller.
Note #2: 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 #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 BOR, the owner and operator of the Project; the BOR rate is $218.00 for 2025 but has not
been established for 2026. 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 2025 and 2026 BIA rate component is
$4.50 per 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 BIA San Carlos Irrigation Project--Indian Works; the final 2025 and 2026 rate is
$55.85 per acre. The second component is established by BIA San Carlos Irrigation Project--Joint Works; the
final 2025 rate is $26.00 per acre, and final 2026 rate is $28.00 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 2025 rate is $12.00 per acre, and
2026 rate is $15.00 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)
These rate adjustments are not a significant regulatory action and
do not need to be reviewed by the Office of
[[Page 41409]]
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 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. A detailed statement under the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required because the
rate adjustments are of an administrative, financial, legal, technical,
or procedural nature. (For further information see 43 CFR 46.210(i)).
We have also determined that the rate adjustments would not involve any
of the extraordinary circumstances listed in 43 CFR 46.215 that would
require further analysis under NEPA.
Scott J. Davis,
Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Interior, Exercising the
Delegated Authority of the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2025-16221 Filed 8-22-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337-15-P
</pre></body>
</html>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.