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***Federal Team Honored for National Response Plan***

***To Combat Invasive Plants***

***For Immediate Release***

***Anna Cherry, NISC, 202-354-1891***

Washington, D.C., July 1, 2004 --- A federal team that designed a
national system to detect and rapidly respond to invasive plant
infestations -- one of the greatest environmental challenges facing
communities around the country \-- has been recognized for its
exceptional achievement.

The team -- the Federal Interagency Committee for the Management of
Noxious and Exotic Weeds (FICMNEW) -- has received the American Planning
Association\'s award for Environmental Planning Excellence. The
Association\'s awards honor outstanding efforts in planning and showcase
cutting-edge achievements in the evolving profession.

"This prestigious award recognizes the importance of cross-agency
partnerships and the value of strategic planning in federal agencies,"
Interior Secretary Gale Norton said in commending the team. "This
Interagency Committee is a critical partner on invasive species issues
and we look forward to continuing that relationship."

"Winning this award in a national competition with professional planners
and federal organizations across the United States represents
unprecedented performance, an achievement for which members of the
Interagency Committee should be proud," said National Invasive Species
Council (NISC) Executive Director Lori Williams. "I am pleased that the
American Planning Association has recognized the long and hard work that
went into such an important and comprehensive document."

Invasive plants are estimated to cause more than \$20 billion a year in
economic damage to agriculture, water systems, recreation, the
environment and wildlife. Invasive animals and pathogens push the total
cost to the U.S. economy to more than \$100 billion annually. Up to 46
percent of threatened and endangered species owe their listing in whole
or in part to the uncontrolled spread of invasives, which have the
potential to degrade entire plant and animal communities.

FICMNEW submitted one of 42 entries in competition from across the
nation. Its entry, *A National Early Detection and Rapid Response System
for Invasive Plants in the United States-Conceptual Design,* was
developed over a 5-year period. The entry received the top award in the
Federal Planning Division. It is on the NISC website at
http://www.invasivespecies.gov/toolkit/detection.shtml.

Established through a Memorandum of Understanding in 1994, FICMNEW is a
formal partnership among 16 federal agencies in 6 different departments
that are responsible for addressing the biological and economic
challenges posed by invasive plants. The Interagency Committee
accomplishes its goals by sharing scientific and technical information,
fostering collaborative efforts among federal agencies, and sponsoring
technical/educational conferences and workshops concerning invasive
plants. A list of all member agencies is online at
[http://ficmnew.fws.gov](http://ficmnew.fws.gov/).

**\--MORE\--**

Secretary Norton commended FICMNEW on behalf of NISC, which she jointly
chairs with Secretary of Commerce Donald L. Evans and Secretary of
Agriculture Ann M. Venemen. NISC is a Cabinet-level group that helps to
coordinate and ensure complementary, cost-efficient and effective
federal activities regarding invasive species. More information on NISC
is online at [www.invasivespecies.gov]{.underline}.

The American Planning Association is dedicated to advancing the art,
science, and profession of planning and committed to sharing planning
excellence with peers and those across the country who are working to
help communities plan their future.

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***[Note to Stakeholders:]{.underline}*** Press releases and other NISC
information are available on the Internet at
<http://www.invasivespecies.gov/>. For additional information on this
topic, contact Anna Cherry at (202) 354-1891 or anna_cherry@ios.doi.gov.