‘‘(II) operational requirements to 
safely and effectively carry out any 
actions consistent with a rapid re-
sponse contingency strategy required 
by States and approved by the Sec-
retary under section 1211; 
‘‘(III) at the discretion of the 
Secretary, other operational require-
ments that are specified in guidelines 
adopted by the International Maritime 
Organization; 
‘‘(IV) a description of all report-
ing requirements and a copy of each 
form necessary to meet those require-
ments; 
‘‘(V) the position of the officer 
responsible for implementation of bal-
last water management and reporting 
procedures on board; 
‘‘(VI) 
documents 
relevant 
to 
aquatic invasive species management 
equipment or procedures; 
‘‘(VII) a description of the loca-
tion of access points for sampling bal-
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last or sediments pursuant to para-
graph (3)(B)(vi); 
‘‘(VIII) a description of require-
ments relating to compliance with any 
approved rapid response strategy rel-
evant to the voyage of the vessel; 
‘‘(IX) a contingency strategy ap-
plicable under section 1211, if appro-
priate; and 
‘‘(X) such requirements described 
in subsection (b) as are applicable to 
the vessel. 
‘‘(D) GUIDELINES.—Not later than 18 
months after the date of enactment of the 
Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act, 
the Secretary shall issue final guidelines for the 
development of invasive species management 
plans, including guidelines that— 
‘‘(i) identify types of vessels for which 
plans are required; 
‘‘(ii) establish processes for updating 
and revising the plans; and 
‘‘(iii) establish criteria for compliance 
with this subsection. 
‘‘(2) RECORDS.—The master of a vessel shall— 
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‘‘(A) maintain records of all ballast oper-
ations, for such period of time and including 
such information as the Secretary may specify; 
‘‘(B) permit inspection of the records by 
representatives of the Secretary and of the 
State in which the port is located; and 
‘‘(C) transmit records to the National Bal-
last 
Information 
Clearinghouse 
established 
under section 1102(f). 
‘‘(3) BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 18 
months after the date of enactment of the 
Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act, 
the Secretary shall issue guidelines on best 
management practices to eliminate or minimize 
and monitor organism transfer by vessels. 
‘‘(B) PRACTICES TO BE INCLUDED.—The 
best management practices shall include— 
‘‘(i) sediment management in trans-
oceanic vessels; 
‘‘(ii) minimization of ballast water up-
take in areas in which there is a greater 
risk of harmful organisms entering ballast 
tanks (such as areas with toxic algal 
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blooms or known outbreaks of aquatic 
invasive species); 
‘‘(iii) avoidance of unnecessary dis-
charge of ballast water in a port that was 
taken up in another port; 
‘‘(iv) to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, collection and the proper disposal 
of debris from the cleaning of the hull; 
‘‘(v) proper use of anti-fouling coat-
ing; and 
‘‘(vi) provision of sample access ports 
in ballast piping for sampling of ballast in-
take and discharge. 
‘‘(4) BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Effective beginning on 
the date that is 180 days after the Secretary 
promulgates regulations to carry out this sec-
tion, and except as provided in subparagraph 
(B), each vessel equipped with a ballast water 
tank that enters a United States port shall 
comply with the regulations relating to ballast 
water management. 
‘‘(B) EXCEPTIONS.— 
‘‘(i) VESSELS
OPERATING
ENTIRELY 
WITHIN EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE.—Be-
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fore December 31, 2013, a vessel equipped 
with a ballast tank, and any towed vessel 
or structure, that operates entirely within 
the exclusive economic zone shall not be re-
quired to comply with the regulations de-
scribed in subsection (b)(2). 
‘‘(ii) VESSELS
OPERATING
IN
EN-
CLOSED AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS.— 
‘‘(I) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to 
subclause (II), an existing vessel 
equipped with a ballast tank, and any 
towed vessel or structure, that oper-
ates exclusively in the upper 4 Great 
Lakes (Lake Superior, Lake Michi-
gan, Lake Huron, and Lake Erie, and 
the connecting channels), or in an-
other enclosed aquatic ecosystem shall 
not be required to comply with the 
regulations described in subsection 
(b)(1). 
‘‘(II) 
ADDITIONAL
ENCLOSED 
AQUATIC
ECOSYSTEMS.—The Admin-
istrator and the Under Secretary, in 
consultation with regional panels of 
the Task Force, may determine addi-
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