HR 1856 RFS 
Great Lakes. The first such assessment shall be completed 
not less than 12 months after the date of enactment of 
the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research Amend-
ments Act of 2004. 
‘‘(2) The assessments under this subsection shall—
‘‘(A) examine the causes and ecological con-
sequences, and the economic costs, of hypoxia; 
‘‘(B) describe the potential ecological and eco-
nomic costs and benefits of possible actions for pre-
venting, controlling, and mitigating hypoxia; 
‘‘(C) evaluate progress made by, and the needs 
of, Federal research programs on the causes, charac-
teristics, and impacts of hypoxia, including rec-
ommendations of how to eliminate significant gaps 
in hypoxia modeling and monitoring data; and 
‘‘(D) identify ways to improve coordination and 
to prevent unnecessary duplication of effort among 
Federal agencies and departments with respect to 
research on hypoxia. 
‘‘(f) LOCAL
AND REGIONAL SCIENTIFIC ASSESS-
MENTS.—(1) The Secretary of Commerce, in coordination 
with the Task Force and appropriate State, Indian tribe, 
and local governments, shall provide for local and regional 
scientific assessments of hypoxia or harmful algal blooms, 
as requested by State, Indian tribe, or local governments,
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or for affected areas as identified by the Secretary. If the 
Secretary receives multiple requests, the Secretary shall 
ensure, to the extent practicable, that assessments under 
this subsection cover geographically and ecologically di-
verse locations with significant ecological and economic 
impacts from hypoxia or harmful algal blooms. The Sec-
retary shall establish a procedure for reviewing requests 
for local and regional assessments. The Secretary shall en-
sure, through consultation with Sea Grant Programs, that 
the findings of the assessments are communicated to the 
appropriate State, Indian tribe, and local governments, 
and to the general public. 
‘‘(2) The scientific assessments under this subsection 
shall examine—
‘‘(A) the causes and ecological consequences, 
and the economic costs, of hypoxia or harmful algal 
blooms in that area; 
‘‘(B) potential methods to prevent, control, and 
mitigate hypoxia or harmful algal blooms in that 
area and the potential ecological and economic costs 
and benefits of such methods; and 
‘‘(C) other topics the Task Force considers ap-
propriate.’’.
HR 1856 RFS 
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 605 of such Act is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘SEC. 605. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary of Commerce for research, education, monitoring, 
demonstration, and technology transfer activities related 
to the prevention, reduction, and control of harmful algal 
blooms and hypoxia, $19,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2005, 2006, and 2007, to remain available until expended. 
The Secretary shall consult with the States on a regular 
basis regarding the development and implementation of 
the activities authorized under this title. Of such amounts 
for each fiscal year—
‘‘(1) $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2005, 
2006, and 2007 shall be used to enable the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry 
out research and assessment activities, including 
procurement of necessary research equipment, at re-
search laboratories of the National Ocean Service 
and the National Marine Fisheries Service; 
‘‘(2) $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2005, 
2006, and 2007 shall be used to carry out the Ecol-
ogy and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms 
(ECOHAB) project, with $1,000,000 of such
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amount used to carry out research on freshwater 
harmful algal blooms; 
‘‘(3) $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2005, 
2006, and 2007 shall be used to carry out the re-
search program described in section 603(d)(3); 
‘‘(4) $7,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2005, 
2006, and 2007 shall be used to carry out the Moni-
toring and Event Response for Harmful Algal 
Blooms (MERHAB) project; 
‘‘(5) $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2005, 
2006, and 2007 shall be used for activities related 
to research and monitoring on hypoxia; and 
‘‘(6) $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2005, 
2006, and 2007 shall be used to carry out the activi-
ties described in section 603(f). 
Amounts authorized under paragraphs (2), (3), (4), and 
(5) shall only be used to support competitive, peer-re-
viewed research programs.’’.
Passed the House of Representatives July 7, 2004. 
Attest: 
JEFF TRANDAHL, 
Clerk.