PROTECT Florida Act
Bill: H.R.2156 | Sponsor: Rep. Mast, Brian J. (R-FL)
Policy area: Water Resources Development

Summary:
Prioritizing Revised Operations To Eliminate Cyanobacteria Toxins in Florida Act or the PROTECT Florida Act
This bill modifies requirements regarding water infrastructure projects in central and southern Florida.
Specifically, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) must include in such projects specified public health considerations, including those related to cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and other toxins.
The bill also prohibits the use of restoration funds for deep well injection (a liquid-waste disposal technology).
In addition, the USACE must (1) develop a master operational manual to ensure system management that protects public health and Everglades restoration; and (2) with the National Academies of Sciences, study the legacy of pollution and nutrient loading, as well as the impacts of soil amendments.


To modify the project for Central and Southern Florida to include 
         public health considerations, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Prioritizing Revised Operations To 
Eliminate Cyanobacteria Toxins in Florida Act'' or the ``PROTECT 
Florida Act''.

SEC. 2. MANAGEMENT OF THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN FLORIDA SYSTEM.

    (a) In General.--The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil 
Works shall direct the Army Corps of Engineers to modify water 
infrastructure management in Central and Southern Florida to ensure 
public health shall overlay all authorized project purposes. Such 
authorized project purposes shall include--
            (1) flood control;
            (2) navigation;
            (3) water supply for agricultural irrigation, 
        municipalities, industry, and Everglades National Park;
            (4) regional groundwater control, and salinity control;
            (5) enhancement of fish and wildlife; and
            (6) recreation.
    (b) Public Health.--For the purposes of this Act, the term ``public 
health'' is defined as follows:
            (1) Managing Lake Okeechobee and the Central and Southern 
        Florida system--
                    (A) to minimize the potential of toxic 
                cyanobacteria and other harmful algal blooms; and
                    (B) prevent discharges containing cyanobacteria or 
                related toxins into the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee 
                watersheds, downstream users, and other areas where 
                such cyanobacteria or related toxins will cause or 
                exacerbate public health risks.
            (2) Ensuring the integrity and stability of the Herbert 
        Hoover Dike.
            (3) Maintaining all provisions of applicable State, 
        Federal, and Tribal water quality laws, policies, and 
        regulations.
            (4) Ensuring necessary water volume and quality reaches the 
        greater Everglades, Tribal lands, Everglades National Park, 
        Florida Bay and Caloosahatchee Watershed to restore the natural 
        habitat.
    (c) Modification of Operations.--The Secretary of the Army shall 
modify operations of all current project elements to ensure that public 
health of all citizens, including downstream users, shall overlay the 
operating regimes of these various elements.
    (d) Master Operational Manual.--The Secretary of the Army shall 
update or develop a Master Operational Manual, in cooperation with the 
State of Florida, to ensure that all of the various existing 
operational project elements of the Central and Southern Florida 
project shall be managed as a system to protect public health and 
Everglades Restoration. As new elements are completed and added to the 
project, the Master Operational Manual shall be updated to include the 
new features.
    (e) Study.--The Secretary of the Army, in conjunction with the 
National Academies of Sciences, shall undertake a study of the legacy 
of pollution and nutrient loading as well as the impacts of soil 
amendments from current and past operational regimes. The study shall 
include--
            (1) the components of the nutrient load and soil 
        amendments, and how this nutrient loading is and will continue 
        to impact Everglades restoration efforts; and
            (2) proposed solutions to ameliorate the impacts of this 
        pollution to downstream watersheds.
    (f) Scope.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter or 
amend--
            (1) the Water Rights Compact between the State of Florida 
        and the Seminole Tribe of Florida;
            (2) the water quality standards of the Miccosukee Tribe of 
        Indians of Florida;
            (3) State water quality standards, applicable National 
        Pollutant Discharge Elimination System discharge permits, and 
        Everglades Forever Act watershed permits; or
            (4) the schedule for completion of the Central Everglades 
        Planning Project or Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan 
        projects authorized on or before enactment of this Act.
    (g) Prohibition on Use of Restoration Funds.--No restoration funds 
shall be used by the Secretary to undertake Deep Well Injection (DWI) 
of flood or any other excess waters.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out the provisions of 
this Act.
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