[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 10 (Wednesday, February 1, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S460-S461]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         WATER NEEDS OF THE DRY PRAIRIE RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 355, S. 1219.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1219) to authorize certain tribes in the State 
     of Montana to enter into a lease or other temporary 
     conveyance of water rights to meet the water needs of the Dry 
     Prairie Rural Water Association, Inc.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 1219) was read the third time and passed, as follows:

                                S. 1219

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. TEMPORARY CONVEYANCE OF WATER RIGHTS TO DRY 
                   PRAIRIE RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION, INC.

       (a) In General.--The Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the 
     Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana (referred to in this 
     section as the ``Tribes'') may, with the approval of the 
     Secretary, enter into a lease or other temporary conveyance 
     of water rights recognized under the Fort Peck-Montana 
     Compact (Montana Code Annotated 85-20-201) with the Dry 
     Prairie Rural Water Association, Incorporated (or any 
     successor non-Federal entity) for the purpose of meeting the 
     water needs of that association, in accordance with section 5 
     of the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System Act of 2000 
     (Public Law 106-382; 114 Stat. 1454).
       (b) Conditions of Lease.--With respect to a lease or other 
     temporary conveyance described in subsection (a)--
       (1) the term of the lease or conveyance shall not exceed 
     100 years; and
       (2)(A) the lease or conveyance may be approved by the 
     Secretary without monetary compensation to the Tribes; and

[[Page S461]]

       (B) the Secretary shall not be subject to liability for any 
     claim relating to any compensation or consideration received 
     by the Tribes under the lease or conveyance.
       (c) No Permanent Alienation of Water.--Nothing in this 
     section authorizes a permanent alienation of any water by the 
     Tribes.

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