Bill would have Interior study a water system for four Midwest states

The Secretary of the Interior would study whether the Dakota Mainstem Water Supply Project is workable and affordable, working with the nonprofit Dakota Mainstem Regional Water System, Inc. The proposed project would supply water for towns, rural areas, and industry in South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota. The Secretary would also have to work with federal, state, Tribal, regional, and local authorities. The authority to do the study would end 5 years after the date of enactment.

After the study, the Secretary would write a report on whether the project is feasible, whether it should be authorized for construction, and what share of construction costs non-federal partners should pay. The report would recommend a non-federal share of at least 25 percent of construction costs. The report would go to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee, and be made public with the study documents.

The Secretary would sign a cost-sharing agreement with the project's nonprofit, and the federal government would pay no more than 50 percent of the study cost, using appropriated money. No more than $10,000,000 of federal funds could be spent on the study. The Secretary would have to identify available sources of funds to pay the federal share. The Secretary would have 90 days after enactment to identify sources of available funds.