[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7288 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7288
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 30, 2026
Mr. Johnson of South Dakota introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
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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.
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 ``Western South Dakota Water Supply
Project Feasibility Study Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Non-federal project entity.--The term ``non-Federal
project entity'' means the Western Dakota Regional Water
System, Inc., a nonprofit corporation.
(2) Proposed rural water supply project.--The term
``proposed rural water supply project'' means the proposed
project to supply municipal, rural, and industrial water from
the Missouri River to the Western Dakota Regional Water System.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
SEC. 3. WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA WATER SUPPLY PROJECT FEASIBILITY STUDY.
(a) Study.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, in coordination with the
non-Federal project entity, shall carry out a study to
determine the feasibility of the proposed rural water supply
project.
(2) Feasibility report.--After completion of the
feasibility study for the proposed rural water supply project
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
(A) develop a feasibility report that includes a
recommendation of the Secretary on--
(i) whether the proposed rural water supply
project should be authorized for construction;
and
(ii) the appropriate non-Federal share of
construction costs, which shall be--
(I) at least 25 percent of the
total construction costs; and
(II) determined based on an
analysis of the financial capability-
to-pay the allocated construction and
operations, maintenance, and
replacement costs of the recommended
plan;
(B) submit the report under subparagraph (A) to the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate
and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives; and
(C) make the report under subparagraph (A) publicly
available, along with associated feasibility study
documents.
(3) Consultation and cooperation.--In addition to the non-
Federal project entity, the Secretary shall consult and
cooperate with appropriate Federal, State, Tribal, regional,
and local authorities during the conduct of the feasibility
study and development of the feasibility report under this
subsection.
(b) Cost-Sharing Agreement for Feasibility Study Costs.--The
Secretary shall enter into a cost-sharing agreement (or an appropriate
financial assistance agreement, as determined by the Secretary) with
the non-Federal project entity to conduct a study under subsection (a)
that complies with the reclamation feasibility standards.
(c) Federal Share of Feasibility Study Costs.--The Federal share of
the total costs of carrying out the feasibility study under subsection
(a) 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.
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