2011-24057. Rate Adjustments for Indian Irrigation Projects

AGENCY:

Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rate adjustments.

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 request your comments on the proposed rate adjustments.

DATES:

Interested parties may submit comments on the proposed rate adjustments on or before November 21, 2011.

ADDRESSES:

All comments on the proposed rate adjustments must be in writing and addressed to: John Anevski, Chief, Division of Water and Power, Office of Trust Services, Mail Stop 4655-MIB, 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240, Telephone [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For details about a particular irrigation project, please use the tables in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section to contact the regional or local office where the project is located.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The first table in this notice provides contact information for individuals who can give further information about the irrigation projects covered by this notice. The second table provides the current 2011 irrigation assessment rates, the proposed rates for the 2012 irrigation season, and proposed rates for subsequent years where these are available.

What is the meaning of the key terms used in this notice?

In this notice:

Administrative costs means all costs we incur to administer our irrigation projects at the local project level and is a cost factor included in calculating your operation and maintenance assessment. Costs incurred at the local project level do not normally include Agency, Region, or Central Office costs unless we state otherwise in writing.

Assessable acre means lands designated by us to be served by one of our irrigation projects, for which we collect assessments in order to recover costs for the provision of irrigation service. (See total assessable acres.)

BIA means the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Bill means our statement to you of the assessment charges and/or fees you owe the United States for administration, operation, maintenance, and/or rehabilitation. The date we mail or hand-deliver your bill will be stated on it.

Costs means the costs we incur for administration, operation, maintenance, and rehabilitation to provide direct support or benefit to an irrigation facility. (See administrative costs, operation costs, maintenance costs, and rehabilitation costs).

Customer means any person or entity to which we provide irrigation service.

Due date is the date on which your bill is due and payable. This date will be stated on your bill.

I, me, my, you and your means all persons or entities that are affected by this notice.

Irrigation project means a facility or portion thereof for the delivery, diversion, and storage of irrigation water that we own or have an interest in, including all appurtenant works. The term “irrigation project” is used interchangeably with irrigation facility, irrigation system, and irrigation area.

Irrigation service means the full range of services we provide customers of our irrigation projects. This includes our activities to administer, operate, maintain, and rehabilitate our projects in order to deliver water.

Maintenance costs means costs we incur to maintain and repair our irrigation projects and associated equipment and is a cost factor included in calculating your operation and maintenance assessment.

Operation and maintenance (O&M) assessment means the periodic charge you must pay us to reimburse costs of administering, operating, maintaining, and rehabilitating irrigation projects consistent with this notice and our supporting policies, manuals, and handbooks.

Operation or operating costs means costs we incur to operate our irrigation projects and equipment and is a cost factor included in calculating your O&M assessment.

Past due bill means a bill that has not been paid by the close of business on the 30th day after the due date as stated on the bill. Beginning on the 31st day after the due date, we begin assessing additional charges accruing from the due date.

Rehabilitation costs means costs we incur to restore our irrigation projects or features to original operating condition or to the nearest state which can be achieved using current technology and is a cost factor included in calculating your O&M assessment.

Responsible party means an individual or entity that owns or leases land within the assessable acreage of one of our irrigation projects and is responsible for providing accurate information to our billing office and paying a bill for an annual irrigation rate assessment.

Total assessable acres means the total acres served by one of our irrigation projects.

Water delivery is an activity that is part of the irrigation service we provide our customers when water is available.

We, us, and our means the United States Government, the Secretary of the Interior, the BIA, and all who are authorized to represent us in matters covered under this notice.

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 Printing Office at http://www.gpo.gov.

Why are you publishing this notice?

We are publishing this notice to notify you that we propose to adjust our irrigation assessment rates. This notice is published in accordance with the BIA's regulations governing its operation and maintenance of irrigation projects, found at 25 CFR part 171. This regulation provides for the establishment and publication of the rates for annual irrigation assessments as well as related information about our irrigation projects.

What authorizes you to issue this notice?

Our authority to issue this notice is vested in the Secretary of the Interior 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.

When will you put the rate adjustments into effect?

We will put the rate adjustments into effect for the 2012 irrigation season and subsequent years where applicable.

How do you calculate irrigation rates?

We calculate annual irrigation assessment rates in accordance with 25 CFR 171.500 by estimating the annual costs of operation and maintenance at each of our irrigation projects and then dividing by the total assessable acres for that particular irrigation project. The result of this calculation for each project is stated in the rate table in this notice.

What kinds of expenses do you consider in determining the estimated annual costs of operation and maintenance?

Consistent with 25 CFR 171.500, these expenses include the following:

(a) Salary and benefits for the project engineer/manager and project employees under the project engineer/manager's management or control;

(b) Materials and supplies;

(c) Vehicle and equipment repairs;

(d) Equipment costs, including lease fees;

(e) Depreciation;

(f) Acquisition costs;

(g) Maintenance of a reserve fund available for contingencies or emergency costs needed for the reliable operation of the irrigation facility infrastructure;

(h) Maintenance of a vehicle and heavy equipment replacement fund;

(i) Systematic rehabilitation and replacement of project facilities;

(j) Contingencies for unknown costs and omitted budget items; and

(k) Other expenses we determine necessary to properly perform the activities and functions characteristic of an irrigation project.

When should I pay my irrigation assessment?

We will mail or hand-deliver your bill notifying you (a) The amount you owe to the United States and (b) when such amount is due. If we mail your bill, we will consider it as being delivered no later than 5 business days after the day we mail it. You should pay your bill by the due date stated on the bill.

What information must I provide for billing purposes?

All responsible parties are required to provide the following information to the billing office associated with the irrigation project where you own or lease land within the project's assessable acreage or to the billing office associated with the irrigation project with which you have a carriage agreement:

(1) The full legal name of person or entity responsible for paying the bill;

(2) An adequate and correct address for mailing or hand delivering our bill; and

(3) The taxpayer identification number or social security number of the person or entity responsible for paying the bill.

Why are you collecting my taxpayer identification number or social security number?

Public Law 104-134, the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, requires that we collect the taxpayer identification number or social security number before billing a responsible party and as a condition to servicing the account.

What happens if I am a responsible party but I fail to furnish the information required to the billing office responsible for the irrigation project within which I own or lease assessable land or for which I have a carriage agreement?

If you are late paying your bill because of your failure to furnish the required information listed above, you will be assessed interest and penalties as provided below, and your failure to provide the required information will not provide grounds for you to appeal your bill or any penalties assessed.

What can happen if I do not provide the information required for billing purposes?

We can refuse to provide you irrigation service.

If I allow my bill to become past due, could this affect my water delivery?

If we do not receive your payment before the close of business on the 30th day after the due date stated on your bill, we will send you a past due notice. This past due notice will have additional information concerning your rights. We will consider your past due notice as delivered no later than 5 business days after the day we mail it. We have the right to refuse water delivery to any irrigated land for which the bill is past due. We can continue to refuse water delivery until you pay your bill or make payment arrangements to which we agree. We follow the procedures provided in 31 CFR 901.2, “Demand for Payment,” when demanding payment of your past due bill.

Are there any additional charges if I am late paying my bill?

Yes. We will assess you interest on the amount owed, using the rate of interest established annually by the Secretary of the United States Treasury (Treasury) to calculate what you will be assessed (31 CFR 901.9(b)). You will not be assessed this charge until your bill is past due. However, if you allow your bill to become past due, interest will accrue from the original due date, not the past due date. Also, you will be charged an administrative fee of $12.50 for each time we try to collect your past due bill. If your bill becomes more than 90 days past due, you will be assessed a penalty charge of six percent (6%) per year, which will accrue from the date your bill initially became past due. As a Federal agency, we are required to charge interest, penalties, and administrative costs on debts owed to us pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 3717 and 31 CFR 901.9, “Interest, penalties, and administrative costs.”

What else will happen to my past due bill?

If you do not pay your bill or make payment arrangements to which we agree, we are required to send your past due bill to the Treasury for further action. Under the provisions of 31 CFR 901.1, “Aggressive agency collection activity,” we must send any unpaid annual irrigation assessment bill to Treasury no later than 180 days after the original due date of the bill.

Who can I contact for further information?

The following tables are the regional and project/agency contacts for our irrigation facilities.

Project name	Project/agency contacts
Northwest Region Contacts
Stanley Speaks, Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Northwest Regional Office, 911 N.E. 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97232-4169, Telephone: [phone].
Fort Hall Irrigation Project	Dean Fox, Superintendent, Fort Hall Agency, P.O. Box 220, Fort Hall, ID 83203-0220, Telephone: [phone].
Wapato Irrigation Project	Edwin Lewis, Project Administrator, Wapato Irrigation Project, P.O. Box 220, Wapato, WA 98951-0220, Telephone: [phone].
Rocky Mountain Region Contacts
Ed Parisian, Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Rocky Mountain Regional Office, 316 North 26th Street, Billings, Montana 59101, Telephone: [phone].
Blackfeet Irrigation Project	Stephen Pollock, Superintendent, Greg Tatsey, Irrigation Project Manager, Box 880, Browning, MT 59417, Telephones: [phone], Superintendent, [phone], Irrigation Project Manager.
Crow Irrigation Project	Vianna Stewart, Superintendent, Vacant, Irrigation Project Manager, P.O. Box 69, Crow Agency, MT 59022, Telephones: [phone], Superintendent, [phone], Irrigation Project Manager.
Fort Belknap Irrigation Project	Cliff Hall, Superintendent, Vacant, Irrigation Project Manager, (Project operations & management contracted to Tribes), R.R.1, Box 980, Harlem, MT 59526, Telephones: [phone], Superintendent, [phone], Irrigation Project Manager (Tribal Office).
Fort Peck Irrigation Project	Vacant, Superintendent, P.O. Box 637, Poplar, MT 59255, Huber Wright, Acting Irrigation Project Manager, 602 6th Avenue North, Wolf Point, MT 59201, Telephones: [phone], Superintendent, [phone], Irrigation Project Manager.
Wind River Irrigation Project	Ed Lone Fight, Superintendent, Vacant, Irrigation Project Manager, P.O. Box 158, Fort Washakie, WY 82514, Telephones: [phone], Superintendent, [phone], Irrigation Project Manager.
Southwest Region Contacts
William T. Walker, Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Southwest Regional Office, 1001 Indian School Road, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87104, Telephone: [phone].
Pine River Irrigation Project	John Waconda, Superintendent, Reginald Howe, Irrigation Systems Operator, Irrigation Engineer, P.O. Box 315, Ignacio, CO 81137-0315, Telephones: [phone], Superintendent, [phone], Irrigation Engineer.
Western Region Contacts
Bryan Bowker, Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Western Regional Office, 2600 N. Central Ave., 4th Floor Mailroom, Phoenix, Arizona 85004, Telephone: [phone].
Colorado River Irrigation Project	Janice Staudte, Superintendent, Ted Henry, Irrigation Project Manager, 12124 1st Avenue, Parker, AZ 85344, Telephone: [phone].
Duck Valley Irrigation Project	Joseph McDade, Superintendent, 1555 Shoshone Circle, Elko, NV 89801, Telephone: [phone].
Fort Yuma Irrigation Project	Irene Herder, Superintendent, 256 South Second Avenue, Suite D, Yuma, AZ 85364, Telephone: [phone].
San Carlos Irrigation Project Joint Works	Ferris Begay, Acting Project Manager, Clarence Begay, Irrigation Manager, P.O. Box 250, Coolidge, AZ 85228, Telephone: [phone].
San Carlos Irrigation Project Indian Works	Cecilia Martinez, Superintendent, Joe Revak, Supervisory General Engineer, Pima Agency, Land Operations, P.O. Box 8, Sacaton, AZ 85247, Telephone: [phone], Telephone: [phone].
Uintah Irrigation Project	Dinah Peltier, Acting Superintendent, Dale Thomas, Irrigation Manager, P.O. Box 130, Fort Duchesne, UT 84026, Telephone: [phone], Telephone: [phone].
Walker River Irrigation Project	Athena Brown, Superintendent, 311 E. Washington Street, Carson City, NV 89701, Telephone: [phone].

What irrigation assessments or charges are proposed for adjustment by this notice?

The rate table below contains the current rates for all irrigation projects where we recover costs of administering, operating, maintaining, and rehabilitating them. The table also contains the proposed rates for the 2012 season and subsequent years where applicable. An asterisk immediately following the name of the project notes the irrigation projects where rates are proposed for adjustment.

Project name	Rate category	Final 2011 rate	Proposed 2012 rate
Fort Hall Irrigation Project *	Basic per acre	$42.00	$45.50
	Minimum Charge per tract	31.50	32.50
Fort Hall Irrigation Project—Minor Units *	Basic per acre	22.50	23.50
	Minimum Charge per tract	31.50	32.50
Fort Hall Irrigation Project—Michaud *	Basic per acre	43.00	45.00
	Pressure per acre	59.50	62.00
	Minimum Charge per tract	31.50	32.50
Wapato Irrigation Project—Toppenish/Simcoe Units *	Minimum Charge for per bill	17.00	20.00
	Basic per acre	17.00	20.00
Wapato Irrigation Project—Ahtanum Units *	Minimum Charge per bill	17.00	20.00
	Basic per acre	17.00	20.00
Wapato Irrigation Project—Satus Unit *	Minimum Charge for per bill	63.00	65.00
	“A” Basic per acre	63.00	65.00
	“B” Basic per acre	70.00	70.00
Wapato Irrigation Project—Additional Works	Minimum Charge per bill	67.00	67.00
	Basic per acre	67.00	67.00
Wapato Irrigation Project—Water Rental	Minimum Charge	72.00	72.00
	Basic per acre	72.00	72.00

Rocky Mountain Region Rate Table

Project name	Rate category	Final 2011 rate	Proposed 2012 rate
Blackfeet Irrigation Project	Basic-per acre	$19.00	$19.00
Crow Irrigation Project—Willow Creek O&M (includes Agency, Lodge Grass #1, Lodge Grass #2, Reno, Upper Little Horn, and Forty Mile Units).*	Basic-per acre	22.80	23.30
Crow Irrigation Project—All Others (includes Bighorn, Soap Creek, and Pryor Units).*	Basic-per acre	22.50	23.00
Crow Irrigation Two Leggins Drainage District	Basic-per acre	2.00	2.00
Fort Belknap Irrigation Project	Basic-per acre	14.75	14.75
Fort Peck Irrigation Project	Basic-per acre	24.70	24.70
Wind River Irrigation Project	Basic-per acre	20.00	20.00
Wind River Irrigation Project—LeClair District * (see Note #1)	Basic-per acre	21.00	20.00
Wind River Irrigation Project—Crow Heart Unit	Basic-per acre	14.00	14.00
Wind River Irrigation Project—Riverton Valley Irrigation District	Basic-per acre	16.00	16.00

Southwest Region Rate Table

Project name	Rate category	Final 2011 rate	Proposed 2012 rate
Pine River Irrigation Project	Minimum Charge per tract	$50.00	$50.00
	Basic-per acre	15.00	15.00

Western Region Rate Table

Project name	Rate category	Final 2011 rate	Proposed 2012 rate	Proposed 2013 rate
Colorado River Irrigation Project *	Basic per acre up to 5.75 acre-feet	54.00	54.00	To be determined.
	Excess Water per acre-foot over 5.75 acre-feet	17.00	17.00
Duck Valley Irrigation Project	Basic per acre	5.30	5.30
Fort Yuma Irrigation Project (See Note #2)	Basic per acre up to 5.0 acre-feet	86.00	86.00
	Excess Water per acre-foot over 5.0 acre-feet	14.00	14.00
	Basic per acre up to 5.0 acre-feet (Ranch 5)	86.00	86.00
San Carlos Irrigation Project (Joint Works) * (See Note #3)	Basic per acre	25.00	30.00	$30.00.
	Proposed 2012-2013 Construction Water Rate Schedule:
		Off project construction	On project construction—gravity water	On project construction—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 per 1000 gal	No charge	No charge.
	† The excess water rate applies to all water used in excess of 50,000 gallons in any one month.
San Carlos Irrigation Project (Indian Works)* (See Note #4)	Basic per acre	$68.00	$73.00	To be determined.
Uintah Irrigation Project	Basic per acre	15.00	16.00
	Minimum Bill	25.00	25.00
Walker River Irrigation Project *	Indian per acre	22.00	25.00
	Non-Indian per acre	22.00	25.00
* Notes irrigation projects where rates are proposed for adjustment.
Note #1—The O&M rate varies yearly based upon the budget submitted by the LeClair District.
Note #2—The O&M rate for the Fort Yuma Irrigation Project has two components. The first component is the O&M rate established by the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), the owner and operator of the Project. The BOR rate for 2012 is yet to be determined. The second component is for the O&M rate established by BIA to cover administrative costs including billing and collections for the Project. The 2012 BIA rate remains unchanged at $7.00/acre. The rates shown include the 2011 Reclamation rate and the 2012 BIA rate. The rates shown include the estimated FY 2012 rate.
Note #3—The 2012 rate was established by final notice in the Federal Register on May 9, 2011 (Vol. 76 No. 89, page 26759). In addition, a Construction Water Rate Schedule for the San Carlos Irrigation Project—Joint Works is now being formally established. The rate schedule establishes the fees assessed for use of irrigation water for non-irrigation purposes.
Note #4—The 2012 O&M rate for the San Carlos Irrigation Project—Indian Works has three components. The first component is the O&M rate established by the San Carlos Irrigation Project—Indian Works, the owner and operator of the Project; this rate is proposed to be $35 per acre. The second component is for the O&M rate established by the San Carlos Irrigation Project—Joint Works and is determined to be $30.00 per acre. The third component is the O&M rate established by the San Carlos Irrigation Project Joint Control Board and is proposed to be $8 per acre.

Consultation and Coordination With Tribal Governments (Executive Order 13175)

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)

The rate adjustments will have no adverse effects on energy supply, distribution, or use (including a shortfall in supply, price increases, and increase use of foreign supplies) should the proposed rate adjustments be implemented. This is a notice for rate adjustments at BIA-owned and operated irrigation projects, except for the Fort Yuma Irrigation Project. The Fort Yuma Irrigation Project is owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation with a portion serving the Fort Yuma Reservation.

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. The rate adjustments 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)

The Department has determined that these rate adjustments do not have significant “takings” implications. The rate adjustments do not deprive the public, state, or local governments of rights or property.

Federalism (Executive Order 13132)

The Department has determined that these rate adjustments do not have significant Federalism effects 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.

Civil Justice Reform (Executive Order 12988)

In issuing this rule, 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, under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The OMB Control Number is 1076-0141 and expires December 31, 2012.

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)).

Information Quality Act

In developing this notice, we did not conduct or use a study, experiment, or survey requiring peer review under the Information Quality Act (Pub. L. No. 106-554).

Dated: September 9, 2011.

Michael Black,

Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs.