News Release Archive

Reclamation Issues Temporary Manual Release for Lease of Power Privilege Requirements, Seeks Public Comments on Updated Directive and Standard

Updates incorporate new process requirements established by Public Law 113-24, Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act

Media Contact: Peter Soeth, 303-445-3615

For Release: February 12, 2014

WASHINGTON - The Bureau of Reclamation has issued and is seeking public comment on a temporary Reclamation manual release directive and standard, Lease of Power Privilege Processes, Responsibilities, Timelines and Charges (FAC TRMR-61). It supersedes FAC 04-08.

This directive and standard has been revised to incorporate new process requirements established by Public Law 113-24, Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act. New process requirements updated in the document include: LOPPs being offered first to irrigation districts or water user associations operating or receiving water from Reclamation transferred or reserved works and establishing timeframes for irrigation districts or water users associations to accept or reject the LOPP offer.

A LOPP is used when Reclamation chooses to lease its right to develop hydropower at one of its facilities when that power development doesn't interfere with other authorized project purposes. For more than 100 years, Reclamation and its partners have developed the tools to guide a sustainable water and power future for the West.

The draft directive and standard is available for detailed review at: www.usbr.gov/recman.

Comments or questions may be directed to Michael Pulskamp at mpulskamp@usbr.gov. Comments must be received by Reclamation by 5 p.m. on March 28, 2014.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.

Relevant Link:

FAC-TRMR-61: Lease of Power Privilege (LOPP) Processes, Responsibilities, Timelines, and Charges