Fort Peck Rural County Water Supply System Act of 1996
PL 104-300 (S.1467), enacted 10/11/1996

110 STAT. 3646 
PUBLIC LAW 104-300—OCT. 11, 1996 
Public Law 104-300 
104th Congress 
Oct. 11, 1996 
[S. 1467] 
Fort Peck Rural 
County Water 
Supply System 
Act of 1996. 
Montana. 
Contracts. 
An Act 
To authorize the construction of the Fort Peck Riural County Water Supply System, 
to authorize assistance to the Fort Peck Rural County Water District, Inc., a 
nonprofit corporation, for the planning, design, and construction of the water 
supply system, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the "Fort Peck Rural County Water 
Supply System Act of 1996". 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
For the purposes of this Act: 
(1) CONSTRUCTION.—^The term "construction" means such 
activities associated with the actual development or construc-
tion of facilities as are initiated on execution of contracts for 
construction. 
(2) DISTRICT.—The term "District" means the Fort Peck 
Rural County Water District, Inc., a nonprofit corporation in 
Montana. 
(3) FEASIBILITY STUDY.—^The term "feasibility study" means 
the study entitled "Final Engineering Report and Alternative 
Evaluation for the Fort Peck Rural County Water District", 
dated September 1994. 
(4) PLANNING.—^The term "planning" means activities such 
as data collection, evaluation, design, and other associated 
preconstruction activities required prior to the execution of 
contracts for construction. 
(5) SECRETARY.—^The term "Secretary" means the Secretary 
of the Interior. 
(6) WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM.—^The term "water supply sys-
tem" means the Fort Peck Rural County Water Supply System, 
to be established and operated substantially in accordance with 
the feasibility study. 
SEC. 3. FEDERAL ASSISTANCE FOR WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—^Upon request of the District, the Secretary 
shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the District for the 
planning, design, and construction by the District of the water 
supply system. Title to this project shall remain in the name of 
the District. 
(b) SERVICE AREA.—^The water supply system shall provide 
for safe and adequate rural water supplies under the jurisdiction 
PUBLIC LAW 104-300—OCT. 11, 1996 
110 STAT. 3647 
of the District in Valley County, northeastern Montana (as described 
in the feasibility study). 
(c) AMOUNT OF FEDERAL CONTRIBUTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (3), under the 
cooperative agreement, the Secretary shall pay the Federal 
share of— 
(A) costs associated with the planning, design, and 
construction of the water supply system (as identified in 
the feasibility study); and 
(B) such sums as are necessary to defray increases 
in the budget. 
(2) FEDERAL SHARE.—^The Federal share referred to in para-
graph (1) shall be 75 percent and shall not be reimbursable. 
(3) TOTAL.—^The amount of Federal funds made available 
under the cooperative agreement shall not exceed the amount 
of funds authorized to be appropriated under section 4. 
(4) LIMITATIONS.—^Not more than 5 percent of the amount 
of Federal funds made available to the Secretary under section 
4 may be used by the Secretary for activities associated with— 
(A) compliance with the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and 
(B) oversight of the planning, design, and construction 
by the District of the water supply system. 
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 
$5,800,000. This authorization shall terminate after a period of Termination 
5 complete fiscal years after the date of enactment of this Act date, 
unless the Congress has appropriated funds for the construction 
purposes of this Act. This authorization shall be extended 1 addi-
tional year if the Secretary has requested such appropriation. The 
funds authorized to be appropriated may be increased or decreased 
by such amounts as are justified by reason of ordinary fluctuations 
in development costs incurred after October 1, 1994, as indicated 
by engineering cost indices applicable to the tjrpe of construction 
project authorized under this Act. All costs which exceed the 
amounts authorized by this Act, including costs associated with 
the ongoing energy needs, operation, and maintenance of this project 
shall remain the responsibility of the District. 
110 STAT. 3648 
PUBLIC LAW 104-300—OCT. 11, 1996 
SEC. 5. CACHUMA PROJECT, BRADBURY DAM, CALIFORNIA. 
The prohibition against obligating funds for construction until 
60 days from the date that the Secretary of the Interior transmits 
a report to the Congress in accordance with section 5 of the Rec-
lamation Safety of Dams Act of 1978 (43 U.S.C. 509) is waived 
for the Cachuma Project, Bradbury Dam, California. 
Approved October 11, 1996. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY-^. 1467: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 104-769 (Comm. on Resources). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 104-242 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, VoL 142 (1996): 
May 7, considered and passed Senate. 
Sept. 4, considered and passed House, amended. 
Sept. 28, Senate concurred in House amendment.