Western South Dakota Water Supply Project Feasibility Study Act

Bill: 118-s-5216
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2024-09-25
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Latest action: action_date: 2024-09-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text: CR S6445)

Summaries:

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 5216 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 25, 2024 Mr. Thune (for himself and Mr. Rounds ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 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.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Western South Dakota Water Supply Project Feasibility Study Act . 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Reclamation feasibility standards The term reclamation feasibility standards means the eligibility criteria and feasibility study requirements described in section 106 of the Reclamation Rural Water Supply Act of 2006 ( 43 U.S.C. 2405 ). (2) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation. (3) Western Dakota Regional Water System The term Western Dakota Regional Water System means the Western Dakota Regional Water System, Inc., a nonprofit corporation established and operated substantially in accordance with the reclamation feasibility standards to serve as a non-Federal project entity for purposes of the cooperative agreement entered into under section 3(b). 3. Western South Dakota water supply project feasibility study (a) Study (1) In general The Secretary, in consultation with the West Dakota Water Development District, through a cooperative agreement, may undertake 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. (2) Requirement The study under paragraph (1) shall comply with the reclamation feasibility standards. (b) Cooperative agreement If the Secretary determines that the study under subsection (a) does not comply with the reclamation feasibility standards, the Secretary may enter into a cooperative agreement with the Western Dakota Regional Water System to complete additional work to ensure that the study under that subsection complies with the reclamation feasibility standards. (c) Federal share The Federal share of the total costs of carrying out the feasibility study under this section shall not exceed 50 percent. (d) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $10,000,000. (e) Termination of authority The authority provided by this section expires on the date that is 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act.