S3723-119

What This Bill Does

This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a feasibility study for a proposed rural water supply project that would move municipal, rural, and industrial water from the Missouri River to the Western Dakota Regional Water System. The study must be conducted in coordination with Western Dakota Regional Water System, Inc., the bill's named non-Federal project entity, and with consultation from appropriate Federal, State, Tribal, regional, and local authorities.

After the study, the Secretary must prepare a feasibility report that recommends whether Congress should authorize construction of the project and what non-Federal construction cost share should apply. The non-Federal construction share must be at least 25 percent and must be based on an analysis of ability to pay construction, operations, maintenance, and replacement costs. The Secretary must submit the report to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee, make the report and study documents public, and enter into a cost-sharing or financial-assistance agreement with Western Dakota Regional Water System, Inc. The federal share of study costs may not exceed 50 percent, the bill authorizes $10,000,000 for the work, and the authority expires 10 years after enactment.

Who Benefits and How

Western Dakota Regional Water System, Inc. benefits because the bill gives the named nonprofit a federal feasibility-study pathway and potential financial assistance for a regional water project. Municipal, rural, and industrial water users in western South Dakota benefit if the study moves the proposed Missouri River supply project closer to congressional authorization. Tribal, State, regional, and local water authorities benefit from required consultation during the study and report process. Congress and the public benefit from a required feasibility report and public study documents before any construction authorization decision.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Secretary of the Interior must conduct the study, coordinate with Western Dakota Regional Water System, Inc., consult water authorities, prepare the feasibility report, submit it to congressional committees, publish the report and study documents, and negotiate the cost-sharing or financial-assistance agreement. Western Dakota Regional Water System, Inc. must participate in the study agreement and faces a non-Federal share of construction costs of at least 25 percent if the project is later recommended and authorized. Federal taxpayers bear the cost of the $10,000,000 authorization and up to 50 percent of feasibility-study costs.

Key Provisions

• Directs the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a feasibility study for the Western South Dakota rural water supply project.
• Requires a feasibility report recommending whether the project should be authorized for construction and what non-Federal construction share should apply.
• Requires the Secretary to submit the report to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee and make the report public.
• Limits the federal share of feasibility-study costs to 50 percent and requires a cost-sharing or financial-assistance agreement with Western Dakota Regional Water System, Inc.
• Authorizes $10,000,000 for the feasibility study and ends the authority 10 years after enactment.