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| NAS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species |
To prevent and control infestations of the coastal inland waters of the United States by the zebra mussel and other nonindigenous aquatic nuisance species, to reauthorize the National Sea Grant College Program, and fo r other purposes.
The purposes of the Act are -
(1) to prevent unintentional introduction and dispersal of nonindigenous species* into waters of the United States through ballast water management and other requirements;
(2) to coordinate federally conducted, funded or authorized research, prevention control, information dissemination and other activities regarding the zebra mussel and other aquatic nuisance species**;
(3) to develop and carry out environmentally sound control methods to prevent, monitor and control unintentional introductions of nonindigenous species from pathways other than ballast water exchange;
(4) to understand and minimize economic and ecological impacts of nonindigenous aquatic nuisance species that become established, including the zebra mussel; and
(5) to establish a program of research and technology development and assistance to states in the management and removal of zebra mussels.
*Nonindigenous species means any species or other viable biological material that enters an ecosystem beyond its historic range, including any such organisms transferred from one country into another.
**Aquatic nuisance species means a nonindigenous species that threatens the diversity or abundance of native species or the ecological stability of infested waters, or commercial, agricultural, aquacultural or recreational activities dependent on such waters.
The act calls for the -
A National Ballast Water Control Program part of which will consist of a ballast exchange study. The study will assess the environmental effects of ballast water exchange on the diversity and abundance of native species in receiving estuarine, marine , and fresh waters of the United States and identify areas within the waters of the United States and the exclusive economic zone, if any, where the exchange of ballast water does not pose a threat of infestation or spread of aquatic nuisance species in t he Great Lakes and other waters.
A Task Force is established that shall develop and implement a program for the waters of the United States to prevent introductions and dispersal of aquatic nuisance species; to monitor, control, and study such species; and to disseminate related inf ormation. Research is to be conducted concerning -
The Task Force shall undertake a program of prevention, monitoring, control, education, and research for the zebra mussel to be implemented in the Great Lakes and any other waters of the United States infested or likely to become infested by the zebr a mussel, including -
The Governor of each State may, after notice and opportunity for public comment, prepare and submit -
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