Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-73not60

§4003 Comprehensive Research Plan and Action Strategy

Title 33 › Chapter 53— HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM AND HYPOXIA RESEARCH AND CONTROL › § 4003

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Under Secretary must, through the Task Force, create and send Congress a complete research plan and action strategy to deal with marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms and hypoxia no later than 1 year after June 30, 2014. The plan must list the specific activities and their timelines, say what each Federal agency on the Task Force will do, and point out the regions and subregions that need work. Regional parts of the plan must set research priorities (ecological, economic, and social); describe research and technology development for detecting, predicting, monitoring, controlling, mitigating, responding to, and cleaning up blooms; show ways to shorten and weaken blooms and deploy responses quickly; cover human health research; outline ecosystem protection methods and their costs and benefits; explain how data and products will be shared with State, tribal, and local governments and researchers; recommend communication and public education methods; and describe Federal roles, including support for local and regional scientific assessments under section 4001(e). The Under Secretary must use existing laws, studies, and peer-reviewed sources, coordinate with State, tribal, and watershed officials, consult health, emergency, science, economic, industry, and other stakeholders, publish the plan in the Federal Register, and periodically review and update it as needed.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §4003

Navigation and Navigable Waters — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Not later than 1 year after June 30, 2014, the Under Secretary, through the Task Force, shall develop and submit to Congress a comprehensive research plan and action strategy to address marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms and hypoxia. The Action Strategy shall identify—

(1)the specific activities to be carried out by the Program and the timeline for carrying out those activities;

(2)the roles and responsibilities of each Federal agency in the Task Force in carrying out the activities under paragraph (1); and

(3)the appropriate regions and subregions requiring specific research and activities to address harmful algal blooms and hypoxia.

(b)The regional and subregional parts of the Action Strategy shall identify—

(1)regional priorities for ecological, economic, and social research on issues related to the impacts of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia;

(2)research, development, and demonstration activities needed to develop and advance technologies and techniques for minimizing the occurrence of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia and improving capabilities to detect, predict, monitor, control, mitigate, respond to, and remediate harmful algal blooms and hypoxia;

(3)ways to reduce the duration and intensity of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, including deployment of response technologies in a timely manner;

(4)research and methods to address human health dimensions of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia;

(5)mechanisms, including the potential costs and benefits of those mechanisms, to protect ecosystems that may be or have been affected by harmful algal bloom and hypoxia events;

(6)mechanisms by which data, information, and products may be transferred between the Program and the State, tribal, and local governments and research entities;

(7)communication and information dissemination methods that State, tribal, and local governments may undertake to educate and inform the public concerning harmful algal blooms and hypoxia; and

(8)roles that Federal agencies may have to assist in the implementation of the Action Strategy, including efforts to support local and regional scientific assessments under section 4001(e) of this title.

(c)In developing the Action Strategy, the Under Secretary shall utilize existing research, assessments, reports, and program activities, including—

(1)those carried out under existing law; and

(2)other relevant peer-reviewed and published sources.

(d)In developing the Action Strategy, the Under Secretary shall, as appropriate—

(1)coordinate with—

(A)State coastal management and planning officials;

(B)tribal resource management officials; and

(C)water management and watershed officials from both coastal States and noncoastal States with water sources that drain into water bodies affected by harmful algal blooms and hypoxia; and

(2)consult with—

(A)public health officials;

(B)emergency management officials;

(C)science and technology development institutions;

(D)economists;

(E)industries and businesses affected by marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms and hypoxia;

(F)scientists with expertise concerning harmful algal blooms or hypoxia from academic or research institutions; and

(G)other stakeholders.

(e)The Under Secretary shall publish the Action Strategy in the Federal Register.

(f)The Under Secretary, in coordination and consultation with the individuals and entities under subsection (d), shall periodically review and revise the Action Strategy prepared under this section, as necessary.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 4003

Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60