[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8779 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8779
To amend the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 to require
projects in the Caloosahatchee River watershed, the St. Lucie River and
estuary basin, and the Lake Okeechobee watershed that mitigate harmful
algal blooms and nutrient pollution by removing algae and converting
the algae biomass into biofuel, and for other purposes.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 18, 2024
Mr. Donalds (for himself and Mr. Mast) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
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A BILL
To amend the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 to require
projects in the Caloosahatchee River watershed, the St. Lucie River and
estuary basin, and the Lake Okeechobee watershed that mitigate harmful
algal blooms and nutrient pollution by removing algae and converting
the algae biomass into biofuel, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Convert Harmful Algal Blooms to Fuel
Act'' or the ``Convert HABs to Fuel Act''.
SEC. 2. HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT.
Section 1109 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 (36
U.S.C. 610 note) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``demonstration''
and inserting ``development'';
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ``a 5-year harmful algal
bloom technology development demonstration program'' and
inserting ``a harmful algal bloom technology development
program'';
(3) in subsection (b), by striking ``demonstration''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Specific Projects Required.--
``(1) Projects.--In carrying out the harmful algal bloom
technology development program under this section, the
Secretary shall carry out projects in the Caloosahatchee River
watershed, the St. Lucie River and estuary basin, and the Lake
Okeechobee watershed (as such watershed is described by the
South Florida Water Management District for purposes of the
Lake Okeechobee Watershed Construction Project 2020 update)
that utilize previously demonstrated technologies that are
capable of mitigating harmful algal blooms and nutrient
pollution by harvesting algae and converting the retrieved
algae biomass into renewable biofuel.
``(2) Technologies.--In carrying out projects under this
subsection, the Secretary shall utilize technologies that have
been previously demonstrated as effective through research
carried out under this section.
``(3) Consultation.--In carrying out projects under this
subsection, the Secretary shall consult with relevant Federal,
State, and local agencies, institutions of higher education,
and private organizations, including nonprofit organizations.
``(4) Selection of specific locations.--Not later than 90
days after the date of enactment of this subsection, the
Secretary, in collaboration with the entities described in
paragraph (3), shall select specific locations within the
Caloosahatchee River watershed, the St. Lucie River and estuary
basin, and the Lake Okeechobee watershed at which to carry out
projects under this subsection.
``(5) Coordination.--In carrying out projects under this
subsection, the Secretary shall coordinate with the Secretary
of Energy and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency on the use of algae biomass derived from the projects
that may be combined with other wet waste material, such as
municipal biosolids, to support the scaling up of biofuel
projects and the renewable energy activities of the Office of
Energy, Efficiency, and Renewable Energy of the Department of
Energy.
``(6) Collaboration.--In carrying out projects under this
subsection, the Secretary shall collaborate with relevant
Federal, State, and local agencies and private organizations to
the maximum extent practicable.
``(7) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public
Works of the Senate a report containing the results of the
projects carried out under this subsection, including--
``(A) a determination of whether it is feasible to
mitigate harmful algal blooms and convert retrieved
algae biomass and other wet waste material into
renewable clean energy sources, such as biofuel and
renewable natural gas;
``(B) a description of any water quality
improvements that occurred at the locations of the
projects over the period during which the projects were
carried out; and
``(C) any other information determined appropriate
by the Secretary.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary $25,000,000, to remain available until
expended, to carry out this subsection.''.
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