POLITICS

Congress OKs harmful algal bloom bill to fund research, monitoring, mitigation

Ali Schmitz
Treasure Coast Newspapers
Streaks of blue-green algae remain in the water column Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018 at Central Marine in Stuart. The boat basin, nestled off the St. Lucie River, has been suffering all summer because of Lake Okeechobee discharges. "Here we are a solid four months later," said owner Mary Radabaugh.

Congress has passed legislation that would expand federal funding opportunities for communities affected by harmful algal blooms.

President Donald Trump is expected to sign the measures, which the House passed Thursday and the Senate passed Tuesday. 

More: Senate passes algae research funding 

The bill authorizes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency to declare a “Harmful Algal Bloom of Significance” when a bloom will have a detrimental impact on a state’s environment, economy, subsistence use or public health.

Such a declaration authorizes the federal government to make federal funding available to state or local governments to assess and mitigate harmful algal blooms.

More: "Call in the cavalry" to combat toxic algae blooms

The bill also: 

  • Directs NOAA to improve its monitoring of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, which is a reduced level of oxygen in water
  • Reauthorizes the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act for five years
  • Expands grant eligibility to include proposals for the intervention and mitigation of harmful algal blooms

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Palm City, supported similar measures earlier this year. 

    "The federal government, through the Army Corps of Engineers, has played a huge role in perpetuating the human health crisis caused by Lake Okeechobee discharges and they need to take responsibility for the damage by helping to pay for the cleanup,” Mast said in a news release. “More than that, the government needs to stop prioritizing special interests over human health and put an end to the crisis once and for all. This bipartisan bill will help deliver the federal resources needed to end this environmental disaster.” 

    Algae blooms

    Recurring blue-green algae blooms in the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers have caused dozens of people to be medically treated for symptoms related to exposure. Several dogs on the Treasure Coast also died or were sickened by it in 2018.

    Microcystin, a common blue-green algae toxin, can cause nausea and vomiting if ingested and rash or hay fever symptoms if touched or inhaled. Drinking water with the toxins can cause long-term liver disease.

    Multiple local businesses have had to close or reduce hours because of the algae, while others have had to require employees who work outdoors to wear protective masks during the blooms.

    More: All you want to know about blue-green algae, and then some

    A thick layer of blue-green algae floats through the boat slips at Sovereign Yacht Sales in Stuart on Thursday, July 26, 2018. Employees a re now being asked to wear ventilated masks when working outside. "We don't want them breathing in that bad stuff," said Tom Cubr, a Sovereign yacht broker. "It's harmful, and we've got to take care of our employees."

    Toxic blue-green algae blooms are caused primarily by Lake Okeechobee discharges of excess freshwater, polluted predominately by agricultural runoff, which also causes red tide to bloom in nearshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean.

    Florida's east and west coasts, as well as the Panhandle, suffered a worse-than-normal red tide in 2018. The east and west coasts also had toxic blue-green algae blooms.