Lewis and Clark Water Study Act

Summary#

This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a feasibility study on a proposed project to expand the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System so it can supply municipal, rural, and industrial water in Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota. The study must be done with the non-Federal project entity (Lewis and Clark Regional Water System, Inc., or a nonprofit successor) and in consultation with Federal, State, Tribal, regional, and local authorities. After the study, the Secretary must produce a feasibility report that recommends whether the project should be authorized for construction and recommends the appropriate non-Federal share of construction costs. The report must set the non-Federal share at no less than 25 percent of total construction costs and determine the exact share based on an analysis of the non-Federal entity’s ability to pay construction and operations, maintenance, and replacement costs. The Secretary must send the report to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Natural Resources and make the report and study documents public. The Federal share of the feasibility study costs may not exceed 50 percent. The bill authorizes $10,000,000 for the study and the authority to carry out this section expires 10 years after enactment.

What it means for you#

  • Residents in parts of Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota: this starts a study that could lead to expanded water service in some areas, but it does not approve construction by itself.
  • Local governments and utilities: they would be a study partner and could be asked to share study costs and, if built, pay at least part of construction and long-term costs.
  • Tribal, State, and regional authorities: they will be consulted during the study.
  • General public: the study report and related documents must be made publicly available.

Expenses#

  • The bill authorizes $10,000,000 to carry out the feasibility study.
  • The Federal share of study costs is limited to 50 percent; the non-Federal project entity must enter a cost-sharing or financial assistance agreement.
  • Any recommended non-Federal share of construction costs must be at least 25 percent and is to be set based on an analysis of financial capability to pay construction and operations, maintenance, and replacement costs.
  • No publicly available information on total construction costs, estimated operations costs, or specific local cost amounts is provided in the bill.

Proponents' View#

The bill’s sponsors asked for a formal feasibility study to determine whether expanding the regional water system is practical and how costs should be shared. The required report would give a recommendation on whether to authorize construction and would set a minimum non-Federal construction share (25 percent) and a process for determining the final share.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.