A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate with the State of Nebraska in studies of Platte River water resource use and development, and for other purposes.
PL 97-338 (H.R.6188), enacted 10/15/1982

PUBLIC LAW 97-338—OCT. 15, 1982 
96 STAT. 1633 
Public Law 97-388 
97th Congress 
An Act 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate with the State of Nebraska in 
studies of Platte River water resource use and development, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary 
of the Interior is hereby authorized to engage in a special study to 
assist the State of Nebraska in establishing water resource conserva-
tion and development priorities, consistent with constitutional and 
statutory provisions of the State of Nebraska, in the Platte River 
Basin from the western border of the State of Nebraska to the 
confluence of the Platte and Missouri Rivers. 
The purposes of the study shall be to— 
(a) determine the availability of water resources within the 
basin; 
(b) identify, define, and quantify the existing and foreseeable 
intrabasin and interbasin demands on such resources within the 
State of Nebraska (including irrigation, ground water stabiliza-
tion and recharge, enhancement of water quality, small commu-
nity and rural domestic water supplies, management of fish and 
wildlife habitat, public outdoor recreation, preservation of 
scenic qualities, flood control, hydroelectric power development, 
municipal and industrial water supplies, and such other de-
mands as the study may identify); 
(c) identify, evaluate, and estimate costs for alternative meth-
ods of meeting the identified water demands, including but not 
limited to withdrawals from the Platte River, groundwater 
pumping, water conservation, and improved water manage-
ment; and 
(d) resolve the identified conflicts by making specific recom-
mendations on the full and best utilization of the available 
water supply, including a priority ranking for implementing 
recommended water conservation and development projects. 
SEC. 2. The special study authorized by section 1 of this Act shall 
be a Federal-State study conducted jointly by the Bureau of Recla-
mation and the Nebraska Natural Resources Commission. The 
broadly constituted study body responsible for making the recom-
mendations required by section 1 shall consist of such citizens, 
representatives of agricultural, environmental and development 
groups, State and local officials, and Federal agency representatives 
as the Governor of Nebraska and the Secretary shall jointly deter-
mine. Federal agencies invited to participate shall include, but not 
be limited to, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The special 
study authorized by section 1 of this Act shall be completed within 
thirty months after funds are first appropriated under this Act. 
SEC. 3. (a) There is hereby authorized to be appropriated the sum 
of $350,000 to carry out section 1 of this Act. One-half of this sum 
shall be made available as a grant to the Nebraska Natural Re-
Oct. 15, 1982 
[H.R. 6188] 
Platte River, 
Nebr. 
Federal-State 
study. 
Study 
completion. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
96 STAT. 1634 
PUBLIC LAW 97-338—OCT. 15, 1982 
sources Commission and shall be matched equally by direct contri-
bution or inkind services by the State of Nebraska, its political 
subdivisions, or other non-Federal entities. 
(b) The sums expended or services provided by the State of Ne-
braska, its political subdivisions, or other non-Federal entities after 
March 9,1982, for the purposes of this Act shall be considered in the 
determination of the matching non-Federal share. 
Approved October 15, 1982. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 6188: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 97-713 (Comm. on Interior and Insular Affairs). 
SENATE REPORT No. 97-562 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 128 (1982): 
Aug. 16, considered and passed House. 
Oct. 1, considered and passed Senate.