[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 186 (Friday, September 25, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 51367]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-25652]
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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 second opportunity for public comment.
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SUMMARY: On June 22, 1998, a notice of opportunity for public comment
was published in the Federal Register (Volume 63, Number 119)
concerning the proposed agreement for leasing of Colorado River water
and non-irrigation of lands on the Chemehuevi Reservation. A second
comment period was requested by interested parties and is being
provided.
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 Tribes'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
November 24, 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 Sec. 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 Bernadino 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 with a request for the
Secretary's 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: September 15, 1998.
Kevin Gover,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 98-25652 Filed 9-24-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-02-P
