Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2017
This bill amends the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 to reauthorize for FY2019-FY2023 the national harmful algal bloom and hypoxia program and the action strategy of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia.
The task force must include a representative from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Each required scientific assessment of harmful algal blooms in coastal waters must examine freshwater harmful algal blooms that originate in freshwater lakes or rivers and migrate to coastal waters.
Federal officials may determine whether a hypoxia (a deficiency of oxygen) or harmful algal bloom event is an event of national significance and give funding to the affected state or local government for assessing and mitigating the event's environmental, economic, social, and public health effects.