SEC. 9. RESEARCH TO SUPPORT THE SETTING AND IMPLE-
MENTATION OF SHIP PATHWAY STANDARDS. 
(a) RESEARCH PROGRAM.—The Coast Guard and the 
Environmental Protection Agency, in coordination with 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
the Task Force, and other appropriate Federal agencies 
and academic researchers, shall develop a coordinated re-
search program to support the promulgation and imple-
mentation of standards to prevent the introduction and 
spread of invasive species by ships that shall include— 
(1) characterizing physical, chemical, and bio-
logical harbor conditions relevant to ballast dis-
charge into United States waters to inform the de-
sign and implementation of ship vector control tech-
nologies and practices; 
(2) developing testing protocols for determining 
the effectiveness of vector monitoring and control 
technologies and practices; 
(3) researching and demonstrating methods for 
mitigating the spread of invasive species by coastal 
voyages, including exploring the effectiveness of al-
ternative exchange zones in the near coastal areas 
and other methods proposed to reduce transfers of 
organisms; 
(4) verifying the practical effectiveness of any 
type approval process to ensure that the process pro-
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duces repeatable and accurate assessments of treat-
ment effectiveness; and 
(5) evaluating the effectiveness and residual 
risk and environmental impacts associated with any 
standard set with respect to the ship pathway 
through experimental research. 
(b) WORKING GROUP.—Not later than 2 years after 
the issuance by the Coast Guard of any standard relating 
to the introduction by ships of invasive species, the Coast 
Guard shall convene a working group including the Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency, the administering agencies, 
and other appropriate Federal and State agencies and aca-
demic researchers, to evaluate the effectiveness of that 
standard and accompanying implementation protocols. 
The duties of the working group shall, at a minimum, in-
clude— 
(1) reviewing the effectiveness of the standard 
in reducing the establishment of invasive species in 
aquatic ecosystems, taking into consideration the 
data collected under section 5; and 
(2) developing recommendations to the Coast 
Guard for the revision of such standard and type ap-
proval process to ensure effectiveness in reducing in-
troductions and accurate shipboard monitoring of 
treatment performance that is simple and stream-
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lined, which shall be made widely available to the 
public. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated for each of the fiscal 
years 2008 through 2012 $1,500,000 for the Coast Guard 
and $1,500,000 for the Environmental Protection Agency 
to carry out subsection (a). 
SEC. 10. RESEARCH IN SYSTEMATICS AND TAXONOMY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The National Science Foundation 
shall establish a program to award grants to researchers 
at institutions of higher education and museums to carry 
out research programs in systematics and taxonomy. 
(b) GOALS.—The goals of the program under this 
section are to— 
(1) encourage scientists to pursue careers in 
systematics and taxonomy to ensure a continuing 
knowledge base in these disciplines; 
(2) ensure that there will be adequate expertise 
in systematics and taxonomy to support Federal, 
State, and local needs to identify species; 
(3) develop this expertise throughout the United 
States with an emphasis on regional diversity; and 
(4) draw on existing expertise in systematics 
and taxonomy at institutions of higher education 
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and museums to train the next generation of system-
atists and taxonomists. 
(c) CRITERIA.—Grants shall be awarded under this 
section on a merit-reviewed competitive basis. Emphasis 
shall be placed on funding proposals in a diverse set of 
ecosystems and geographic locations, and, when applica-
ble, integrated with the United States Long Term Ecologi-
cal Research Network. Preference shall be given to pro-
posals that will include student participation, and to insti-
tutions and museums that actively train students to be-
come experts in taxonomy and systematics. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the National Science 
Foundation for carrying out this section $2,500,000 for 
each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012. 
SEC. 11. STATE PROGRAMS. 
(a) PLAN.—The administering agencies, in coopera-
tion with the appropriate State agencies, shall develop a 
plan to— 
(1) conduct a survey of methods States and 
Federal agencies are using to control or eradicate 
aquatic invasive species; 
(2) facilitate the exchange of information 
among States and Federal agencies on methods 
States or Federal agencies have found to be effective 
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at controlling or eradicating aquatic invasive species 
and the costs of those methods; and 
(3) evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the various 
methods States and Federal agencies are using to 
control or eradicate aquatic invasive species. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the administering agencies shall 
jointly transmit to the Congress the plan described in sub-
section (a) and the expected costs of carrying out the plan. 
Æ 
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