Invasive Species Legislative Priorities for 2009
Invasive species are that subset of species that cause economic or environmental harm or damage human, plant, and wildlife health when they are introduced to places where they are not native. The goal of UCS' invasive species work is to transform federal policy in order to better protect native species and ecosystems from such invaders. Preventing additional introductions – intentional and inadvertent is key.
Legislative PrioritiesConduct oversight of federal appointees and leadership – Federal agencies were charged, by Executive Order, with addressing invasive species problems and the National Invasive Species Council (NISC) was created to coordinate and lead their work. Congress should ensure that new appointees to federal agencies are committed to the goals of the NISC National Management Plan. Agencies need leadership with the knowledge and vision to effectively prevent future harmful introductions.
Pass legislation to screen intentional animal imports – Right now, the United States does not require that living organisms be screened for actual or potential invasiveness before import. The need for such a risk screening process has been noted in every major report on invasive species for nearly 20 years. Congress must provide new authority for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to begin such a screening process. Congress should revise the Lacey Act to require screening for terrestrial and aquatic animals.
Oversee the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) revisions to regulations on importing plants – The economic benefits of a pre-import screening process for already or potentially invasive plant imports have been documented. USDA has the authority to require such screening – and to limit imports of the riskiest plants – but does not do so. The agency has begun to revise plant import regulations to address this issue, as well as to better limit import of plants that carry diseases and other pests. Congress should monitor USDA's revisions to these so-called Quarantine 37 regulations and ensure that they are completely quickly and strengthened substantially. Horticultural introductions are the primary vector for the introduction of plant pests, and the industry must be regulated to prevent further economic and ecological damage.
Pass legislation to prevent inadvertent introductions – We know and understand the pathways through which unintentional invasive species enter our country. Experts agree that the most effective way to limit these introductions is addressing these pathways, almost all of which cross state boundaries. Federal action is needed to regulate pathways and prevent further invasions. Congress should reauthorize the National Invasive Species Act and pass a Ballast Water Management Act. These solutions would coordinate federal authority to rapidly response to invasive species and require treatment of ballast water, the primary vector for the introduction invasive aquatic organisms.
Fund essential efforts – When populations of invasive species are first detected, controlling them can be easy and cheap. The opposite is true once they become well-established and widespread. Current funding is a poor match for this reality. Congress should authorize and establish an Invasive Species Emergency Fund for rapid response to new invaders. Setting aside special funds – much like those used for responding to oil spills – would permit agencies to act quickly.
Examples of invasive species challenges and legislative solutions
The Snakehead fish (Family Channa) is a voracious predator imported from Asia. Snakeheads are disrupting the ecology of the Potomac River and are spreading. Although imports were retroactively banned this action came too late to stop the invasion.
Solution: Allow imports only of species that have been pre- screened for potential invasiveness.
Veined rapa whelk (Rapana vernosa) is a large, predatory marine snail native to the Sea of Japan. Likely introduced through ballast water, like the zebra mussel and a host of other aquatic species in the Great Lakes, this pest is a potential threat to the clam and oyster populations already at low levels in the Chesapeake Bay.
Solution: Enact effective legislation and regulations to require that ballast water be treated before it is discharged.
