---
kind: "section"
citation: "33 U.S.C. § 4004"
title: "33"
title_heading: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
number: "4004"
heading: "Northern Gulf of Mexico hypoxia"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/33/4004"
units:
  - "Chapter 53 — Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control"
---

# §4004. Northern Gulf of Mexico hypoxia

- (a) **Initial progress reports—** Beginning not later than 12 months after June 30, 2014, and biennially thereafter, the [Administrator](/usc/33/4008.md?p=2), through the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient [Task Force](/usc/33/4008.md?p=7), shall submit a progress report to the appropriate congressional committees and the President that describes the progress made by activities directed by the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient [Task Force](/usc/33/4008.md?p=7) and carried out or funded by the Environmental Protection Agency and other [State](/usc/33/4008.md?p=6) and Federal partners toward attainment of the goals of the Gulf [Hypoxia](/usc/33/4008.md?p=4) Action Plan 2008.
- (b) **Contents—** Each report required under this section shall—
  - (1) assess the progress made toward nutrient load reductions, the response of the hypoxic zone and water quality throughout the Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Basin, and the economic and social effects;
  - (2) evaluate lessons learned; and
  - (3) recommend appropriate actions to continue to implement or, if necessary, revise the strategy set forth in the Gulf [Hypoxia](/usc/33/4008.md?p=4) Action Plan 2008.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 105–383, title VI, § 604, Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3449; Pub. L. 113–124, § 7, June 30, 2014, 128 Stat. 1384.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly set out in a note under section 1451 of Title 16, Conservation.

### Amendments

2014—Pub. L. 113–124 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section required the Task Force to submit an integrated assessment of hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico and develop a plan for reducing, mitigating, and controlling such hypoxia.