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. . . The LROC provide that the Secretary will detemline the extent to which the reasonable consumptive use requirements of mainstream users in Arizona, California and Nevada (the Lower Division states) can be met. The LROC define a nornml year as a year in which annual pumping and release from Lake Mead will be suffcient to satisfy 7.5 maf of consumptive use in accordance with the Decree. A surpbls year is defmed as a year in which water in quantities grcater than normal (i.e., greater than 7.5 mat) is available for putrping or release from Lake Mead pursuant to Article lI(B)( 2) 0 fthe Decree after consideration of relevant factors, inc luding the factors listed in the LROC. Surplus water is avaihble to agencies which have contracted with the Secretaty for delivery of surplus water, for use when thcir water demand exceeds their basic entitlement, and when the excess demand cannot be met within the basic apportionment of their state. Water apportioned to, but unused by one or more Lower Division states can be used to satisfy benefIcial consumptive use requests ofmainstream users in other Lower Division states as provided in Article II(B)(6) of the Decree. Pursuant to the CRBPA, the LROC are utilized by the Secretary, on an annual basis, to make detemlinations with respect to the projected plan of ope rat ions of the storage reservoirs in thc Colorado River Basin. The AOP is prcpared by Reclamation, acting on behalfofthe Secretary, in consultation w~h representatives of thc Colorado River Basin states (Basin States) and other parties, as required by federal law. The interim surplus guidelines would serve to implement the provisions of Article III(3)(b) of the LROC on an annual basis in the detenninations made by the Secretary as part of the AOP process for a period of fifteen years. To date, the Secretary has applied factors, including but not limited to those found in Article II1(3Xb)(i-iv) of the LROC, in annual determinations of the avaihbil~y of surplus quant~iesof water for pumping or release from Lake Mead. As a resu It of actual operating experience and through preparation of AOPs, particularly during recent years when there has been increasing demand for surplus water, the Secretary has detennined that there is a need for more specific surplus guidelines, consistent with the Decree and applicable federal law, to assist in the Secretary's annual decision making during an inlerim period. For many years, California has been diverting n:tJre than its normal 4.4 mal' apportionment. Prior to 1996, California utilized unused apportionments of other Lower Division states that were made available by the Secretary. Since 1996, Cali!ornia has also utilized surplus water made available by Secretarial determination. Califurni~ is in the process of developing the means to reduce ~s annual use of Colorado River water to 4.4 ma f. Both Arizona and Nevada are approaclling full use of their Colorado River apportionments. Additionally, through adoption of specific interim surplus guidelines, the Secretary will be able to afford mainstream users o I' Colorado River water, particularly those in California who currently utilize surplus flows, a greater degree of predictability with respect to the likely existence, or lack thereof, of surplus cond~ions on the river in a given year. Adoption of the interim surplus guidelires is interned to recognize Califurnia's plan to reduce reliance on surplus deliveries, to assist California in moving toward its allocated share o I' Co lorado River water, and to avoid 3