H.R. 9785 — South Dakota Water Feasibility Studies Act

This section defines three terms for the title: the non-Federal project entity as the Western Dakota Regional Water System, Inc., a nonprofit corporation; the proposed rural water supply project as the project to supply municipal, rural, and industrial water from the Missouri River to that system; and the Secretary as the Secretary of the Interior.

This section directs the Secretary to conduct a feasibility study, in coordination with the non-Federal project entity, for the proposed Western South Dakota rural water supply project. It requires a report recommending whether to authorize construction and setting the non-Federal construction cost share at no less than 25 percent, limits the federal share of study costs to 50 percent, authorizes $10 million in appropriations, and terminates the authority 10 years after enactment.

This section establishes definitions for the title, including the non-Federal project entity as the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System, Inc., or any nonprofit successor; the proposed rural water supply project as the expansion of municipal, rural, and industrial water capacity in Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota; and the Secretary as the Secretary of the Interior.

This section directs the Secretary to conduct a feasibility study, in coordination with the non-Federal project entity, on expanding the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System. It requires a report to Congress recommending whether to authorize construction and setting the non-Federal cost share at no less than 25 percent based on ability to pay, limits the federal share of study costs to 50 percent, authorizes $10 million, and terminates the authority 10 years after enactment.

This section defines the Dakota Mainstem Regional Water System as the nonprofit corporation established to serve as the non-Federal project entity for the cooperative agreement under section 303(a)(1). It also defines reclamation feasibility standards as the eligibility criteria in 43 CFR part 404 and Secretary as the Secretary of the Interior.

This section authorizes the Secretary, in consultation with the Dakota Mainstem Regional Water System, to conduct a feasibility study for a project supplying municipal, rural, and industrial water to the service area in South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota. The federal share of study costs may not exceed 50 percent, up to $10,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated, and the authority terminates 10 years after enactment.