I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8779 
To amend the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 to require projects 
in the Caloosahatchee River watershed, the St. Lucie River and estuary 
basin, and the Lake Okeechobee watershed that mitigate harmful algal 
blooms and nutrient pollution by removing algae and converting the 
algae biomass into biofuel, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 18, 2024 
Mr. DONALDS (for himself and Mr. MAST) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
A BILL 
To amend the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 
to require projects in the Caloosahatchee River water-
shed, the St. Lucie River and estuary basin, and the 
Lake Okeechobee watershed that mitigate harmful algal 
blooms and nutrient pollution by removing algae and 
converting the algae biomass into biofuel, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Convert Harmful Algal 
Blooms to Fuel Act’’ or the ‘‘Convert HABs to Fuel Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM TECHNOLOGY DEVELOP-
MENT. 
Section 1109 of the Water Resources Development 
Act of 2018 (36 U.S.C. 610 note) is amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘DEM-
ONSTRATION’’ and inserting ‘‘DEVELOPMENT’’; 
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘a 5-year 
harmful algal bloom technology development dem-
onstration program’’ and inserting ‘‘a harmful algal 
bloom technology development program’’; 
(3) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘demonstra-
tion’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) SPECIFIC PROJECTS REQUIRED.— 
‘‘(1) PROJECTS.—In carrying out the harmful 
algal bloom technology development program under 
this section, the Secretary shall carry out projects in 
the Caloosahatchee River watershed, the St. Lucie 
River and estuary basin, and the Lake Okeechobee 
watershed (as such watershed is described by the 
South Florida Water Management District for pur-
poses of the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construc-
tion Project 2020 update) that utilize previously 
demonstrated technologies that are capable of miti-
gating harmful algal blooms and nutrient pollution 
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by harvesting algae and converting the retrieved 
algae biomass into renewable biofuel. 
‘‘(2) TECHNOLOGIES.—In carrying out projects 
under this subsection, the Secretary shall utilize 
technologies that have been previously demonstrated 
as effective through research carried out under this 
section. 
‘‘(3) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out projects 
under this subsection, the Secretary shall consult 
with relevant Federal, State, and local agencies, in-
stitutions of higher education, and private organiza-
tions, including nonprofit organizations. 
‘‘(4) SELECTION OF SPECIFIC LOCATIONS.—Not 
later than 90 days after the date of enactment of 
this subsection, the Secretary, in collaboration with 
the entities described in paragraph (3), shall select 
specific locations within the Caloosahatchee River 
watershed, the St. Lucie River and estuary basin, 
and the Lake Okeechobee watershed at which to 
carry out projects under this subsection. 
‘‘(5) COORDINATION.—In carrying out projects 
under this subsection, the Secretary shall coordinate 
with the Secretary of Energy and the Administrator 
of the Environmental Protection Agency on the use 
of algae biomass derived from the projects that may 
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be combined with other wet waste material, such as 
municipal biosolids, to support the scaling up of 
biofuel projects and the renewable energy activities 
of the Office of Energy, Efficiency, and Renewable 
Energy of the Department of Energy. 
‘‘(6) 
COLLABORATION.—In 
carrying 
out 
projects under this subsection, the Secretary shall 
collaborate with relevant Federal, State, and local 
agencies and private organizations to the maximum 
extent practicable. 
‘‘(7) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this subsection, the Secretary 
shall submit to the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works of the Senate a report containing the results 
of the projects carried out under this subsection, in-
cluding— 
‘‘(A) a determination of whether it is fea-
sible to mitigate harmful algal blooms and con-
vert retrieved algae biomass and other wet 
waste material into renewable clean energy 
sources, such as biofuel and renewable natural 
gas; 
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‘‘(B) a description of any water quality im-
provements that occurred at the locations of the 
projects over the period during which the 
projects were carried out; and 
‘‘(C) any other information determined ap-
propriate by the Secretary. 
‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
$25,000,000, to remain available until expended, to carry 
out this subsection.’’. 
Æ 
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