[117th Congress Public Law 144]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 1265]]
SOUTH FLORIDA CLEAN COASTAL WATERS ACT OF 2021
[[Page 136 STAT. 1266]]
Public Law 117-144
117th Congress
An Act
To require the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and
Hypoxia to develop a plan for reducing, mitigating, and controlling
harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in South Florida, and for other
purposes. <<NOTE: June 16, 2022 - [S. 66]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: South Florida
Clean Coastal Waters Act of 2021.>>
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 33 USC 4001 note.>> SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``South Florida Clean Coastal Waters
Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. SOUTH FLORIDA HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS AND HYPOXIA ASSESSMENT
AND ACTION PLAN.
(a) In General.--The Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and
Control Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-383; 33 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating sections 605 through 609 <<NOTE: 33
USC 4005-4009.>> as sections 606 through 610, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after section 604 the following:
``SEC. 605. <<NOTE: Deadlines. 33 USC 4004a.>> SOUTH FLORIDA
HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS AND HYPOXIA.
``(a) South Florida. <<NOTE: Definition.>> --In this section, the
term `South Florida' means--
``(1) all lands and waters within the administrative
boundaries of the South Florida Water Management District;
``(2) regional coastal waters, including Biscayne Bay, the
Caloosahatchee Estuary, Florida Bay, Indian River Lagoon, and
St. Lucie River Estuary; and
``(3) the Florida Reef Tract.
``(b) Integrated Assessment.--
``(1) Interim integrated assessment.--Not later than 540
days after the date of enactment of the South Florida Clean
Coastal Waters Act of 2021, the Task Force, in accordance with
the authority under section 603, shall complete and submit to
Congress and the President an interim integrated assessment.
``(2) Finalized integrated assessment.--Not later than 3
years after the date of enactment of the South Florida Clean
Coastal Waters Act of 2021, the Task Force shall finalize, and
submit to Congress and the President, the interim integrated
assessment required by paragraph (1).
``(3) Contents of integrated
assessment. <<NOTE: Examination.>> --The integrated assessment
required by paragraphs (1) and (2) shall examine the causes,
consequences, and potential approaches to reduce harmful algal
blooms and hypoxia in South Florida,
[[Page 136 STAT. 1267]]
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--
``(A) Federal agencies;
``(B) State agencies;
``(C) regional research consortia;
``(D) academia;
``(E) private industry;
``(F) nongovernmental organizations; and
``(G) Indian tribes (as defined in section 4 of the
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act
(25 U.S.C. 5304)).
``(c) Action Plan.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years and 180 days after
the date of the enactment of the South Florida Clean Coastal
Waters Act of 2021, 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) <<NOTE: Timeline. Budget.>> 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) <<NOTE: Consultation.>> consult with the
State of Florida, and affected local and tribal
governments;
``(B) <<NOTE: Consultation.>> 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) <<NOTE: Evaluation.>> 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;
[[Page 136 STAT. 1268]]
``(H) <<NOTE: Federal Register,
publication. Summary. Time period.>> 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) <<NOTE: Reports.>> after submitting the
completed plan to Congress, provide biennial progress
reports on the activities toward achieving the
objectives of the plan.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment and Correction.--The table of contents in
section 2 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-
383) <<NOTE: 112 Stat. 3412.>> is amended by striking the items
relating to title VI and inserting the following new items:
``TITLE VI--HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS AND HYPOXIA
``Sec. 601. Short title.
``Sec. 602. Findings.
``Sec. 603. Assessments.
``Sec. 603A. National Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Program.
``Sec. 603B. Comprehensive research plan and action strategy.
``Sec. 604. Northern Gulf of Mexico hypoxia.
``Sec. 605. South Florida harmful algal blooms and hypoxia.
``Sec. 606. Great Lakes hypoxia and harmful algal blooms.
``Sec. 607. Protection of States' rights.
``Sec. 608. Effect on other Federal authority.
``Sec. 609. Definitions.
``Sec. 610. Authorization of appropriations.''.
Approved June 16, 2022.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 66:
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SENATE REPORTS: No. 117-64 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 168 (2022):
Mar. 8, considered and passed Senate.
May 10, 11, considered and passed House.
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