Bill Summary
This legislation, titled the "Clean Water for Rural Communities Act", authorizes the construction of the Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System and a feasibility study for the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority System in Montana and North Dakota. The purpose of this act is to ensure a safe and adequate water supply for the citizens of several counties in Montana and McKenzie County in North Dakota. The bill defines key terms and authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to carry out the planning, design, and construction of the Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System. It also includes provisions for cost-sharing between the federal government and the Central Montana Regional Water Authority. Additionally, the bill authorizes a feasibility study for the Dry-Redwater Regional Water System and provides funding for the study. The legislation also includes provisions to protect state water laws and rights. Overall, the bill aims to improve access to clean water for rural communities and authorizes funding for necessary water infrastructure projects.
Possible Impacts
1. Economic impact: The construction of the Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System and the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority System will require a significant amount of funding, which could potentially affect people's taxes and cost of living in the affected counties.
2. Environmental impact: The purpose of the Clean Water for Rural Communities Act is to ensure a safe and adequate water supply, which could have positive effects on the health and well-being of the citizens living in the affected areas. However, the construction and operation of the water systems could also have potential negative effects on the environment, such as disruption of natural habitats and potential water pollution.
3. Social impact: The construction of the water systems could potentially create job opportunities for local residents, providing economic benefits to the affected communities. However, it could also result in displacement or disruption of certain communities or neighborhoods, as well as changes to the way of life for those living in the affected areas.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 334 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 253
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 334
[Report No. 116-133]
To authorize the construction of the Musselshell-Judith Rural Water
System and study of the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority System in
the States of Montana and North Dakota, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 5, 2019
Mr. Daines (for himself and Mr. Tester) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources
October 22, 2019
Reported by Ms. Murkowski, without amendment
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the construction of the Musselshell-Judith Rural Water
System and study of the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority System in
the States of Montana and North Dakota, 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 ``Clean Water for Rural Communities
Act''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSE.
The purpose of this Act is to ensure a safe and adequate municipal,
rural, and industrial water supply for the citizens of--
(1) Dawson, Garfield, McCone, Prairie, Richland, Judith
Basin, Wheatland, Golden Valley, Fergus, Yellowstone, and
Musselshell Counties in the State of Montana; and
(2) McKenzie County, North Dakota.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Authority.--The term ``Authority'' means--
(A) the Central Montana Regional Water Authority, a
publicly owned nonprofit water authority formed in
accordance with Mont. Code Ann. Sec. 75-6-302 (2007);
and
(B) any nonprofit successor entity to the Authority
described in subparagraph (A).
(2) Musselshell-judith rural water system.--The term
``Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System'' means the
Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System authorized under section
4(a), with a project service area that includes--
(A) Judith Basin, Wheatland, Golden Valley, and
Musselshell Counties in the State;
(B) the portion of Yellowstone County in the State
within 2 miles of State Highway 3 and within 4 miles of
the county line between Golden Valley and Yellowstone
Counties in the State, inclusive of the Town of
Broadview, Montana; and
(C) the portion of Fergus County in the State
within 2 miles of U.S. Highway 87 and within 4 miles of
the county line between Fergus and Judith Basin
Counties in the State, inclusive of the Town of Moore,
Montana.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(4) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Montana.
SEC. 4. MUSSELSHELL-JUDITH RURAL WATER SYSTEM.
(a) Authorization.--The Secretary may carry out the planning,
design, and construction of the Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System
in a manner that is substantially in accordance with the feasibility
report entitled ``Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System Feasibility
Report'' (including any and all revisions of the report).
(b) Cooperative Agreement.--The Secretary shall enter into a
cooperative agreement with the Authority to provide Federal assistance
for the planning, design, and construction of the Musselshell-Judith
Rural Water System.
(c) Cost-Sharing Requirement.--
(1) Federal share.--
(A) In general.--The Federal share of the costs
relating to the planning, design, and construction of
the Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System shall not
exceed 65 percent of the total cost of the Musselshell-
Judith Rural Water System.
(B) Limitation.--Amounts made available under
subparagraph (A) shall not be returnable or
reimbursable under the reclamation laws.
(2) Use of federal funds.--
(A) General uses.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the
Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System may use Federal
funds made available to carry out this section for--
(i) facilities relating to--
(I) water pumping;
(II) water treatment;
(III) water storage;
(IV) water supply wells;
(V) distribution pipelines; and
(VI) control systems;
(ii) transmission pipelines;
(iii) pumping stations;
(iv) appurtenant buildings, maintenance
equipment, and access roads;
(v) any interconnection facility that
connects a pipeline of the Musselshell-Judith
Rural Water System to a pipeline of a public
water system;
(vi) electrical power transmission and
distribution facilities required for the
operation and maintenance of the Musselshell-
Judith Rural Water System;
(vii) any other facility or service
required for the development of a rural water
distribution system, as determined by the
Secretary; and
(viii) any property or property right
required for the construction or operation of a
facility described in this subsection.
(B) Limitation.--Federal funds made available to
carry out this section shall not be used for the
operation, maintenance, or replacement of the
Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System.
(C) Title.--Title to the Musselshell-Judith Rural
Water System shall be held by the Authority.
SEC. 5. DRY-REDWATER FEASIBILITY STUDY.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Dry-redwater regional water authority.--The term ``Dry-
Redwater Regional Water Authority'' means--
(A) the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority, a
publicly owned nonprofit water authority formed in
accordance with Mont. Code Ann. Sec. 75-6-302 (2007);
and
(B) any nonprofit successor entity to the Authority
described in subparagraph (A).
(2) Dry-redwater regional water authority system.--The term
``Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority System'' means the
project entitled the ``Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority
System'', with a project service area that includes--
(A) Garfield and McCone Counties in the State;
(B) the area west of the Yellowstone River in
Dawson and Richland Counties in the State;
(C) T. 15 N. (including the area north of the
Township) in Prairie County in the State; and
(D) the portion of McKenzie County, North Dakota,
that includes all land that is located west of the
Yellowstone River in the State of North Dakota.
(3) Reclamation feasibility standards.--The term
``reclamation feasibility standards'' means the eligibility
criteria and feasibility study requirements described in
section 106 of the Reclamation Rural Water Supply Act of 2006
(43 U.S.C. 2405) (as in effect on September 29, 2016).
(4) Submitted feasibility study.--The term ``submitted
feasibility study'' means the feasibility study entitled ``Dry-
Redwater Regional Water System Feasibility Study'' (including
revisions of the study), which received funding from the Bureau
of Reclamation on September 1, 2010.
(b) Study.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority, may undertake a study,
including a review of the submitted feasibility study, to
determine the feasibility of constructing the Dry-Redwater
Regional Water System.
(2) Requirement.--The study under paragraph (1) shall
comply with the reclamation feasibility standards.
(c) Cooperative Agreement.--If the Secretary determines that the
study under subsection (b) does not comply with the reclamation
feasibility standards, the Secretary may enter into a cooperative
agreement with the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority to complete
additional work to ensure that the study complies with the reclamation
feasibility standards.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary $5,000,000 to carry out this section.
(e) Termination.--The authority provided by this section shall
expire on the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of this
Act.
SEC. 6. WATER RIGHTS.
Nothing in this Act--
(1) preempts or affects any State water law; or
(2) affects any authority of a State, as in effect on the
date of enactment of this Act, to manage water resources within
that State.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Authorization.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry
out the planning, design, and construction of the Musselshell-Judith
Rural Water System, substantially in accordance with the cost estimate
set forth in the feasibility report described in section 4(a),
$56,650,000.
(b) Cost Indexing.--The amount authorized to be appropriated under
subsection (a) may be increased or decreased in accordance with
ordinary fluctuations in development costs incurred after November 1,
2014, as indicated by any available engineering cost indices applicable
to construction activities that are similar to the construction of the
Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System.
Calendar No. 253
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 334
[Report No. 116-133]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the construction of the Musselshell-Judith Rural Water
System and study of the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority System in
the States of Montana and North Dakota, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
October 22, 2019
Reported without amendment