This bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to work with the Western Dakota Regional Water System, Inc. (a nonprofit) to study whether it is feasible to build a project that would supply municipal, rural, and industrial water from the Missouri River to the Western Dakota Regional Water System. The Secretary must produce a feasibility report that recommends whether construction should be authorized and recommends the appropriate non‑Federal share of construction costs. The non‑Federal share must be at least 25 percent and be based on an analysis of the non‑Federal entity's ability to pay construction and operation, maintenance, and replacement costs. The Secretary must consult with Federal, State, Tribal, regional, and local authorities, submit the report to relevant congressional committees, and make the report public.
If you live, work, or run a business in the area served by the Western Dakota Regional Water System, this bill would lead to a federal study to decide whether bringing Missouri River water to that system is practical. The study and report could affect future decisions about building a new water project, but this bill itself does not authorize construction.
The bill authorizes up to $10,000,000 to carry out the feasibility study. The Federal share of the study costs may not exceed 50 percent. The Secretary must enter a cost‑sharing or financial assistance agreement with the non‑Federal project entity that follows Reclamation feasibility standards. Any recommendation for construction must set the non‑Federal construction share at no less than 25 percent, with the exact share determined by the entity's ability to pay. The authority to carry out the study expires 10 years after the bill becomes law.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.