nomic consequences; sources and loads of nutrients trans-
ported by the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico; ef-
fects of reducing nutrient loads; methods for reducing nu-
trient loads; and the social and economic costs and bene-
fits of such methods.
(b) SUBMISSION OF A PLAN.—No later than March
30, 2000, the President shall develop and submit to Con-
gress a plan, based on the integrated assessment submit-
ted under subsection (a), for reducing, mitigating, and
controlling hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico. In de-
veloping such plan, the President shall consult with State,
Indian tribe, and local governments, academic, agricul-
tural, industry, and environmental groups and representa-
tives. At least 90 days before the President submits such
plan to the Congress, a summary of the proposed plan
shall be published in the Federal Register for a public
comment period of not less than 60 days.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary of Commerce for research, education, and manage-
ment activities related to the prevention, reduction, and
control of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, $25,500,000
in each of fiscal years 1999, 2000, and 2001, 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
section. Of such amounts for each fiscal year—
(1) $5,000,000 may be used to enable the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to
carry out research and assessment activities, includ-
ing procurement of necessary research equipment, at
research laboratories of the National Ocean Service
and the National Marine Fisheries Service;
(2) $7,000,000 may be used to carry out the
Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal
Blooms (ECOHAB) project under the Coastal Ocean
Program established under section 201(c) of Public
Law 102–567;
(3) $3,000,000 may be used by the National
Ocean Service of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration to carry out a peer-reviewed
research project on management measures that can
be taken to prevent, reduce, control, and mitigate
harmful algal blooms;
(4) $5,500,000 may be used to carry out Fed-
eral and State annual monitoring and analysis ac-
tivities for harmful algal blooms administered by the
National Ocean Service of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration; and
(5) $5,000,000 may be used for activities relat-
ed to research and monitoring on hypoxia by the Na-
tional Ocean Service and the Office of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.
SEC. 6. AMENDMENT TO NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE
PROGRAM ACT.
Section 212(a) of the National Sea Grant College
Program Act (33 U.S.C. 1131(a)) is amended by striking
paragraph (2)(C) and inserting the following:
‘‘(C) up to $3,000,000 may be made available
for competitive grants for university research, edu-
cation, training, and advisory services on Pfiesteria
piscicida and other harmful algal blooms.’’.
SEC. 7. AMENDMENT TO THE COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT
ACT.
Section 318(a) of the Coastal Zone Management Act
of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1464(a)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph
(1)(C);
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (2)(C) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and
(3) by adding at the end thereof the following:
‘‘(3) up to $2,000,000 for fiscal years 1999 and
2000 for technical assistance under section 310 to
support State implementation and analysis of the ef-
fectiveness of measures to prevent, reduce, mitigate,
or control harmful algal blooms and hypoxia.’’.
Æ