National Aquatic Invasive Species Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-525
Sponsor: Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI]
Introduced: 2003-03-05 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Animals
Aquatic animals
Aquatic ecology
Aquatic plants
Armed Forces and National Security
Biological diversity
Boundaries
Business records
Canada
Canals
Commerce
Congress
Department of Transportation
Ecological research
Ecological surveys
Economics and Public Finance
Ecosystem management
Environmental Protection
Exotic animals
Exotic plants
Federal aid to research
Federal aid to water pollution control
Fines (Penalties)
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Great Lakes
Guam
Habitat conservation
Hawaii
Illinois
Import restrictions
Inland water transportation
International Affairs
International agencies
International environmental cooperation
Labor and Employment
Lakes
Latin America
Law
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine fouling organisms
Marine safety
Marine transportation
Merchant seamen
Mexico
Non-native species
Northern Mariana Islands
Pest control
Pests
Rivers
Science, Technology, Communications
Ships
Snakes
Transportation and Public Works
Treaties
Warships
Waterways
Weeds
Wildlife conservation

Summary:
action_date: 2003-03-05
text: National Aquatic Invasive Species Act of 2003 - Amends the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 to establish aquatic invasive species prevention requirements for vessels (including towed vessels) operating in U.S. waters. Requires the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to promulgate regulations for ballast water management standards and certification procedures. 
Directs the Aquatic Invasive Species Task Force to establish a priority pathway management program that identifies those pathways that pose the highest risk for the introduction of aquatic invasive species unless further managed.
Prohibits the importation of live aquatic organisms not in trade without specified screening and approval.
Requires the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, with the concurrence of the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, to construct and maintain a national dispersal barrier program to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species in U.S. waterways. 
Provides for expansion of the Brown Tree Snake Control Program and Aquatic Nuisance Species Program information, education, and outreach activities. Requires the Task Force to establish a national subcommittee on nutria for its control. 
Requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, and the U.S. Geological Survey (Administering Agencies) to develop and conduct a marine and freshwater research program to assess rates of, patterns of, and conditions surrounding introductions of nonnative aquatic species in aquatic ecosystems and efforts to prevent the introduction of, and detect and eradicate, such species. 
Requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop a grant program to fund research, development, demonstration and verification of environmentally sound cost-effective technologies and methods to control and eradicate aquatic invasive species. 
Requires the Coast Guard and the EPA to develop a research program to support implementation of vessel pathway standards to prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species by vessels. 
Requires the National Science Foundation to establish a grant program for researchers at institutions of higher education and museums to carry out research in systematic and taxonomy. 
Requires the Invasive Species Council to coordinate with the Task Force to combat aquatic invasive species. Requires the Task Force to recommend to appropriate Federal agencies additions to the list of aquatic invasive species. 
Requires the Task Force, the Council, and the Secretary of State to ensure that international efforts to prevent, detect, monitor, assess, and control aquatic invasive species are coordinated with U.S. policies.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-06-17
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and  Water. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 108-354.
action_date: 2003-03-05
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2003-03-05
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3178-3179)
action_date: 2003-03-05
text: Introduced in Senate