PUBLIC LAW 101-646—NOV. 29, 1990 104 STAT. 4761 Public Law 101-646 101st Congress An Act To prevent and control infestations of the coastal inland waters of the United States by the zebra mussel and other nonindigenous aquatic nuisance species, to reauthorize the National Sea Grant College Program, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, "TITLE I—AQUATIC NUISANCE PREVENTION AND CONTROL Subtitle A—General Provisions Nov. 29, 1990 [H.R. 5390] Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990. "SECTION 1001. SHORT TITLE. "This title may be cited as the "Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990". "SEC. 1002. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. "(a) FINDINGS. —The Congress finds that— "(1) the discharge of untreated water in the ballast tanks of vessels and through other means results in unintentional introductions of nonindigenous species to fresh, brackish, and saltwater environments; "(2) when environmental conditions are favorable, nonindigenous species, such as the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha), become established and may disrupt the aquatic environment and economy of affected coastal areas; "(3) the zebra mussel was unintentionally introduced into the Great Lakes and, if left uncontrolled, is expected to infest over two-thirds of the continental United States through the unintentional transportation of larvae and adults by vessels operating in inland waters; and "(4) the potential economic disruption to communities af- fected by the zebra mussel due to its colonization of water pipes, boat hulls and other hard surfaces has been estimated at $5,000,000,000 by the year 2000, and the potential disruption to the diversity and abundance of native fish and other species could be severe. "(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are— "(1) to prevent unintentional introduction and dispersal of nonindigenous species into waters of the United States through ballast water mansigement and other requirements; "(2) to coordinate federally conducted, funded or authorized research, prevention control, information dissemination and other activities regarding the zebra mussel and other aquatic nuisance species; "(3) to develop and carry out environmentally sound control methods to prevent, monitor and control unintentional 16 USC 4701 note. 16 USC 4701.
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