Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 67— - AQUATIC NUISANCE PREVENTION AND CONTROL › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 4702
Defines important words used in this chapter. It gives short meanings so readers know what terms mean. “Aquatic nuisance species” is a nonnative species that harms native species, water ecosystems, or activities like fishing, farming, aquaculture, or recreation. “Assistant Secretary” means the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works). “Ballast water” is the water and sediments ships use to balance or stabilize themselves. “Director” means the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. “Exclusive economic zone” means the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone set by Proclamation Number 5030, dated March 10, 1983, and the equivalent Canadian zone. “Environmentally sound” means methods to stop or control aquatic nuisance species while minimizing harm to ecosystems and non-target organisms and using integrated pest management and nonchemical approaches. “Great Lakes” names the five lakes (Ontario, Erie, Huron including Lake St. Clair, Michigan, Superior), their connecting channels (Saint Mary’s, Saint Clair, Detroit, Niagara, and Saint Lawrence to the Canadian border), and other waters in their drainage basin. “Great Lakes region” means the 8 States that border those lakes. “Indian tribe” includes tribes, bands, nations, Alaska Native villages or regional corporations (as defined in or established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.)) that the United States recognizes for special Indian programs. “Interstate organization” is an entity created by an interstate compact approved by Congress, by a federal law, or by a treaty or international agreement that represents two or more States and/or Indian tribes, or a mix of States and tribes, or the Federal Government and foreign governments, and that has a role in managing land or natural resources. “Nonindigenous species” is any species or viable biological material that moves outside its historic range, including transfers between countries. “Secretary” means the Secretary of the department that the Coast Guard is operating under. “State” includes each State, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. “Recreational vessel” has the meaning given in section 1362 of title 33. “Task Force” means the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force established under section 4721. “Territorial sea” is the belt of sea measured from the U.S. baseline as set in Presidential Proclamation Number 5928, dated December 27, 1988. “Under Secretary” means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. “Waters of the United States” means the navigable waters and the territorial sea of the United States. “Unintentional introduction” is an accidental arrival of a nonnative species, not a purposeful release, for example in ballast water or water used to move aquaculture animals.
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Legislative History
Reference
Citation
16 U.S.C. § 4702
Title 16 — Conservation
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73