§8426 Aquatic Resource Activities Assistance

Summary

Federal land agencies may inspect and clean boats and other watercraft that enter or leave the federal lands and waters they manage to stop unwanted aquatic species from spreading. When they do this, they must work with partners, check with the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force to find improvements, and try to avoid delaying people when boats are clean. Agencies can team up with partners or help them set up inspection and cleaning stations. They may not block access just because no inspection program exists. Coast Guard rules still apply, and agencies must share inspection and cleaning data with any Reclamation State involved. Key words used in the rule: Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force — the federal task force created under section 4721(a); decontamination — removing invasive aquatic species; Federal land and water — areas run by BLM, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Forest Service, or National Park Service; Indian Tribe — as defined in 25 U.S.C. 5304; inspection — looking for invasive species; partner — a Reclamation State, an Indian Tribe in a Reclamation State, an eligible nonprofit in a Reclamation State, a local government unit in a Reclamation State, or a private entity; Reclamation States — Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming; reclamation project — defined in 460l–32(3); Secretaries — the Interior officials through BLM, Reclamation, and NPS, and the Secretary of Agriculture through the Forest Service; vessel — any watercraft. The Secretary, through the Commissioner of Reclamation and if money is available, must run a competitive grant program to help partners pay for inspections, cleaning, and stations at Reclamation projects. Federal grant funds can cover up to 75 percent of costs, projects must be technically and financially feasible, and the Secretary must coordinate with Reclamation States, affected Indian Tribes, and the Task Force.