S 10 — South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2019

Summary

South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2019 This bill addresses harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in the South Florida ecosystem. An algal bloom is a rapid growth of algae that may create toxic or hypoxic (severely low-oxygen) conditions that are harmful to humans, animals, aquatic ecosystems, and the economy. The Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia must assess potential approaches to reduce harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in the ecosystem. The task force must also submit a plan, based on the assessment, for reducing, mitigating, and controlling harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in the region.

Bill Text

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes a requirement for the Inter-Agency Task Force to assess and create an action plan for harmful algal blooms and hypoxia specifically in South Florida.

• 33 U.S.C. 4001

  SEC. 605. SOUTH FLORIDA HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS AND HYPOXIA. (a) South Florida.--In this section, the term `South Florida' has the same meaning given the term `South Florida ecosystem' in section 601(a)(5) of the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-541). (b) Integrated Assessment.--Not later than 540 days after the date of enactment of the South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2019, the Task Force, in accordance with the authority under section 603, shall complete and submit to Congress and the President an integrated assessment that examines the causes, consequences, and potential approaches to reduce harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in South Florida, and the status of, and gaps within, current harmful algal bloom and hypoxia research, monitoring, management, prevention, response, and control activities that directly affect the region by-- (1) Federal agencies; (2) State agencies; (3) regional research consortia; (4) academia; (5) private industry; and (6) nongovernmental organizations. (c) Action Plan.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of the South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2019, the Task Force shall develop and submit to Congress a plan, based on the integrated assessment under subsection (b), for reducing, mitigating, and controlling harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in South Florida. (2) Contents.--The plan submitted under paragraph (1) shall-- (A) address the monitoring needs identified in the integrated assessment under subsection (b); (B) develop a timeline and budgetary requirements for deployment of future assets; (C) identify requirements for the development and verification of South Florida harmful algal bloom and hypoxia models, including-- (i) all assumptions built into the models; and (ii) data quality methods used to ensure the best available data are utilized; and (D) propose a plan to implement a remote monitoring network and early warning system for alerting local communities in the region to harmful algal bloom risks that may impact human health. (3) Requirements.--In developing the action plan, the Task Force shall-- (A) coordinate and consult with the State of Florida, and affected local and tribal governments; (B) consult with representatives from regional academic, agricultural, industry, and other stakeholder groups; (C) ensure that the plan complements and does not duplicate activities conducted by other Federal or State agencies, including the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force; (D) identify critical research for reducing, mitigating, and controlling harmful algal bloom events and their effects; (E) evaluate cost-effective, incentive-based partnership approaches; (F) ensure that the plan is technically sound and cost-effective; (G) utilize existing research, assessments, reports, and program activities; (H) publish a summary of the proposed plan in the Federal Register at least 180 days prior to submitting the completed plan to Congress; and (I) after submitting the completed plan to Congress, provide biennial progress reports on the activities toward achieving the objectives of the plan.

  This section mandates a specific focus on harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in South Florida, requiring a comprehensive assessment and a detailed action plan from the Task Force.

• 33 U.S.C. 4001

  sections 605 through 609 as sections 606 through 610, respectively; → by redesignating sections 605 through 609 as sections 606 through 610, respectively;

  This change updates the section numbering in the statute to accommodate the new South Florida section.

Action History

1. August 13, 2020

   Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker without amendment. With written report No. 116-257.

2. August 13, 2020

   Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Wicker without amendment. With written report No. 116-257.

3. August 13, 2020

   Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 518.

4. November 13, 2019

   Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

5. January 03, 2019

   Introduced in Senate

6. January 03, 2019

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Sponsors

• Marco Rubio · Primary

Subjects