‘‘(1) regional priorities for ecological, economic, 
and social research on issues related to the impacts of 
harmful algal blooms and hypoxia; 
‘‘(2) research, development, and demonstration 
activities needed to develop and advance technologies 
and techniques for minimizing the occurrence of 
harmful algal blooms and hypoxia and improving ca-
pabilities to detect, predict, monitor, control, miti-
gate, respond to, and remediate harmful algal blooms 
and hypoxia; 
‘‘(3) ways to reduce the duration and intensity 
of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, including de-
ployment of response technologies in a timely manner; 
‘‘(4) research and methods to address human 
health dimensions of harmful algal blooms and hy-
poxia; 
‘‘(5) mechanisms, including the potential costs 
and benefits of those mechanisms, to protect eco-
systems that may be or have been affected by harmful 
algal bloom and hypoxia events; 
‘‘(6) mechanisms by which data, information, 
and products may be transferred between the Program 
and State, tribal, and local governments and relevant 
research entities; 
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‘‘(7) communication and information dissemina-
tion methods that State, tribal, and local governments 
may undertake to educate and inform the public con-
cerning harmful algal blooms and hypoxia; and 
‘‘(8) the roles that Federal agencies may have to 
assist in the implementation of the Plan. 
‘‘(c) UTILIZING AVAILABLE STUDIES AND INFORMA-
TION.—In developing the Plan, the Under Secretary shall 
utilize existing research, assessments, reports, and program 
activities, including— 
‘‘(1) those carried out pursuant to existing law; 
and 
‘‘(2) other relevant peer-reviewed and published 
sources. 
‘‘(d) DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLAN.—In developing the 
Plan, the Under Secretary shall, as appropriate— 
‘‘(1) coordinate with— 
‘‘(A) State coastal management and plan-
ning officials; 
‘‘(B) tribal resource management officials; 
and 
‘‘(C) water management and watershed offi-
cials from both coastal States and noncoastal 
States with water sources that drain into water 
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bodies affected by harmful algal blooms and hy-
poxia; and 
‘‘(2) consult with— 
‘‘(A) public health officials; 
‘‘(B) emergency management officials; 
‘‘(C) science and technology development in-
stitutions; 
‘‘(D) economists; 
‘‘(E) industries and businesses affected by 
marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms and 
hypoxia; 
‘‘(F) scientists with expertise concerning 
harmful algal blooms or hypoxia from academic 
or research institutions; and 
‘‘(G) other stakeholders. 
‘‘(e) FEDERAL REGISTER.—The Under Secretary shall 
publish the Plan in the Federal Register. 
‘‘(f) PERIODIC REVISION.—The Under Secretary, in 
coordination and consultation with the individuals and en-
tities identified in subsection (d), shall periodically review 
and revise the Plan prepared under this section, as nec-
essary.’’. 
SEC. 7. NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO HYPOXIA. 
Section 606, as redesignated by section 5(2) of this Act, 
is amended by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘(c) REQUIRED UPDATE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Within 2 years after the date 
of enactment of the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hy-
poxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2011, 
the Administrator, through the Mississippi River/Gulf 
of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force, shall com-
plete and submit to the Congress and the President an 
updated assessment and a revised action plan based 
on the updated assessment. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The updated assessment 
shall take into account the following: 
‘‘(A) The role of nutrient influx in the con-
text of water column stratification, seasonal 
flows and conditions, and wind and current dy-
namics in the Gulf of Mexico. 
‘‘(B) The contribution of the topography of 
the Gulf of Mexico in the effects of the character-
istics described in subparagraph (A) on the 
hypoxic zone. 
‘‘(C) The frequency and availability of mon-
itoring to measure the size of the hypoxic zone. 
‘‘(D) The potential of hypoxia hot-spot for-
mation within the Gulf of Mexico and possible 
causes of such hot-spots. 
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‘‘(E) The contribution of wetland loss to hy-
poxia events in the Gulf of Mexico. 
‘‘(F) The actual effect of hypoxia on the eco-
system of the Gulf of Mexico and the benefits re-
sulting from a reduced hypoxic zone size. 
‘‘(G) A scientifically generated, peer-re-
viewed goal for the size of the hypoxic zone in the 
Gulf of Mexico. 
‘‘(3) RESEARCH STRATEGY.—The updated plan 
shall include a research strategy— 
‘‘(A) to enhance understanding of the con-
tribution of topography, water column stratifica-
tion, seasonal flows and conditions, and wind 
and current dynamics on the size of the hypoxic 
zone; 
‘‘(B) to develop models able to— 
‘‘(i) simulate different shelf regions 
and the fundamental processes that act in 
each shelf region; 
‘‘(ii) differentiate between the separate 
effects of stratification and nutrient loading 
in the formation of hypoxia; and 
‘‘(iii) be informed by realistic three-di-
mensional 
hydrodynamic 
and 
biogeo-
chemical models; 
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