The Bureau of Reclamation has released a temporary directive and standard that provides requirements for the extended repayment of extraordinary operation and maintenance costs and emergency extraordinary operation and maintenance costs by project beneficiaries.
This directive and standard implements Title IX, Subtitle G, Section 9603 of Public Law 111-11. It explains how Reclamation will work with its project beneficiaries and in certain cases allows repayment with interest for up to fifty years. It also defines extraordinary operation and maintenance and emergency extraordinary operation and maintenance, and outlines eligibility.
The act is an authorizing statute, not a source of appropriations. Any Reclamation-provided funding under the act must be secured from within Reclamation's limited existing appropriations or in the form of a new appropriations request through the budget formulation process. Reclamation anticipates a very limited amount of funding to be available for implementation of this authority, and the directive and standard will help to ensure funding is directed to the most critical project needs.
You may view this directive and standard by visiting www.usbr.gov/recman/temporary_releases/pectrmr-49.pdf. Since this is a temporary release for one year, you may also provide comments on this guidance. A formal review process will be initiated prior to the expiration of the temporary release, allowing additional opportunities for public review and comment.
If you have any questions or would like to submit a comment on this guidance, please contact: Ryan Randol at rrandol@usbr.gov.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
