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Algae Study Harris 1st Bill, Votes To Limit EPA

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Maryland Rep. Andy Harris' first bill, which would reauthorize study of algae blooms and dead zones in the Chesapeake Bay, made it out of a subcommittee a day after he voted to limit the power of the federal Environmental Protection Agency to enforce the Clean Water Act.

The bill approved Thursday by the Energy and Environment Subcommittee would reauthorize a program to develop technologies to control and respond to harmful algal blooms and the dead zones they create as well as streamline technology transfer from the laboratory to the field. Harris says the bill will likely be considered by the full Science, Space and Technology Committee later this month.

On Wednesday, the Republican congressman voted for a bill that would bar the EPA from overruling state decisions on water quality.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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