Western South Dakota Water Supply Project Feasibility Study Act
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Western South Dakota Water Supply Project Feasibility Study Act directs the Secretary, working with the non-federal project entity, to study a proposed rural water supply project. After the study, the Secretary must publish a feasibility report recommending whether Congress should authorize construction and what non-federal construction share should apply. That share must be at least 25 percent and based on the project entity's ability to pay allocated construction, operations, maintenance, and replacement costs. The federal share of study costs is capped at 50 percent, the bill authorizes $10 million, and the authority expires 10 years after enactment.
Who Benefits and How
Western South Dakota rural water users benefit if the study advances a new supply project that could improve long-term drinking-water reliability. The non-federal project entity benefits from federal feasibility expertise and up to half of the study cost covered federally. State, Tribal, regional, and local water authorities benefit from required consultation during the study and report. Congressional natural-resources committees benefit from a public recommendation before deciding whether to authorize construction.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The Bureau of Reclamation and Interior Department must coordinate the feasibility study, consult federal, State, Tribal, regional, and local authorities, negotiate a cost-sharing or financial-assistance agreement, publish the report and study documents, and analyze ability to pay. The non-federal project entity must share study costs and would face at least 25 percent of construction costs if the project is authorized. Federal taxpayers bear up to $10 million in authorized study exposure.
Key Provisions
- Authorizes a feasibility study for a Western South Dakota rural water supply project.
- Requires a public report recommending whether construction should be authorized and what non-federal construction share should apply.
- Provides a federal study cost share capped at 50 percent and authorizes $10 million for the study.
- Requires consultation with federal, State, Tribal, regional, and local authorities and sunsets the study authority after 10 years.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Authorizes a $10 million, 10-year feasibility-study process for a Western South Dakota rural water supply project, including a public construction recommendation, at least 25 percent non-federal construction share, 50 percent federal study cap, and capability-to-pay analysis.
Key Policy Areas
Water Infrastructure, Rural Development, Government
Primary Purpose
Authorizes a $10 million, 10-year feasibility-study process for a Western South Dakota rural water supply project, including a public construction recommendation, at least 25 percent non-federal construction share, 50 percent federal study cap, and capability-to-pay analysis.
Policy Domains
Substantive provisions
Identified Gains
- Western South Dakota rural water users
- Non-federal project entity
- State water authorities
- Tribal water authorities
- Congressional natural-resources committees
Identified Costs
- Bureau of Reclamation
- Interior Department
- Non-federal project entity
- Federal taxpayers
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeSubcommittee Hearings Held
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Introduced in House
Mr. Johnson of South Dakota introduced the following bill; which …
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Non-federal project entity, Western South Dakota rural water users
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
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