[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 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic Rate.......................       $25.50       $26.50       $27.50
Pressure Rate....................        37.50        38.50        39.50
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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