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Week Ending September 30, 2005

S.1219 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.

BRIEF

  The bill authorizes the Sioux and Assiniboine Native American tribes of the Fort Peck (MT) Reservation to lease or otherwise temporarily convey their water rights. The recipient of the rights would be the Dry Prairie Rural Water Association, Inc. Non-federal successors to the Dry Prairie company could continue the lease.

   Temporary means no longer than 100 years and the lease of conveyance may be “without monetary compensation to the Tribes”, the bill read and added that the Secretary is not liable for claims against the Tribes under the lease.

Sponsor: Senator Conrad Burns (MT)

Vote: Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent September 27, 2005

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost.

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