[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 164 (Monday, August 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44992-44993]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22418]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Operation and Maintenance Rate Adjustment: Fort Hall Irrigation
Project, Idaho
ACTION: Notice of Proposed Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Rate
Adjustment.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs proposes to change the assessment
rates for operating and maintaining the Fort Hall Irrigation Project,
Michaud Unit, for 1998, 1999, and subsequent years. The following table
illustrates the impact of the rate adjustment.
Fort Hall Irrigation Project
[Michaud unit irrigation rate per assessable acre]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Present Proposed Proposed
Rate category rate 1998 rate 1999 rate
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Basic Rate....................... $25.50 $26.50 $27.50
Pressure Rate.................... 37.50 38.50 39.50
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Area Director, Bureau of Indian
Affairs, Portland Area Office, 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon
97232-4169, telephone (503) 231-6702.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 24, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on rate adjustments should be sent to
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, Attn: Branch of Irrigation and
Power, MS-4513-MIB, Code 210, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The authority to issue this document is
vested in the Secretary of the Interior by 5 U.S.C. 301 and the Act of
August 15, 1914 (38 Stat. 583, 25 U.S.C. 385). The Secretary has
delegated this authority to the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs
pursuant to part 209, Departmental Manual, Chapter 8.1A and Memorandum
dated January 25, 1994, from Chief of Staff, Department of the
Interior, to Assistant Secretaries, and Heads of Bureaus and Offices.
This notice is given in accordance with Sec. 171.1(e) of part 171,
Subchapter H, Chapter I, of Title 25 of the Code of Federal
Regulations, which provides for the fixing and announcing the rates for
annual operation and maintenance assessments and related information
for BIA operated and owned irrigation projects.
The purpose of this notice is to announce a proposed increase in
the Michaud Unit, Fort Hall Irrigation Project, assessment rates
proportionate with actual operation and maintenance costs. The change
in the assessment rate is based on the electrical energy cost increase
imposed by the Bureau of
[[Page 44993]]
Reclamation (BOR). In September 1996 the BOR notified us they are
increasing the electrical energy charge for its users. The rate was set
at 12.70 mills per kilowatt hour, an increase of 19.5%. The increased
electrical energy cost was absorbed by the project during the 1997
irrigation season.
The assessment rates are based on an estimate of the cost of normal
operation and maintenance of the irrigation project. Normal operation
and maintenance means the expenses we incur to provide direct support
or benefit to the project's activities for administration, operation,
maintenance, and rehabilitation. We must include at least:
(a) Personnel salary and benefits for the project engineer/manager
and our employees under his/her management control;
(b) Materials and supplies;
(c) Major and minor vehicle and equipment repairs;
(d) Equipment, including transportation, fuel, oil, grease, lease
and replacement;
(d) Capitalization expenses;
(e) Acquisition expenses; and
(f) Other expenses we determine necessary to properly perform the
activities and functions characteristic of an irrigation project.
Payments
The irrigation operation and maintenance assessments become due
based on locally established payment requirements. No water shall be
delivered to any of these lands until all irrigation charges have been
paid.
Interest and Penalty Fees
Interest, penalty, and administrative fees will be assessed, where
required by law, on all delinquent operation and maintenance assessment
charges as prescribed in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 4, Part
102, Federal Claims Collection Standards; and 42 BIAM Supplement 3,
part 3.8 Debt Collection Procedures. Beginning 30 days after the due
date interest will be assessed at the rate of the current value of
funds to the U.S. Treasury. An administrative fee of $12.50 will be
assessed each time an effort is made to collect a delinquent debt; a
penalty charge of 6 percent per year will be charged on delinquent
debts over 90 days old and will accrue from the date the debt became
delinquent. After 180 days a delinquent debt will be forwarded to the
United States Treasury for further action in accordance with the Debt
Collection Improvement Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-134).
Dated: August 13, 1997.
Ada E. Deer,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 97-22418 Filed 8-22-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-02-P
