Western South Dakota Water Supply Project Feasibility Study Act

Key Points

• This bill, introduced by Senators Thune and Rounds, requires the Department of the Interior to study whether it is possible to build a large water pipeline system for Western South Dakota.
• The project would move water from the Missouri River to provide a reliable supply for homes, farms, and businesses in the western part of the state.
• The federal government would provide up to $10 million for this research, but it must split the cost 50/50 with a local non-profit water organization.
• Once the study is finished, officials will report to Congress on whether the project should be built and how the construction costs should be shared between the government and local users.
• If the project eventually moves to construction, the bill requires that local and state sources pay at least 25% of those building costs.
• The authority to conduct this study and use the funding will expire 10 years after the bill becomes law.

Impact Analysis

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