The Institute’s Aquatic Invasive Species Policy Project is located within the Trade and the Environment/Invasive Species program. The project aims to make federal policy and programs related to the prevention and management of aquatic invasive species as responsive as possible to the needs of the Northeast-Midwest region. For more than 20 years, the Northeast-Midwest Institute has been leading the nation in aquatic invasive species policy development and analysis. Buoyed by immense support from within the Northeast-Midwest region, the Institute continues to promote opportunities for constructive action within the region, as well as advance clean trade at a national level through effective policy.

Current activities

Current activities relevant to the Institute's Aquatic Invasive Species Policy Project include:

• Providing timely information and analysis to policy makers on Capitol Hill and in state and federal agencies throughout the Northeast-Midwest region in support of effective policy development;
• Providing feedback and input on draft legislation and proposed funding levels when requested by policy makers;
• Providing annual aquatic invasive species budget analysis and ongoing updates of federal appropriations; and
• Participating in briefings throughout the year for Congressional staff and Hall of States representatives.

Relevance

With critical support by the Institute and the Great Lakes Task Force of the Northeast-Midwest Congressional and Senate Coalitions, Congress established, through the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990, the first regulatory program directed at minimizing ballast introductions of invasive species for ships entering the Great Lakes after operating outside the exclusive economic zone. The National Invasive Species Act of 1996 (NISA) expanded this program, requiring vessels to manage their ballast water either by conducting ballast water exchange (BWE) or by using a ballast water treatment (BWT) that is equal to or more effective than BWE. NISA also charged the U.S. Coast Guard with establishing a voluntary national ballast water program and, in the event it was found to be ineffective, making its provisions mandatory. In 2001, the U.S. Coast Guard reported to Congress that the number of vessels that provided information on ballast water management was too low for an effective assessment of compliance with the voluntary guidelines. As a result, it began the process of making the voluntary guidelines mandatory, publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking for a mandatory national ballast water management program in July 2003, and a final rule in July 2004.

Although these laws made some progress, they have not yet solved the problem of aquatic invasive species introductions. In recent years, many bills have been proposed in Congress to reauthorize the NISA’s ballast water program, but none has been enacted. Most recently, in 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act (H.R. 2830), which included a national discharge standard for ballast water, and required ballast water treatment systems to be installed on ships after January 1, 2009, but not later than December 31, 2013.

Because legislative work in the current 110th Congress on this issue was not concluded, Congress is likely to take up legislation early in the next 111th Congress to set up an effective federal response to the problem.

Data and products

• Testimony to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittees on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, and Water Resources and Environment by Allegra Cangelosi (March 25, 2004). (pdf document)
• Invasive Species: Global Treaty Not Enough by Allegra Cangelosi. In: Northeast-Midwest Economic Review, Spring 2004. (pdf document)
• Testimony to Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans Subcommittee (House Committee on Resources), and Environment, Technology, and Standards Subcommittee (House Committee on Science) by Allegra Cangelosi (November 14, 2002). (pdf document)
• Blocking Invasive Aquatic Species by Allegra Cangelosi. In: Issues in Science and Technology, The National Academies, The University of Texas at Dallas, Winter 2002-2003. (pdf document)
• Testimony to House Committee on Science, Environment, Technology and Standards Subcommittee by Allegra Cangelosi (June 20, 2002). (pdf document)
• Testimony to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee by Allegra Cangelosi (May 15, 2002). (pdf document)