§4701. Findings and purposes
(a) Findings
The Congress finds that-
(1) the discharge of untreated water in the ballast tanks of vessels and through other means results in unintentional introductions of nonindigenous species to fresh, brackish, and saltwater environments;
(2) when environmental conditions are favorable, nonindigenous species become established, may compete with or prey upon native species of plants, fish, and wildlife, may carry diseases or parasites that affect native species, and may disrupt the aquatic environment and economy of affected nearshore areas;
(3) the zebra mussel was unintentionally introduced into the Great Lakes and has infested-
(A) waters south of the Great Lakes, into a good portion of the Mississippi River drainage;
(B) waters west of the Great Lakes, into the Arkansas River in Oklahoma; and
(C) waters east of the Great Lakes, into the Hudson River and Lake Champlain;
(4) the potential economic disruption to communities affected by the zebra mussel due to its colonization of water pipes, boat hulls and other hard surfaces has been estimated at $5,000,000,000 by the year 2000, and the potential disruption to the diversity and abundance of native fish and other species by the zebra mussel and ruffe, round goby, and other nonindigenous species could be severe;
(5) the zebra mussel was discovered on Lake Champlain during 1993 and the opportunity exists to act quickly to establish zebra mussel controls before Lake Champlain is further infested and management costs escalate;
(6) in 1992, the zebra mussel was discovered at the northernmost reaches of the Chesapeake Bay watershed;
(7) the zebra mussel poses an imminent risk of invasion in the main waters of the Chesapeake Bay;
(8) since the Chesapeake Bay is the largest recipient of foreign ballast water on the East Coast, there is a risk of further invasions of other nonindigenous species;
(9) the zebra mussel is only one example of thousands of nonindigenous species that have become established in waters of the United States and may be causing economic and ecological degradation with respect to the natural resources of waters of the United States;
(10) since their introduction in the early 1980's in ballast water discharges, ruffe-
(A) have caused severe declines in populations of other species of fish in Duluth Harbor (in Minnesota and Wisconsin);
(B) have spread to Lake Huron; and
(C) are likely to spread quickly to most other waters in North America if action is not taken promptly to control their spread;
(11) examples of nonindigenous species that, as of October 26, 1996, infest coastal waters of the United States and that have the potential for causing adverse economic and ecological effects include-
(A) the mitten crab (Eriocher sinensis) that has become established on the Pacific Coast;
(B) the green crab (Carcinus maenas) that has become established in the coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean;
(C) the brown mussel (Perna perna) that has become established along the Gulf of Mexico; and
(D) certain shellfish pathogens;
(12) many aquatic nuisance vegetation species, such as Eurasian watermilfoil, hydrilla, water hyacinth, and water chestnut, have been introduced to waters of the United States from other parts of the world causing or having a potential to cause adverse environmental, ecological, and economic effects;
(13) if preventive management measures are not taken nationwide to prevent and control unintentionally introduced nonindigenous aquatic species in a timely manner, further introductions and infestations of species that are as destructive as, or more destructive than, the zebra mussel or the ruffe infestations may occur;
(14) once introduced into waters of the United States, aquatic nuisance species are unintentionally transported and introduced into inland lakes and rivers by recreational boaters, commercial barge traffic, and a variety of other pathways; and
(15) resolving the problems associated with aquatic nuisance species will require the participation and cooperation of the Federal Government and State governments, and investment in the development of prevention technologies.
(b) Purposes
The purposes of this chapter 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.
(
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original "this Act", which, to reflect the probable intent of Congress, was translated as reading "this title" meaning title I of
Amendments
2022-Subsec. (b)(2).
1996-
Subsec. (a)(2), (3).
"(2) when environmental conditions are favorable, nonindigenous species, such as the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha), become established and may disrupt the aquatic environment and economy of affected coastal areas;
"(3) the zebra mussel was unintentionally introduced into the Great Lakes and, if left uncontrolled, is expected to infest over two-thirds of the continental United States through the unintentional transportation of larvae and adults by vessels operating in inland waters;".
Subsec. (a)(4).
Subsec. (a)(5).
Subsec. (a)(6) to (15).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Short Title of 1996 Amendment
Short Title
Invasive Species in Alpine Lakes Pilot Program
"(a)
"(b)
"(1) any relevant partnering Federal agency; and
"(2) any relevant compact agency organized with the consent of Congress under article I, section 10 of the Constitution of the United States.
"(c)
Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention
"(1)
"(A)
"(B)
"(2)
"(A)
"(B)
"(i) any observed changes in the range of Asian carp in the Mississippi River and tributaries, including the 6 sub-basins of the River, during the 2-year period preceding submission of the report;
"(ii) a summary of Federal agency efforts, including cooperative efforts with non-Federal partners, to control the spread of Asian carp in the Mississippi River and tributaries, including the 6 sub-basins of the River;
"(iii) any research that the Director determines could improve the ability to control the spread of Asian carp;
"(iv) any quantitative measures that the Director intends to use to document progress in controlling the spread of Asian carp; and
"(v) a cross-cut accounting of Federal and non-Federal expenditures to control the spread of Asian carp."
Construction of 1996 Amendment
"(1) for developing and implementing a comprehensive program for eradicating or minimizing populations of sea lamprey in the Great Lakes watershed; and
"(2) carrying out the duties of the Commission specified in the Convention (including any amendment thereto) and the Great Lakes Fishery Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 931 et seq.)."
Report on Establishment of Program