Statement of Findings: Bill Williams River Water Rights Settlement Act of 2014, 76999-77000 [2015-31301]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
76999
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 238 / Friday, December 11, 2015 / Notices
In accordance with National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (40
CFR 1506.6(b)) requirements, this notice
announces the availability of the ROD
for the final CCP and final EIS for San
Luis Valley NWR Complex. We
completed a thorough analysis of the
environmental, social, and economic
considerations associated with our
actions. The ROD documents our
selection of alternative B, the preferred
alternative.
The CCP will guide us in managing
and administering the Refuge Complex
for the next 15 years. Alternative B, as
we described in the final EIS/ROD, is
the foundation for the CCP.
Background
The CCP Process
The National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C.
668dd–668ee) (Administration Act), as
amended by the National Wildlife
Refuge System Improvement Act of
1997, requires us to develop a CCP for
each national wildlife refuge. The
purpose for developing a CCP is to
provide refuge managers with a 15-year
plan for achieving refuge purposes and
contributing toward the mission of the
National Wildlife Refuge System,
consistent with sound principles of fish
and wildlife management, conservation,
legal mandates, and our policies. We
will review and update the CCP at least
every 15 years in accordance with the
Administration Act.
CCP Alternatives and Selected
Alternative
Our final CCP and final EIS (80 FR
48328; August 12, 2015) addressed
several issues. To address these, we
developed and evaluated the following
alternatives: Alternative A—No Action;
Alternative B—Wildlife Populations,
Strategic Habitat Restoration, and
Enhanced Public Uses; Alternative C—
Habitat Restoration and Ecological
Processes; and Alternative D—Maximize
Public Use Opportunities.
After consideration of the more than
1,000 comments that we received on the
draft CCP and draft EIS, we have
selected alternative B—Wildlife
Populations, Strategic Habitat
Restoration, and Enhanced Public Uses.
It is the alternative that best meets the
purposes of the refuges, the mission of
the National Wildlife Refuge System,
and the vision and management goals
set for the Refuge Complex; and it
adheres to Service policies and
guidelines. It considers the interests and
perspectives of many agencies,
organization, tribes, and the public.
Additionally, it is the environmentally
preferred alternative.
Under alternative B and in
cooperation with our partners, we will
maintain or restore the composition,
structure, and function of the natural
and modified habitats within the Refuge
Complex. We will consider the
ecological site characteristics and
wildlife species needs on our Refuge
Complex lands by developing sound
and sustainable management strategies
that preserve and restore ecological
(biological) integrity, productivity, and
biological diversity. We will apply
strategic habitat conservation principles
(a structured, science-driven, and
adaptive approach) in determining how
to best manage our lands for native fish,
wildlife, and plant species, with a
particular emphasis on migratory birds,
waterfowl, and declining species listed
under the Endangered Species Act
(listed species). Compatible wildlifedependent public uses will be enhanced
and expanded to include all three
refuges. We will facilitate the
protection, restoration, and conservation
of important water resources through
partnerships, public education, and
stewardship.
Public Availability of Documents
In addition to any one method in
you can view or obtain
documents at the following locations:
• Our Web site: https://www.fws.gov/
mountain-prairie/refuges/
refugesUpdate/alm_bac_mtv.php
• Public libraries:
ADDRESSES,
Library
Address
Alamosa Public Library ...........................
Carnegie Public Library ...........................
Baca Grande Library ...............................
Saguache Public Library .........................
300 Hunt Avenue, Alamosa, CO 81101 ..................................................................
120 Jefferson Street, Monte Vista, CO 81144 ........................................................
67487 County Road T, Crestone, CO 81131 ..........................................................
702 Pitkin Ave., Saguache, CO 81149 ...................................................................
Dated: December 4, 2015.
Matt Hogan,
Acting Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie
Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–31231 Filed 12–10–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of the Secretary
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
[16XD4523WS DS10100000 DWSN00000.
000000 DP10020]
Statement of Findings: Bill Williams
River Water Rights Settlement Act of
2014
Office of the Secretary, Interior.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Secretary of the Interior
(Secretary) is publishing this notice in
accordance with section 9 of the Bill
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
14:55 Dec 10, 2015
Jkt 238001
Williams River Water Rights Settlement
Act of 2014 (P.L. 113–223) (Settlement
Act). The publication of this notice
causes the waivers and release of certain
claims to become effective as required to
implement the Settlement.
DATES: This notice is effective December
11, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Address all comments and requests for
additional information to Ruth Thayer,
Chair, Hualapai Tribe Water Rights
Settlement Negotiation Team,
Department of the Interior, Bureau of
Reclamation, Lower Colorado Region,
P.O. Box 61470, Boulder City, NV
89006. (702) 293–8426.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Settlement Act directs the Secretary of
the Interior to enter into the Big Sandy
River-Planet Ranch Water Rights
Settlement Agreement and the Hualapai
Tribe Bill Williams River Water Rights
PO 00000
Frm 00074
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Phone No.
(719)
(719)
(719)
(719)
589–6592
852–3931
256–4100
655–2551
Settlement Agreement, to provide for
the lease of certain land located within
Planet Ranch on the Bill Williams River
in the State of Arizona to benefit the
Lower Colorado River Multi-Species
Conservation Program, and to provide
for the settlement of specific water
rights claims in the Bill Williams River
watershed in the State of Arizona. The
non-federal settling parties submitted a
signed settlement agreement to Congress
prior to enactment of the Settlement Act
(Pub. L. 113–223). The purposes of the
Settlement Act are:
(1) To achieve a fair, equitable, and
final settlement of certain claims among
certain parties to water rights in the Bill
Williams River watershed in the State of
Arizona for
(A) the Hualapai Tribe (acting on
behalf of the Tribe and members of the
Tribe); and
(B) the Department of the Interior,
acting on behalf of the Department and,
E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM
11DEN1
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
77000
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 238 / Friday, December 11, 2015 / Notices
as specified, the United States as trustee
for the Hualapai Tribe, the members of
the Tribe, and the allottees;
(2) to approve, ratify, and confirm
(A) the Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch
Water Rights Settlement Agreement (Big
Sandy River-Planet Ranch Agreement)
entered into among the Hualapai Tribe,
the United States as trustee for the
Tribe, the members of the Tribe and
allottees, the Secretary of the Interior,
the Arizona department of water
resources (ADWR), Freeport Minerals
Corporation, the Arizona Game and Fish
Commission, to the extent the Big Sandy
River-Planet Ranch Agreement is
consistent with the Settlement Act;
(B) the Hualapai Tribe Bill Williams
River Water Rights Settlement
Agreement (Hualapai Tribe Agreement)
entered into among the Tribe, the
United States as trustee for the Tribe,
members of the Tribe, the allotees, and
the Freeport Minerals Corporation, to
the extent the Hualapai Tribe
Agreement is consistent with the
Settlement Act;
(3) to authorize and direct the
Secretary
(A) to execute the duties and
obligations of the Secretary under the
Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch
Agreement, the Hualapai Tribe
Agreement, and the Settlement Act;
(B)(i) to remove objections to the
applications for the severance and
transfer of certain water rights, in partial
consideration of the agreement of the
parties to impose certain limits on the
extent of the use and transferability of
the severed and transferred water rights
and other water rights; and
(ii) to provide confirmation of those
water rights; and
(C) to carry out any other activity
necessary to implement the Big Sandy
River-Planet Ranch Agreement and the
Hualapai Tribe Agreement in
accordance with the Settlement Act;
(4) to advance the purposes of the
Lower Colorado River Multi-Species
Conservation Program (Conservation
Program);
(5) to secure a long-term lease for a
portion of Planet Ranch, along with
appurtenant water rights primarily
along the Bill Williams River corridor,
for use in the Conservation Program;
(6) to bring the leased portion of
Planet Ranch into public ownership for
the long-term benefit of the
Conservation Program; and
(7) to secure from the Freeport
Minerals Corporation non-Federal
contributions
(A) to support a tribal water supply
study necessary for the advancement of
a settlement of the claims of the Tribe
for rights to Colorado River water; and
VerDate Sep<11>2014
14:55 Dec 10, 2015
Jkt 238001
(B) to enable the Tribe to secure
Colorado River water rights and
appurtenant land, increase security of
the water rights of the Tribe, and
facilitate a settlement of the claims of
the Tribe for rights to Colorado River
water.
Statement of Findings
In accordance with section 9 of the
Settlement Act, section 11.12(i) of the
Amended and Restated Big Sandy RiverPlanet Ranch Water Rights Settlement
Agreement, and section 10.13(i) of the
Amended and Restated Hualapai Tribe
Bill Williams River Water Rights
Settlement Agreement, I find as follows:
(1)(A) To the extent that the Big
Sandy River-Planet Ranch Agreement or
the Hualapai Tribe Agreement conflict
with the Settlement Act, the applicable
agreement has been revised to eliminate
the conflict; and
(B) the Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch
Agreement, as revised, and the Hualapai
Tribe Agreement, as revised, have been
executed by all parties to those
agreements;
(2) Freeport Minerals Corporation has
submitted to the Arizona Department of
Water Resources (ADWR) a conditional
amendment of the sever and transfer
applications for the Lincoln Ranch
water right and amendments to sever
and transfer applications for Planet
Ranch and Lincoln Ranch water rights
consistent with section 4.2.1(ii)(a) of the
Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch
Agreement;
(3) the Secretary and the Arizona
Game and Fish Commission have
executed and filed with ADWR a
conditional withdrawal of each
objection described in section 4(b)(3) of
the Settlement Act and as provided in
subsections 4.2.1(ii)(b) and 4.2.1(ii)(c) of
the Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch
Agreement;
(4)(A) ADWR has issued a conditional
order approving the sever and transfer
applications of Freeport Minerals
Corporation; and
(B) all objections to the sever and
transfer applications have been (i)
conditionally withdrawn; or (ii)
resolved in a decision issued by ADWR
that is final and nonappealable;
(5) notice has been provided to the
parties to the Big Sandy River-Planet
Ranch Agreement and the Hualapai
Tribe Agreement that the Department
has completed the legally required
environmental compliance described in
section 8;
(6) the steering committee for the
Lower Colorado River Multi-Species
Conservation Program has approved and
authorized the manager of the
Conservation Program to execute the
PO 00000
Frm 00075
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
lease in the form as set forth in exhibit
2.33 to the Big Sandy River-Planet
Ranch Agreement; and
(7) the waivers and releases
authorized by section 6 have been
executed by the Tribe and the Secretary.
Dated: December 7, 2015.
Sally Jewell,
Secretary of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 2015–31301 Filed 12–10–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4334–63–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLMTM00000.L111100000.XP0000
16XL1109AF MO#4500088646]
Notice of Public Meeting; Central
Montana Resource Advisory Council
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act (FLPMA) and the Federal Advisory
Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S.
Department of the Interior, Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) Central
Montana Resource Advisory Council
(RAC) will meet as indicated below.
DATES: The Central Montana Resource
Advisory Council Meeting will be held
January 26–27, 2015 in Great Falls,
Montana. The January 26 meeting will
begin at 10:00 a.m. with a 30-minute
public comment period and will
adjourn at 5:00 p.m. The January 27
meeting will begin at 8:00 a.m. with a
30-minute public comment period
beginning at 10:00 a.m. and will adjourn
at 12:00 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meetings will be in the
Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center
Conference Room at 4201 Giant Springs
Road, Great Falls, Montana.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mark Albers, HiLine District Manager,
Great Falls Field Office, 1101 15th
Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401,
(406) 791–7789, malbers@blm.gov.
Persons who use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the
Federal Information Relay Service
(FIRS) at 1–800–677–8339 to contact the
above individual during normal
business hours. The FIRS is available 24
hours a day, 7 days a week to leave a
message or question with the above
individual. You will receive a reply
during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 15member council advises the Secretary of
the Interior, through the BLM, on a
variety of management issues associated
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\11DEN1.SGM
11DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 238 (Friday, December 11, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76999-77000]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31301]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of the Secretary
[16XD4523WS DS10100000 DWSN00000.000000 DP10020]
Statement of Findings: Bill Williams River Water Rights
Settlement Act of 2014
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) is publishing this
notice in accordance with section 9 of the Bill Williams River Water
Rights Settlement Act of 2014 (P.L. 113-223) (Settlement Act). The
publication of this notice causes the waivers and release of certain
claims to become effective as required to implement the Settlement.
DATES: This notice is effective December 11, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Address all comments and requests for
additional information to Ruth Thayer, Chair, Hualapai Tribe Water
Rights Settlement Negotiation Team, Department of the Interior, Bureau
of Reclamation, Lower Colorado Region, P.O. Box 61470, Boulder City, NV
89006. (702) 293-8426.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Settlement Act directs the Secretary of
the Interior to enter into the Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch Water
Rights Settlement Agreement and the Hualapai Tribe Bill Williams River
Water Rights Settlement Agreement, to provide for the lease of certain
land located within Planet Ranch on the Bill Williams River in the
State of Arizona to benefit the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species
Conservation Program, and to provide for the settlement of specific
water rights claims in the Bill Williams River watershed in the State
of Arizona. The non-federal settling parties submitted a signed
settlement agreement to Congress prior to enactment of the Settlement
Act (Pub. L. 113-223). The purposes of the Settlement Act are:
(1) To achieve a fair, equitable, and final settlement of certain
claims among certain parties to water rights in the Bill Williams River
watershed in the State of Arizona for
(A) the Hualapai Tribe (acting on behalf of the Tribe and members
of the Tribe); and
(B) the Department of the Interior, acting on behalf of the
Department and,
[[Page 77000]]
as specified, the United States as trustee for the Hualapai Tribe, the
members of the Tribe, and the allottees;
(2) to approve, ratify, and confirm
(A) the Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch Water Rights Settlement
Agreement (Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch Agreement) entered into among
the Hualapai Tribe, the United States as trustee for the Tribe, the
members of the Tribe and allottees, the Secretary of the Interior, the
Arizona department of water resources (ADWR), Freeport Minerals
Corporation, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, to the extent the
Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch Agreement is consistent with the
Settlement Act;
(B) the Hualapai Tribe Bill Williams River Water Rights Settlement
Agreement (Hualapai Tribe Agreement) entered into among the Tribe, the
United States as trustee for the Tribe, members of the Tribe, the
allotees, and the Freeport Minerals Corporation, to the extent the
Hualapai Tribe Agreement is consistent with the Settlement Act;
(3) to authorize and direct the Secretary
(A) to execute the duties and obligations of the Secretary under
the Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch Agreement, the Hualapai Tribe
Agreement, and the Settlement Act;
(B)(i) to remove objections to the applications for the severance
and transfer of certain water rights, in partial consideration of the
agreement of the parties to impose certain limits on the extent of the
use and transferability of the severed and transferred water rights and
other water rights; and
(ii) to provide confirmation of those water rights; and
(C) to carry out any other activity necessary to implement the Big
Sandy River-Planet Ranch Agreement and the Hualapai Tribe Agreement in
accordance with the Settlement Act;
(4) to advance the purposes of the Lower Colorado River Multi-
Species Conservation Program (Conservation Program);
(5) to secure a long-term lease for a portion of Planet Ranch,
along with appurtenant water rights primarily along the Bill Williams
River corridor, for use in the Conservation Program;
(6) to bring the leased portion of Planet Ranch into public
ownership for the long-term benefit of the Conservation Program; and
(7) to secure from the Freeport Minerals Corporation non-Federal
contributions
(A) to support a tribal water supply study necessary for the
advancement of a settlement of the claims of the Tribe for rights to
Colorado River water; and
(B) to enable the Tribe to secure Colorado River water rights and
appurtenant land, increase security of the water rights of the Tribe,
and facilitate a settlement of the claims of the Tribe for rights to
Colorado River water.
Statement of Findings
In accordance with section 9 of the Settlement Act, section
11.12(i) of the Amended and Restated Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch Water
Rights Settlement Agreement, and section 10.13(i) of the Amended and
Restated Hualapai Tribe Bill Williams River Water Rights Settlement
Agreement, I find as follows:
(1)(A) To the extent that the Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch
Agreement or the Hualapai Tribe Agreement conflict with the Settlement
Act, the applicable agreement has been revised to eliminate the
conflict; and
(B) the Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch Agreement, as revised, and the
Hualapai Tribe Agreement, as revised, have been executed by all parties
to those agreements;
(2) Freeport Minerals Corporation has submitted to the Arizona
Department of Water Resources (ADWR) a conditional amendment of the
sever and transfer applications for the Lincoln Ranch water right and
amendments to sever and transfer applications for Planet Ranch and
Lincoln Ranch water rights consistent with section 4.2.1(ii)(a) of the
Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch Agreement;
(3) the Secretary and the Arizona Game and Fish Commission have
executed and filed with ADWR a conditional withdrawal of each objection
described in section 4(b)(3) of the Settlement Act and as provided in
subsections 4.2.1(ii)(b) and 4.2.1(ii)(c) of the Big Sandy River-Planet
Ranch Agreement;
(4)(A) ADWR has issued a conditional order approving the sever and
transfer applications of Freeport Minerals Corporation; and
(B) all objections to the sever and transfer applications have been
(i) conditionally withdrawn; or (ii) resolved in a decision issued by
ADWR that is final and nonappealable;
(5) notice has been provided to the parties to the Big Sandy River-
Planet Ranch Agreement and the Hualapai Tribe Agreement that the
Department has completed the legally required environmental compliance
described in section 8;
(6) the steering committee for the Lower Colorado River Multi-
Species Conservation Program has approved and authorized the manager of
the Conservation Program to execute the lease in the form as set forth
in exhibit 2.33 to the Big Sandy River-Planet Ranch Agreement; and
(7) the waivers and releases authorized by section 6 have been
executed by the Tribe and the Secretary.
Dated: December 7, 2015.
Sally Jewell,
Secretary of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 2015-31301 Filed 12-10-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4334-63-P
