EPA published a request for comments in the Federal Register last week for developing a policy for determining whether a harmful algal bloom (HAB) or hypoxia in freshwater systems as an “event of national significance.” Such a determination enables mobilization of federal resources to assess and mitigate the HAB’s detrimental effects, subject to the availability of appropriations, under the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act (HABHRCA) of 2014.
The agency requests comment on what it should specifically consider for determining what constitutes a HAB or hypoxia event of national significance in freshwater, and related factors, to inform development of a draft EPA policy. In particular, EPA is looking for criteria directly related to drinking water that could be used to make these determinations. The agency also requests feedback on how funds should be prioritized when multiple qualifying events are occurring.
AMWA plans to comment and encourages members to provide feedback on these subjects, as well as examples from past events they feel would have qualified as nationally significant. The comment period closes October 31.