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

Summary

Federal agencies that run public lands must plan and do work to control invasive species on the land and water they manage to protect water and wildlife and support restoration. Key words are defined simply: control means killing, reducing, or stopping an invasive species; ecosystem means the community of living things and their environment; eligible State names the 50 States plus D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands; invasive species means a non‑native plant or animal that can cause harm; manage means active steps to stop spread and damage, including early detection and quick response; prevent means stopping introductions or intercepting threats before they get established; Secretary concerned means the heads of the Army (Corps of Engineers), Interior (Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service), Agriculture (Forest Service), or other federal leaders who plan and treat invasive species; species means a group of similar organisms. Each agency must write a strategic plan aimed at achieving, as much as possible, a real annual net reduction in invasive species or the acres they infest on land or water the agency manages. Plans must be made with other federal agencies, affected States and local governments, tribes, stakeholders (including NGOs and industry), and follow priorities set by one or more Governors for affected ecosystems. Agencies must weigh economic and ecological costs when choosing actions. They must pick control methods that work (based on good science), limit environmental harm, and are cost‑effective. A comparative economic assessment of methods is required. Agencies must use all tools available as of March 12, 2019 to speed up urgent projects on high‑risk areas needing immediate action and must follow their normal land or resource plans. Of the money available each year for invasive species work, at least 75% must go to on‑the‑ground control (for supplies, approved pesticides, biological controls, restoration, monitoring, cleaning vehicles or vessels, and similar methods), up to 15% may be used for research and outreach, and up to 10% may be used for administrative costs. Each agency must report to Congress, within 60 days after the end of the second fiscal year after March 12, 2019, how it spent funds in the two prior fiscal years and the percentages used for the three categories above. Agencies may partner with other governments, tribes, or private parties under contracts or cooperative agreements, but those agreements must include a written memorandum of understanding that lists priority species, infestation acres, expected results, chosen control methods with an economic comparison, maps or coordinates, and certain legal assurances. Agencies may still use other legal authorities and may not stop public water supplies to control invasive species. Congress has authorized $2,500,000 per year for the Army (Chief of Engineers) and $2,500,000 per year for the Interior for each fiscal year 2021 through 2030.