A bill to authorize certain tribes in the State of Montana to enter into a lease or other temporary conveyance of water rights to meet the water needs of the Dry Prairie Rural Water Association, Inc.
Latest Action
Became Public Law No: 109-410.
Official Summary
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced in the Senate on June 9, 2005. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Authorizes the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana, with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, to enter into a lease or other temporary conveyance of water rights recognized under the Fort Peck-Montana Compact with the Dry Prairie Rural Water Association, Incorporated (or any successor non-federal entity) for the purpose of meeting the Association's water needs.
GovScope Watchdog™
AI Government Intelligence™This bill authorizes the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana, with approval from the Secretary of the Interior, to lease or temporarily convey water rights to the Dry Prairie Rural Water Association, Inc., or its successor. These water rights are recognized under the Fort Peck-Montana Compact. The purpose of this authorization is to help meet the water needs of the Dry Prairie Rural Water Association, which serves rural communities in Montana.
The law enables certain Montana tribes to temporarily lease water rights to a rural water association, facilitating water resource sharing under federal and state agreements.
- Authorizes the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes to enter into leases or temporary conveyances of water rights.
- Requires approval from the Secretary of the Interior for such agreements.
- Water rights involved are those recognized under the Fort Peck-Montana Compact.
- The lessee is the Dry Prairie Rural Water Association, Inc., or any successor non-federal entity.
- The bill was enacted as Public Law No: 109-410 on December 18, 2006.
['Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation', 'Dry Prairie Rural Water Association, Inc. and its successor entities', 'Rural communities in Montana served by the Dry Prairie Rural Water Association', 'Secretary of the Interior (in oversight role)']
["Implementation depends on the Secretary of the Interior's approval, which may affect timing and conditions of leases.", 'Temporary conveyance of water rights may require ongoing oversight to ensure compliance with the Fort Peck-Montana Compact.', 'The bill does not specify detailed enforcement or dispute resolution mechanisms related to the leases.', 'Potential administrative costs related to managing and approving water rights leases.']
The bill was introduced in the Senate during the 109th Congress and was signed into law on December 18, 2006. It addresses water resource management issues involving tribal water rights and rural water needs in Montana, reflecting ongoing federal and state efforts to manage water resources cooperatively under compacts and agreements.
Hidden impact flags detected: 2
GovScope reviewed 2 policy-risk categories. Hover for a quick definition. Click detected flags for bill-specific details.
['Improved water availability for rural communities served by the Dry Prairie Rural Water Association.', 'Potential precedent for other tribal water rights leasing arrangements under federal approval.', 'Enhanced cooperation between tribal entities and rural water associations in Montana.', 'Possible administrative burden on the Department of the Interior for approval and oversight.']
The bill delegates significant approval authority to the Secretary of the Interior, making transparency in the approval process important for public oversight. The temporary nature of the water rights conveyance suggests ongoing monitoring is necessary to ensure compliance with the Fort Peck-Montana Compact. The absence of detailed enforcement provisions in the summary indicates a need to review implementing regulations or agreements for clarity on dispute resolution and oversight mechanisms.
GovScope Intelligence Roadmap
Future bill intelligence will connect sponsors, committee referrals, related votes, campaign finance, disclosures, and stock trades into one legislative intelligence view.