§4010 Hypoxia or harmful algal bloom of national significance

Summary

Federal officials can give money to a State or local government after they decide a low-oxygen or toxic algae event is serious enough to be called nationally significant. The money is for checking and fixing harm to the environment, the local economy, people who rely on natural resources for food, and public health. The federal share cannot be more than 50 percent of any activity’s cost. An official may accept donations of money, help, equipment, or materials. Donated money can be spent without more congressional approval and does not expire at the end of a fiscal year. An official can start a review on their own, or must do one if a Governor asks. In deciding, they must look at toxicity, severity, chance it will spread, economic effects, how it compares to the past 5 similar events, and how wide an area it might affect (many towns, more than one State, or across a border). Appropriate Federal official: Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere for marine or coastal events, and the Administrator of the EPA for freshwater events. Event of national significance: an event that has had or will likely have a major harmful effect on environment, economy, subsistence use, or public health in a State. Hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event: a low-oxygen condition or toxic algae outbreak from natural, human, or unknown causes.