[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 119 (Monday, June 22, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 33945]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16561]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Notice of Public Comment Period on Proposed Agreement for Leasing
of Colorado River Water and Non-Irrigation of Lands on Chemehuevi
Indian Reservation
AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of opportunity for public comment.
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SUMMARY: The Chemehuevi Indian Tribe entered into an agreement with
Southeastern Nevada Water Company, Inc., dated January 31, 1998, for a
25-year lease of 5,000 acre-feet per year of the Tribe's Colorado River
water entitlement. The agreement has been submitted to the Secretary of
the Interior with a request for the Secretary's approval as a lease of
Indian lands within the meaning of 25 U.S.C. 415 and for approval under
25 U.S.C. 81. As part of the Secretary's review, the Bureau of Indian
Affairs has determined it is in the public interest to allow an
opportunity for interested parties to comment on the proposed lease.
DATES: Any comments must be received by the agency on or before August
6, 1998.
ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments to the
Area Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Attention: Ms. Cathy Wilson,
Phoenix Area Office, P.O. Box 10, MS 420, Phoenix, AZ 85004.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Chemehuevi Indian Tribe is a federally
recognized Indian tribe organized under section 16 of the Indian
Reorganization Act of 1934 (25 U.S.C. Sec. 476). The Tribe is the
beneficial owner of the Chemehuevi Indian Reservation which is located
entirely within San Bernardino County, California. On February 2, 1998,
the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe provided the proposed Agreement for the
Leasing of Reservation Water and for Non-Irrigation of Reservation
Lands to the Secretary of the Interior for approval. If the lease is
approved by the Secretary, it will become effective upon that approval
and remain in effect for a term of 25 years.
Under the proposed lease agreement, the Tribe will lease 5,000
acre-feet of Colorado River water per year to the lessee, Southeastern
Nevada Water Company, Inc. The lessee is a for-profit corporation,
organized under the laws of the State of Nevada and based in
Scottsdale, Arizona. The lessee is authorized to do business in the
State of California and will use the water acquired during the period
of the lease to meet the present and future water demands of the lessee
and any sublessees or assignees in the State of California.
Copies of the lease are available from the Bureau of Indian Affairs
at the address listed under ADDRESSES. In addition, the Tribe is
assessing the environmental impacts of the lease. Any documents created
during the environmental compliance process will be made available, as
appropriate, from the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Phoenix Area Office at
the address listed under ADDRESSES.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Cathy Wilson, telephone (602) 379-
6789.
Dated: June 15, 1998.
Kevin Gover,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 98-16561 Filed 6-19-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-02-P
