§4010 Hypoxia or Harmful Algal Bloom of National Significance

Summary

Federal officials can give money to a State or local government when a large hypoxia or harmful algal bloom is found to be an event of national significance. The money is for studying and lessening the harm to the environment, the economy, local people who rely on natural resources, and public health. The federal government can pay up to 50 percent of any activity’s cost. Officials may also take donated money, services, equipment, or materials, and they can spend donated funds without needing more approval or a time limit. An appropriate federal official can decide on their own, or must decide if a State governor asks, whether an event is of national significance. In making that decision they must consider toxicity, how bad the low oxygen is, how likely it is to spread, the economic impact, the event’s size compared with the past 5 similar events, and whether it could affect many towns, more than one State, or cross an international border. Definitions: “appropriate federal official” — the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere for marine/coastal events and the EPA Administrator for freshwater events; “event of national significance” — an event that has had or likely will have major harmful effects on a State; “hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event” — a low-oxygen or harmful algal occurrence caused by natural, human, or unknown reasons.