§666c–1 Protection of Water, Oceans, Coasts, and Wildlife From Invasive Species

Summary

Requires the Federal officials who run public lands to plan and act to protect water, coasts, oceans, and wildlife by preventing, controlling, and managing invasive species on land they directly manage. Key terms: control = reduce or remove invasive populations; ecosystem = community of organisms and their environment; eligible State = any State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands; invasive species = nonnative (alien) species that cause or could cause economic, environmental, or human health harm; manage/management = active actions to stop spread and harm, including early detection and rapid response; prevent = stop introductions or intercept threats before they establish; Secretary concerned = the Secretary of the Army (Corps of Engineers), the Secretary of the Interior (including USFWS, BIA, BLM, BOR, NPS), the Secretary of Agriculture (Forest Service), or other federal agency heads with planning and treatment duties; species = a group of similar, interbreeding organisms. Each Secretary must carry out on-the-ground control and management to lower invasive populations and support restoration. They must make a strategic plan that aims, as much as practicable, for a real annual net reduction in invasive species or infested acreage. Plans must be coordinated with other Federal agencies, eligible States and their political subdivisions, stakeholders, and Tribes, and follow priorities set by affected Governors. When choosing methods, they must favor scientifically effective, low-impact, and cost-effective approaches and must do a comparative economic assessment. They must use all tools available as of March 12, 2019 to speed up urgent projects on high-risk lands they manage. Of money for invasive-species programs each year, at least 75 percent must go to on-the-ground control (including equipment, integrated pest management such as FIFRA-authorized pesticides, proven biological controls, revegetation, monitoring/detection, vehicle/vessel cleaning, and mechanical/manual methods); up to 15 percent may fund investigations, development, outreach, and public awareness; and up to 10 percent may pay administrative costs. Not later than 60 days after the end of the second fiscal year beginning after March 12, 2019, each Secretary must report to Congress on how funds were used during the prior two fiscal years and give the percentages spent under the on-the-ground, investigation/outreach, and administrative categories. Secretaries may contract or cooperate with other federal agencies, eligible States, Tribes, local governments, or private parties but must have a memorandum of understanding that at minimum lists prioritized species, current and expected infested area, specific integrated pest management methods with a comparative economic assessment, maps or GPS boundaries, and a written assurance of compliance with section 2814 of title 7. Investigations under such agreements must aim to develop faster, practical control methods. Secretaries may not stop water deliveries or shut down public water systems to control invasive species. Projects must be coordinated with local governments consistent with section 1712(c)(9) of title 43. There are authorized annual appropriations of $2,500,000 to the Secretary of the Army (through the Chief of Engineers) and $2,500,000 to the Secretary of the Interior for each fiscal year 2021 through 2030.