S 3736 — Dakota Mainstem Water Supply Project Feasibility Study Act

Summary

Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to undertake a feasibility study with the Dakota Mainstem Regional Water System to determine whether a project to supply water to the Dakota Mainstem Regional Water System service area in South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota should be constructed.
Requires the feasibility study to comply with federal reclamation feasibility standards.
Limits the federal share of feasibility study costs to 50 percent.
Authorizes $10,000,000 for the feasibility study and expires the authority 10 years after enactment.

AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.

Sponsor (1)

Sen. Rounds, Mike (R-SD)

1 cosponsor

Sen. Thune, John (R-SD)

Actions (6)

Sep 17, 2026 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 651. · senate
Sep 17, 2026 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report. · senate
Jun 10, 2026 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably. · senate
Mar 17, 2026 Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power. Hearings held. · senate
Jan 29, 2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. · senate
Jan 29, 2026 Introduced in Senate

Related bills (1)

More bills on these subjects (8)

Other bills that carry the most legislative subjects in common with this one (topical discovery — distinct from the procedural related bills above).

Text versions (2)

Reported to Senate · Sep 17, 2026
Introduced in Senate · Jan 29, 2026

FromTo

Full text

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 29, 2026

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

September 17, 2026

Reported by Mr. Lee, with an amendment [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]

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 the Dakota Mainstem Regional Water System service area in the States of South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota, 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 “Dakota Mainstem Water Supply Project Feasibility Study Act”.~~

~~SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.~~

~~In this Act:~~ (1) Dakota mainstem regional water system.—The term “Dakota Mainstem Regional Water System” means the Dakota Mainstem Regional Water System, Inc., a nonprofit corporation established and operated substantially in accordance with the reclamation feasibility standards to serve as a non-Federal project entity for purposes of the cooperative agreement entered into under section 3(a)(1). (2) Reclamation feasibility standards.—The term “reclamation feasibility standards” means the eligibility criteria and feasibility study requirements described in part 404 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations). ~~(3) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior.~~

~~SEC. 3. DAKOTA MAINSTEM WATER SUPPLY PROJECT FEASIBILITY STUDY.~~

~~(a) Study.—~~ (1) In general.—The Secretary, in consultation with the Dakota Mainstem Regional Water System, through a cooperative agreement, may undertake a study to determine the feasibility of constructing a project to supply municipal, rural, and industrial water to the Dakota Mainstem Regional Water System service area in the States of South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota. ~~(2) Requirement.—The study under paragraph (1) shall comply with the reclamation feasibility standards.~~ ~~(b) Federal Share.—The Federal share of the total costs of carrying out the feasibility study under this section shall not exceed 50 percent.~~ ~~(c) Authorization of Appropriations.—There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $10,000,000.~~ ~~(d) 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.~~

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Dakota Mainstem Water Supply Project Feasibility Study Act”.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) Dakota mainstem water supply project.—The term “Dakota Mainstem Water Supply Project” means the proposed project to supply municipal, rural, and industrial water to the Dakota Mainstem Regional Water System service area in the States of South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota.

(2) Non-federal project entity.—The term “non-Federal project entity” means the Dakota Mainstem Regional Water System, Inc., a nonprofit corporation established and operated substantially in accordance with the reclamation feasibility standards to serve as a non-Federal project entity for purposes of the cooperative agreement entered into under section 3(a)(1).

(3) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior (acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation).

SEC. 3. DAKOTA MAINSTEM 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 constructing the Dakota Mainstem Water Supply Project in accordance with the reclamation laws and reclamation feasibility standards.

(2) Feasibility report.—After completion of the feasibility study for the Dakota Mainstem 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 Dakota Mainstem Water Supply Project is found to be technically and financially feasible in accordance with the reclamation laws;

(ii) whether the Dakota Mainstem Water Supply Project should be authorized for construction; and

(iii) the appropriate non-Federal share of construction costs for the Dakota Mainstem Water Supply Project, which shall be at least 25 percent of the total construction costs;

(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 section.

(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; Funding.—

(1) Federal share; funding.—The Federal share of the total costs of carrying out the feasibility study under this section—

(A) shall not exceed 50 percent; and

(B) shall be paid for by the Secretary using appropriated funds.

(2) Identification of funds.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall identify sources of available funds to pay the Federal share under paragraph (1)(B).

(d) Limitation on Expenditures.—Not more than $10,000,000 of Federal funds may be expended to carry out the feasibility study under this section.

(e) Termination of Authority.—The authority provided by this section expires on the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act. Calendar No. 651

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 3736