Reclamation will reinitiate negotiations for renewal of 86 Central Valley Project (CVP) water service contracts (see page 2 for list of contracts) beginning with a CVP-wide negotiation session on Thursday, May 15, 2003. Reclamation will present a Draft CVP-wide Standard Form of Contract that will contain Reclamation's responses to issues on contract terms and conditions that were raised by CVP Contractors in their letter dated May 1, 2003. The CVP Contractors' May 1, 2003, letter and Reclamation's Draft CVP-wide Standard Form of Contract will be available on Reclamation's website at www.mp.usbr.gov/cvpia/3404c/index.html, click on the Calendar for May 15, 2003.

The negotiation session will be held:

In Sacramento Thursday, May 15, 2003 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Heritage Hotel and Convention Center (formerly the Beverly Garland Hotel) 1780 Tribute Road (Business 80 and Cal Expo) Point West Ballroom, Second Floor

Dates, times, and locations of scheduled sessions may be subject to change on short notice; check Reclamation's website Calendar at www.mp.usbr.gov/cvpia/3404c/index.html for possible changes. Contract negotiations are open to the public, and members of the media and other interested parties are encouraged to attend. If special assistance is needed, or for additional information, please contact Sammie Cervantes at 916-978-5104, TDD 916-978-5608. For information regarding the contract renewal process, contact Ray Sahlberg at 916-978-5246, TDD 916-978-5608.