I 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4771 

To amend the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act 

of 1990 to require application to all vessels equipped with ballast water 

tanks, including vessels that are not carrying ballast water, the requirement to carry out exchange of ballast water or alternative ballast water 

management methods prior to entry into any port within the Great 

Lakes, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 16, 2006 

Mr. KIRK (for himself, Mr. REYNOLDS, Mr. MCHUGH, Mr. EMANUEL, Mrs. 

MILLER of Michigan, Mr. CASE, Mr. EHLERS, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. 

MILLER of Florida, Ms. MCCOLLUM of Minnesota, Mr. KLINE, Mrs. 

BIGGERT, Mr. EVANS, Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, 

Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. SCHWARZ of Michigan, and Ms. BEAN) introduced 

the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation 

and Infrastructure 

A BILL 

To amend the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention 

and Control Act of 1990 to require application to all 

vessels equipped with ballast water tanks, including vessels that are not carrying ballast water, the requirement 

to carry out exchange of ballast water or alternative 

ballast water management methods prior to entry into 

any port within the Great Lakes, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Great Lakes Invasive 

3 Species Control Act’’. 

4 SEC. 2. APPLICATION TO ALL VESSELS OF REQUIREMENT 

5 TO CARRY OUT EXCHANGE OF BALLAST 

6 WATER OR ALTERNATIVE BALLAST WATER 

7 MANAGEMENT METHODS. 

8 (a) REQUIREMENT.—Section 1101(b)(2)(B) of the 

9 Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control 

10 Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4711(b)(2)(B)) is amended in the 

11 matter preceding clause (i), by striking ‘‘a vessel’’ and in12 serting ‘‘a vessel, including a vessel that is not carrying 

13 ballast water,’’. 

14 (b) DEADLINE FOR REGULATIONS.—The Secretary 

15 of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating 

16 shall issue and begin implementing regulations in accord17 ance with the amendment made by subsection (a) by not 

18 later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 

19 this Act. 

20 SEC. 3. STUDY OF EFFECTIVENESS OF ALTERNATE BAL21 LAST WATER MANAGEMENT METHODS. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the department 

23 in which the Coast Guard is operating shall conduct, in 

24 consultation with the Under Secretary of Commerce for 

25 Oceans and Atmosphere, a scientifically-based study or 

26 studies of the effectiveness, feasibility of application, and 


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1 environmental soundness of ballast water tank treatment 

2 methods, other than ballast water exchange, in reducing 

3 the threat of invasive species to the Great Lakes. 

4 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

5 funds are available to carry out this section, and annually 

6 thereafter for the subsequent 2 years, the Secretary shall 

7 report to the Congress the findings, conclusions, and rec8 ommendations of the study under this section. 

Æ 


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