I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2484 
To reauthorize the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control 
Act of 1998 to include a comprehensive and integrated strategy to 
address harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, to provide for the development 
and implementation of a comprehensive research plan and action strategy 
to reduce harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 11, 2011 
Mr. HARRIS (for himself, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. MICHAUD, Mr. GRIJALVA, 
Ms. PINGREE of Maine, and Mr. MACK) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 
and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to 
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
A BILL 
To reauthorize the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Re-
search and Control Act of 1998 to include a comprehen-
sive and integrated strategy to address harmful algal 
blooms and hypoxia, to provide for the development and 
implementation of a comprehensive research plan and 
action strategy to reduce harmful algal blooms and hy-
poxia, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Harmful Algal Blooms 
and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 
2011’’. 
SEC. 2. AMENDMENT OF HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM AND HY-
POXIA RESEARCH AND CONTROL ACT OF 
1998. 
Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in 
this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms 
of an amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provi-
sion, the reference shall be considered to be made to a 
section or other provision of the Harmful Algal Bloom and 
Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (16 U.S.C. 
1451 note). 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 602 is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 602. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘In this title: 
‘‘(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘Adminis-
trator’ means the Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency. 
‘‘(2) NOAA.—The term ‘NOAA’ means the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
‘‘(3) PLAN.—The term ‘Plan’ means the com-
prehensive research plan and action strategy under 
section 605. 
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‘‘(4) PROGRAM.—The term ‘Program’ means 
the National Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia 
Program established under section 604(a). 
‘‘(5) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means each of 
the several States of the United States, the District 
of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the 
Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Com-
monwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, any 
other territory or possession of the United States, 
and any Indian tribe. 
‘‘(6) TASK
FORCE.—The term ‘Task Force’ 
means the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful 
Algal Blooms and Hypoxia established under section 
603(a)(1). 
‘‘(7) UNDER
SECRETARY.—The term ‘Under 
Secretary’ means the Under Secretary of Commerce 
for Oceans and Atmosphere.’’. 
SEC. 4. INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCE. 
Section 603(a) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCE.— 
‘‘(1) 
ESTABLISHMENT.—The 
President, 
through the Committee on Environment and Natural 
Resources of the National Science and Technology 
Council, shall establish an Inter-Agency Task Force 
on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia. 
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‘‘(2) REPRESENTATION.—The Task Force shall 
consist of representatives from the following: 
‘‘(A) The Department of Commerce. 
‘‘(B) The Environmental Protection Agen-
cy. 
‘‘(C) The Department of Agriculture. 
‘‘(D) The Department of the Interior. 
‘‘(E) The Department of the Navy. 
‘‘(F) The Department of Health and 
Human Services. 
‘‘(G) The National Science Foundation. 
‘‘(H) The National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration. 
‘‘(I) The Food and Drug Administration. 
‘‘(J) The Office of Science and Technology 
Policy. 
‘‘(K) The Council on Environmental Qual-
ity. 
‘‘(L) Such other Federal agencies as the 
President considers appropriate. 
‘‘(3) CHAIRPERSON.—The Under Secretary 
from the Department of Commerce shall serve as the 
Chairperson of the Task Force. 
‘‘(4) REQUIRED MEETINGS.— 
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‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Task Force shall 
meet, or otherwise communicate, to coordinate 
activities within each agency represented on the 
Task Force in order to fulfill the program re-
quirements in section 604(b). 
‘‘(B) FREQUENCY.—The Task Force shall 
meet at least once per year. 
‘‘(5) 
BUDGET
COORDINATION.—The 
Task 
Force shall— 
‘‘(A) coordinate in the development of indi-
vidual agency budgets for the activities de-
scribed in section 604 that will ensure an ap-
propriate balance among the research and ac-
tion priorities; and 
‘‘(B) submit such budgets to the Director 
of the Office of Management and Budget at the 
time designated by the Director for agencies to 
submit annual budgets.’’. 
SEC. 5. NATIONAL HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM AND HYPOXIA 
PROGRAM. 
The Act is amended— 
(1) by redesignating sections 605 and 606 as 
sections 608 and 609, respectively; 
(2) by redesignating section 604 as section 606; 
and 
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(3) by inserting after section 603 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 604. NATIONAL HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM AND HY-
POXIA PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 
(d), the Under Secretary, through the Task Force, shall 
maintain a National Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia 
Program in accordance with authorities under section 603 
pursuant to this section. 
‘‘(b) DUTIES.—The Under Secretary, through the 
Program, shall coordinate the efforts of the Task Force 
to— 
‘‘(1) develop and promote a national strategy to 
understand, detect, monitor, predict, control, miti-
gate, and respond to marine and freshwater harmful 
algal bloom and hypoxia events; 
‘‘(2) integrate the research of all Federal pro-
grams, including ocean and Great Lakes science and 
management programs and centers, that address the 
chemical, biological, and physical components of ma-
rine and freshwater harmful algal blooms and hy-
poxia; 
‘‘(3) assist and coordinate, where appropriate, 
with State, tribal, and local government agencies, 
programs, and regional efforts that address marine 
and freshwater harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, 
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including the development and implementation of ap-
propriate response plans, strategies, and tools; 
‘‘(4) identify additional research, development, 
and demonstration needs and priorities relating to 
understanding, detection, monitoring, prediction, 
prevention, control, mitigation, and response to ma-
rine and freshwater harmful algal blooms and hy-
poxia; 
‘‘(5) ensure the development and use of meth-
ods and technologies to protect the ecosystems af-
fected by marine and freshwater harmful algal 
blooms and hypoxia; 
‘‘(6) coordinate existing education programs to 
improve public understanding and awareness of the 
causes, impacts, and mitigation efforts for marine 
and freshwater harmful algal blooms and hypoxia; 
‘‘(7) provide resources to assist in the training 
of State, tribal, and local water and coastal resource 
managers in the methods and technologies for de-
tecting, monitoring, controlling, mitigating, and re-
sponding to the effects of marine and freshwater 
harmful algal blooms and hypoxia events; 
‘‘(8) oversee the development, review, and peri-
odic updating of the Plan; and 
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‘‘(9) administer peer-reviewed, merit-based com-
petitive grant funding to support— 
‘‘(A) the projects maintained and estab-
lished by the Program; and 
‘‘(B) the research and management needs 
and priorities identified in the Plan. 
‘‘(c) COOPERATIVE EFFORTS.—The Under Secretary 
shall work cooperatively and avoid duplication of efforts 
with other offices, centers, and programs within NOAA 
and other agencies represented on the Task Force, States, 
tribes, and nongovernmental organizations concerned with 
marine and freshwater aquatic issues related to harmful 
algal blooms and hypoxia. 
‘‘(d) FRESHWATER PROGRAM.—With respect to the 
freshwater aspects of the Program, the Administrator and 
the Under Secretary, through the Task Force, shall carry 
out the duties otherwise assigned to the Under Secretary 
under this section, excluding the activities described in 
subsection (e). The Administrator’s participation under 
this subsection shall include— 
‘‘(1) research on the ecology of freshwater 
harmful algal blooms; 
‘‘(2) monitoring of and event response to fresh-
water harmful algal blooms in lakes, rivers, estu-
aries, and reservoirs; and 
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‘‘(3) mitigation and control of freshwater harm-
ful algal blooms. 
‘‘(e) NOAA ACTIVITIES.—As part of the program 
under this section, the Under Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) maintain existing peer-reviewed competi-
tive grant programs at NOAA relating to marine 
and freshwater harmful algal blooms and hypoxia; 
‘‘(2) conduct marine and freshwater harmful 
algal bloom and hypoxia event response activities; 
and 
‘‘(3) ensure communication and coordination 
among Federal agencies carrying out marine and 
freshwater harmful algal bloom and hypoxia activi-
ties and increase the availability to appropriate pub-
lic and private entities of— 
‘‘(A) analytical facilities and technologies; 
‘‘(B) operational forecasts; and 
‘‘(C) reference and research materials. 
‘‘(f) INTEGRATED COASTAL AND OCEAN OBSERVA-
TION SYSTEM.—All monitoring and observation data col-
lected under this Act shall be collected in compliance with 
all data standards and protocols developed pursuant to the 
National Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation Sys-
tem Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.), and such data 
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shall be made available through the system established 
under that Act. 
‘‘(g) TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND 
DEMONSTRATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—As part of the duties de-
scribed in subsection (b), the Under Secretary and 
the Administrator, through the Task Force, shall 
maintain a focus on technology research and devel-
opment for each of the categories of marine harmful 
algal blooms, freshwater harmful algal blooms, and 
hypoxia in the following areas: 
‘‘(A) Monitoring. 
‘‘(B) Prediction. 
‘‘(C) Prevention. 
‘‘(D) Control. 
‘‘(E) Mitigation. 
‘‘(F) Response to events, including remedi-
ation. 
‘‘(2) ENUMERATION.—As part of the report re-
quired under subsection (i), the Under Secretary, in 
coordination with the Administrator, shall enu-
merate the technology research and development 
conducted for each of the areas identified in para-
graph (1). 
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‘‘(3) PROTOCOL.—The Under Secretary, in co-
ordination with the Administrator, shall develop a 
protocol for— 
‘‘(A) assessing the stage of technology de-
velopment that is ready to move from lab test-
ing to field testing; 
‘‘(B) coordinating local, State, and Federal 
authorities to facilitate measures necessary to 
conduct field tests in a timely manner; and 
‘‘(C) working with local and State entities, 
programs, and interested stakeholders to con-
duct outreach and education on technology field 
testing projects. 
‘‘(h) INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE.— 
‘‘(1) ELECTRONIC
INFORMATION.—Using the 
authority under section 603(i)(2)(B), the Under Sec-
retary, in coordination with the Administrator, shall 
expand the existing electronic clearinghouse to pro-
vide information about marine and freshwater harm-
ful algal blooms and hypoxia, including— 
‘‘(A) the Federal agencies involved in re-
search and development on understanding, de-
tection, monitoring, prediction, prevention, con-
trol, mitigation, and response activities; 
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‘‘(B) tools available to predict and model 
events; and 
‘‘(C) current or developing technologies for 
detection, monitoring, prediction, prevention, 
control, mitigation, and response, including re-
mediation. 
‘‘(2) TOXIN
STANDARDS.—The Under Sec-
retary, in coordination with the Administrator, 
shall— 
‘‘(A) develop a mechanism to provide a re-
liable and cost-effective supply of toxin stand-
ards for comparative research; and 
‘‘(B) notify the Congress of such mecha-
nism as part of the report required under sub-
section (i). 
‘‘(i) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the sub-
mission of the Plan, the Under Secretary, in coordination 
with the Administrator, shall prepare and transmit to the 
Congress a report that describes— 
‘‘(1) the activities carried out under the Pro-
gram and the Plan and the budget related to such 
activities; 
‘‘(2) the progress made on implementing the ac-
tion strategy; and 
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‘‘(3) the need to revise or terminate activities or 
projects under the Program.’’. 
SEC. 6. COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH PLAN AND ACTION 
STRATEGY. 
The Act is amended by inserting after section 604, 
as added by section 5(3) of this Act, the following: 
‘‘SEC. 605. COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH PLAN AND ACTION 
STRATEGY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of the Harmful Algal Blooms and Hy-
poxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2011, the 
Under Secretary, through the Task Force, shall transmit 
to the Congress a comprehensive research plan and action 
strategy to address marine and freshwater harmful algal 
blooms and hypoxia that identifies— 
‘‘(1) the specific activities to be carried out by 
the Program and the timeline for carrying out such 
activities; 
‘‘(2) the roles and responsibilities of each Fed-
eral agency in the Task Force in carrying out Pro-
gram activities; and 
‘‘(3) appropriate regions and subregions requir-
ing specific research and activities to address local, 
State, and regional harmful algal blooms and hy-
poxia. 
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‘‘(b) REGIONAL FOCUS.—The regional and sub-
regional parts of the Plan shall identify— 
‘‘(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 man-
ner; 
‘‘(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 harm-
ful algal blooms and hypoxia events; 
‘‘(6) mechanisms by which data, information, 
and products may be transferred between the Pro-
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gram and State, tribal, and local governments and 
relevant research entities; 
‘‘(7) communication and information dissemina-
tion methods that State, tribal, and local govern-
ments may undertake to educate and inform the 
public concerning 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 pro-
gram 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 
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