Lewis & Clark Regional Water System Expansion Feasibility Study Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3725 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3725

    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 to expand the capacity and reach 
  of the Lewis and Clark Rural Water System, Inc. (doing business as 
   ``Lewis & Clark Regional Water System''), in the States of Iowa, 
                      Minnesota, and South Dakota.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 29, 2026

 Mr. Thune (for himself, Mr. Rounds, and Ms. Klobuchar) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                      Energy and Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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 to expand the capacity and reach 
  of the Lewis and Clark Rural Water System, Inc. (doing business as 
   ``Lewis & Clark Regional Water System''), in the States of Iowa, 
                      Minnesota, and South Dakota.

    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 ``Lewis & Clark Regional Water System 
Expansion Feasibility Study Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Non-federal project entity.--The term ``non-Federal 
        project entity'' means--
                    (A) the Lewis and Clark Rural Water System, Inc. 
                (doing business as ``Lewis & Clark Regional Water 
                System''); and
                    (B) any nonprofit successor entity to the 
                corporation described in subparagraph (A).
            (2) Proposed rural water supply project.--The term 
        ``proposed rural water supply project'' means the proposed 
        project to supply municipal, rural, and industrial water to 
        expand the capacity and reach of the Lewis & Clark Regional 
        Water System in the States of Iowa, Minnesota, and South 
        Dakota.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.

SEC. 3. LEWIS & CLARK REGIONAL WATER SYSTEM EXPANSION 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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