Governor Rick Scott today wrote a letter to the commissioners of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) regarding the impacts that naturally-occurring red tide is having on Florida’s Gulf Coast. [Read more…] about Gov. Scott: FWC Should Create New Red Tide Research Center, Reconvene Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force
Algal Blooms
Gov. Scott Announces More Action to Combat Algal Blooms
$50 million toward fixes for federal Herbert Hoover Dike, $700,000 for Lee County
Governor Rick Scott today announced that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) have reached an agreement on a $50 million state investment to fund repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike. [Read more…] about Gov. Scott Announces More Action to Combat Algal Blooms
Gov. Scott Announces More Action to Combat Algal Blooms
$50 million toward fixes for federal Herbert Hoover Dike, $700,000 for Lee County
Governor Rick Scott today announced that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) have reached an agreement on a $50 million state investment to fund repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike. This agreement follows a $50 million investment made earlier this year, bringing the State of Florida’s total investment in this federal project to $100 million. [Read more…] about Gov. Scott Announces More Action to Combat Algal Blooms
Gov. Scott Issues Emergency Order to Combat Algal Blooms in South Florida
Governor Rick Scott today issued an emergency order in Glades, Hendry, Lee, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties to help combat algal blooms caused by Lake Okeechobee water discharges from the Army Corps of Engineers. This emergency declaration allows the Department of Environmental Protection and the South Florida Water Management District to waive various restrictions and regulations to store water in additional areas south of the Lake, which will help alleviate the Army Corps of Engineers’ water discharges that are causing harmful algal blooms in Florida’s rivers and coastal estuaries. [Read more…] about Gov. Scott Issues Emergency Order to Combat Algal Blooms in South Florida
Gov. Scott Issues Emergency Order to Combat Algal Blooms in South Florida
Governor Rick Scott today issued an emergency order in Glades, Hendry, Lee, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties to help combat algal blooms caused by Lake Okeechobee water discharges from the Army Corps of Engineers. [Read more…] about Gov. Scott Issues Emergency Order to Combat Algal Blooms in South Florida
Gov. Scott Takes More Action to Combat Algal Blooms
Meets with White House, Expands Water Monitoring
Governor Rick Scott met with White House Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney to continue advocating for full funding for the repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike surrounding Lake Okeechobee. [Read more…] about Gov. Scott Takes More Action to Combat Algal Blooms
Mast Secures More Than $20 Million to Combat Harmful Algal Blooms, Study Health Impacts
The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act, including 9 amendments offered by U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) totaling $21.6 million aimed at combating harmful algal blooms and studying the health impact of the crisis.
“When the House passed my amendments in July to add more than $1 million in funding to combat harmful algal blooms, I promised that I’d keep fighting for more,” Rep. Mast said. “This money—more than $20 million—will go toward cost-effective solutions to this problem that has caused incalculable damage to our community.”
The adopted amendments are as follows:
- Adds $5.6 million to the Natural Resource Conservation Service to promote environmentally sustainable agriculture and toxic runoff mitigation.
- Adds $2 million to the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative to expand postdoctoral research, prevention and monitoring of Harmful Algal Blooms.
- Adds $1.5 million to the FDA, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, to continue research on human impact of contaminated seafood.
- Adds $1.1 million to the EPA Office of Research and Development to research water quality impacts of nutrient inputs, temperature, land use and runoff.
- Adds $1 million to non-point source pollution grants to state projects for mitigation and removal of toxic substances.
- Adds $1 million to the U.S. Geological Service, Oregon Water Sciences Research Center, to research Harmful Algal Blooms affect on animals and exposure to disease from toxins.
- Adds $1 million to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to research human health impacts of exposure to Harmful Algal Bloom toxins.
- Adds $400,000 to the CDC’s Safe Water Program to investigate environmental threats of public exposure to waterborne contaminates.
- Adds $8 million to NOAA’s National Ocean Service to detect, respond to, and develop new and innovative technologies to mitigate impacts from Harmful Algal Blooms. Rep. Mast is the lead co-sponsor of this amendment offered by Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-FL-16).
The amendments follow the passage of two amendments offered by Rep. Mast in July to increase funding to combat harmful algal blooms by more than $1 million. The legislation now heads to the United States Senate for consideration.
Mast Unveils Bill to Create First Federal Action Plan to Combat Harmful Algal Blooms in Greater Everglades Region
South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act
Mandates Everglades-Specific Action Plan
U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) today announced the introduction of the South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act. The bill will amend existing federal law aimed at combatting harmful algal blooms to require the first-ever specific federal assessment and action plan to reduce harmful algal blooms in the Greater Everglades region.
“Considering the massive damage algal blooms have caused in our community, it’s ridiculous that a federal program specifically designed to combat algal blooms has never done an Everglades-specific analysis,” Rep. Mast said. “This bill is a critical first step to developing a comprehensive plan that forces the state and federal government to work together to keep our water clean.”
The bill amends the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act to require an assessment and action plan for reducing harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in the Greater Everglades region. Under the direction of this existing federal law, the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science have developed numerous reports over the last two decades researching harmful algal blooms in the Gulf of Mexico, the Great Lakes, the Mississippi River and nationally. However, there has never been an Everglades-specific report.
The South Florida Clean Coastal Waters Act directs the task force to complete an assessment that examines the causes, consequences and potential approaches to reduce harmful algal blooms and hypoxia in the Greater Everglades region, including how ongoing South Florida ecosystem restoration efforts are impacting the distribution of algal blooms. Based on the assessment, the task force is then directed to submit a plan to Congress for reducing, mitigating and controlling harmful algal blooms in the Greater Everglades region.
Mast Secures Funding to Combat Harmful Algal Blooms, Restore Everglades
More Than $150 Million Allocated to Everglades Restoration
Mast Amendments Provide Money to Prevent Harmful Algal Blooms
U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) today successfully secured more than $150 million in federal funding to combat harmful algal blooms and restore the Everglades. In addition to millions of dollars in funding for new and ongoing Everglades restoration projects, the Make America Secure Appropriations Act included two amendments authored by Rep. Mast to research and develop technology to prevent harmful algal blooms.
“After last summer, our community knows far too well what environmental disaster looks like. The great news is that this bill includes over $150 million that will directly help the Everglades and our coastal environment, including my amendments to combat harmful algal blooms,” Rep. Mast said. “But our work is far from done, which is why I will continue my fight in Congress to build a southern reservoir and take every possible step to clean up our water.”
The bill includes $82 million for Herbert Hoover Dike rehabilitation and $76.5 million for South Florida ecosystem restoration. Additionally, the bill includes two amendments authored by Rep. Mast to research and develop new technology to combat harmful algal blooms:
Department of the Navy Research Laboratory – $598,000
The Environmental Sustainability Development Project under the Naval Research Laboratory works on coastal contamination and contaminated sediments. Funding for this program was originally cut in the proposed Department of Defense appropriations bill by $598,000 compared to FY2017 enacted levels. Rep. Mast’s amendment successfully restored the program to full funding.
The Aquatic Plant Control Research Program – $500,000
Rep. Mast’s amendment increased funding by $500,000 for the Aquatic Plant Control Research Program, which is the nation’s only federally authorized research program directed to develop technology for the management of non-indigenous aquatic plant species, such as harmful algal blooms.
Mast Introduces Amendments to Combat Harmful Algal Blooms
Proposals Increase Funding by More Than $2 million
U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) offered four amendments to the FY2018 Energy and Water Development and the Department of Defense Appropriations bills designed to increase research and funding into harmful algal blooms. In total, the amendments would increase funding by more than $2 million.
“We must tackle the lack of clean, safe water in our area from as many different angles as possible,” Rep. Mast said. “In addition to supporting efforts to build a southern reservoir, increasing funding to research and combat harmful algal blooms will move us closer to preventing future public health crises like we lived through last summer.”
The funding increases would impact the following programs:
Department of the Navy Research Laboratory – $598,000
The Environmental Sustainability Development Project under the Naval Research Laboratory works on coastal contamination and contaminated sediments. Funding for this program is cut in the proposed Department of Defense appropriations bill by $598,000 compared to FY2017 enacted levels. The amendment offered by Rep. Mast restores the program to full funding and would fund the program at $2.04 million higher than the President’s requested level.
The Lakes Program – $750,000
The Lakes Program was authorized to “carry out a program for the removal of silt, aquatic growth, and other material,” but the proposed Energy and Water Development appropriations bill includes no funding for the program. Rep. Mast’s amendment allocates $750,000 to the Lakes Program to make grants available to states for projects to remove “toxic substances mobilized by high acidity,” such as algal blooms.
The Aquatic Nuisance Species Research Program – $500,000
Rep. Mast’s amendment increases funding by $500,000 for the Aquatic Nuisance Species Research Program, which provides the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managers and operational personnel up-to-date information on aquatic nuisance species, including basic life history and ecological information, risk assessment tools, preventative strategies, and cost-effective and environmentally sound management options. The main objective of this program is to conduct interdisciplinary research on the prevention, control, and management of aquatic nuisance species that impact Corps of Engineers projects and public facilities.
The Aquatic Plant Control Research Program – $500,000
Rep. Mast’s amendment increases funding by $500,000 for the Aquatic Plant Control Research Program, which is the nation’s only federally authorized research program directed to develop technology for the management of non-indigenous aquatic plant species. The program provides effective, economical, and environmentally compatible methods for assessing and managing problem aquatic plants.
An appropriations bill containing both Energy and Water Development appropriations and Department of Defense Appropriations is scheduled to be considered later this week.
