I 
119TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7288 
To require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine 
the feasibility of constructing a project to supply municipal, rural, and 
industrial water from the Missouri River to the Western Dakota Regional 
Water System, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 30, 2026 
Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study 
to determine the feasibility of constructing a project to 
supply municipal, rural, and industrial water from the 
Missouri River to the Western Dakota Regional Water 
System, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Western South Dakota 
Water Supply Project Feasibility Study Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(1) NON-FEDERAL
PROJECT
ENTITY.—The 
term ‘‘non-Federal project entity’’ means the West-
ern Dakota Regional Water System, Inc., a non-
profit corporation. 
(2) 
PROPOSED
RURAL
WATER
SUPPLY 
PROJECT.—The term ‘‘proposed rural water supply 
project’’ means the proposed project to supply mu-
nicipal, rural, and industrial water from the Mis-
souri River to the Western Dakota Regional Water 
System. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
SEC. 
3. 
WESTERN 
SOUTH 
DAKOTA 
WATER 
SUPPLY 
PROJECT FEASIBILITY STUDY. 
(a) STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in coordina-
tion with the non-Federal project entity, shall carry 
out a study to determine the feasibility of the pro-
posed rural water supply project. 
(2) FEASIBILITY REPORT.—After completion of 
the feasibility study for the proposed rural water 
supply project under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall— 
(A) develop a feasibility report that in-
cludes a recommendation of the Secretary on— 
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(i) whether the proposed rural water 
supply project should be authorized for 
construction; and 
(ii) the appropriate non-Federal share 
of construction costs, which shall be— 
(I) at least 25 percent of the 
total construction costs; and 
(II) determined based on an 
analysis of the financial capability-to- 
pay the allocated construction and op-
erations, maintenance, and replace-
ment costs of the recommended plan; 
(B) submit the report under subparagraph 
(A) to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources of the Senate and the Committee on 
Natural Resources of the House of Representa-
tives; and 
(C) make the report under subparagraph 
(A) publicly available, along with associated fea-
sibility study documents. 
(3) CONSULTATION AND COOPERATION.—In ad-
dition to the non-Federal project entity, the Sec-
retary shall consult and cooperate with appropriate 
Federal, State, Tribal, regional, and local authorities 
during the conduct of the feasibility study and devel-
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