H.R. 3819

119 HR 3819 IH: Prioritizing Revised Operations To Eliminate Cyanobacteria Toxins in Florida Act
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2025-06-06
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 I  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  H. R. 3819  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   June 6, 2025   Mr. Mast  introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure    A BILL
To modify the project for Central and Southern Florida to include public health considerations, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Prioritizing Revised Operations To Eliminate Cyanobacteria Toxins in Florida Act   or the   PROTECT Florida Act  .
2.
Management of the central and southern Florida system
(a)
In general
The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works shall direct the Army Corps of Engineers to modify water infrastructure management in Central and Southern Florida to ensure public health shall overlay all authorized project purposes. Such authorized project purposes shall include—
(1)
flood control;
(2)
navigation;
(3)
water supply for agricultural irrigation, municipalities, industry, and Everglades National Park;
(4)
regional groundwater control, and salinity control;
(5)
enhancement of fish and wildlife; and
(6)
recreation.
(b)
Public health
For the purposes of this Act, the term  public health  is defined as follows:
(1)
Managing Lake Okeechobee and the Central and Southern Florida system—
(A)
to minimize the potential of toxic cyanobacteria and other harmful algal blooms; and
(B)
prevent discharges containing cyanobacteria or related toxins into the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee watersheds, downstream users, and other areas where such cyanobacteria or related toxins will cause or exacerbate public health risks.
(2)
Ensuring the integrity and stability of the Herbert Hoover Dike.
(3)
Maintaining all provisions of applicable State, Federal, and Tribal water quality laws, policies, and regulations.
(4)
Ensuring necessary water volume and quality reaches the greater Everglades, Tribal lands, Everglades National Park, Florida Bay and Caloosahatchee Watershed to restore the natural habitat.
(c)
Modification of operations
The Secretary of the Army shall modify operations of all current project elements to ensure that public health of all citizens, including downstream users, shall overlay the operating regimes of these various elements.
(d)
Master operational manual
The Secretary of the Army shall update or develop a Master Operational Manual, in cooperation with the State of Florida, to ensure that all of the various existing operational project elements of the Central and Southern Florida project shall be managed as a system to protect public health and Everglades Restoration. As new elements are completed and added to the project, the Master Operational Manual shall be updated to include the new features.
(e)
Study
The Secretary of the Army, in conjunction with the National Academies of Sciences, shall undertake a study of the legacy of pollution and nutrient loading as well as the impacts of soil amendments from current and past operational regimes. The study shall include—
(1)
the components of the nutrient load and soil amendments, and how this nutrient loading is and will continue to impact Everglades restoration efforts; and
(2)
proposed solutions to ameliorate the impacts of this pollution to downstream watersheds.
(f)
Scope
Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter or amend—
(1)
the Water Rights Compact between the State of Florida and the Seminole Tribe of Florida;
(2)
the water quality standards of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida;
(3)
State water quality standards, applicable National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System discharge permits, and Everglades Forever Act watershed permits; or
(4)
the schedule for completion of the Central Everglades Planning Project or Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan projects authorized on or before enactment of this Act.
(g)
Prohibition on use of restoration funds
No restoration funds shall be used by the Secretary to undertake Deep Well Injection (DWI) of flood or any other excess waters.
(h)
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.