118 S5216 IS: Western South Dakota Water Supply Project Feasibility Study Act U.S. Senate 2024-09-25 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II118th CONGRESS2d SessionS. 5216IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESSeptember 25, 2024Mr. Thune (for himself and Mr. Rounds) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural ResourcesA BILLTo 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.