Stop Poisoning Florida Act

Bill: 116-hr-8049
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Mast, Brian J. [R-FL-18]
Introduced: 2020-08-14
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Dams and canals

Environmental health

Florida

Hazardous wastes and toxic substances

Lakes and rivers

Water quality
Latest action: action_date: 2020-08-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-08-14
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Stop Poisoning Florida Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to prohibit certain discharges of water from Lake Okeechobee, which is Florida's largest freshwater lake. Specifically, the USACE must prohibit discharges of water from the lake through the Port Mayaca Lock and Dam or the St. Lucie Lock and Dam when the water exceeds the maximum concentration of microcystins (a toxin that is produced by blue-green algae) recommended for recreational waters by the Environmental Protection Agency.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8049 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES August 14, 2020 Mr. Mast introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To require the Corps of Engineers to prohibit certain discharges of water at Lake Okeechobee, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Stop Poisoning Florida Act . 2. Lake Okeechobee discharge prohibition The Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, shall prohibit discharges of water through the S–308 and S–80 lock and dam structures at Lake Okeechobee when the water exceeds the maximum concentration of microcystins recommended for recreational waters by the Environmental Protection Agency, as described in the notice titled Recommended Human Health Recreational Ambient Water Quality Criteria or Swimming Advisories for Microcystins and Cylindrospermopsin (84 Fed. Reg. 26413) (or any successor water quality criteria), based on tests conducted by the Secretary, another Federal agency, or the State of Florida.