§8426 Aquatic Resource Activities Assistance

Summary

Federal land agencies may inspect and clean boats and other watercraft that enter or leave lands and waters they manage to stop aquatic invasive species. They must work with partners (like the listed Reclamation States, tribes, local governments, nonprofits, or private groups), talk with the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force about better ways to detect and manage invasive species, and try to do inspections with as little disruption to boating and recreation as possible. The agencies can lead or join partnerships, give technical help, or set up inspection and cleaning stations. They cannot bar boat access just because no inspection program exists. Coast Guard rules still apply and these agency actions should not duplicate Coast Guard efforts. Agencies must share inspection and cleaning data with the affected Reclamation State. Key defined terms: Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force (the federal task force); decontamination (removing invasive species); Federal land and water (lands run by BLM, Fish & Wildlife, Reclamation, Forest Service, or National Park Service); inspection (looking for invasive species); partner (states, tribes, nonprofits, local governments, or private groups in a Reclamation State); Reclamation State (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming); Secretaries (Interior officials for BLM, Reclamation, NPS and the Agriculture Secretary for the Forest Service); vessel (any watercraft). The Secretary, through the Commissioner of Reclamation, must set up a competitive grant program (if money is available) to help partners run inspections and decontamination work at Reclamation projects and to buy, open, run, or maintain inspection stations. Federal grants can cover up to 75% of costs, including staff. Before giving money, the Secretary must find the project technically and financially sound. The Secretary must coordinate with each Reclamation State, affected tribes, and the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force.