Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 110 Part 6.djvu/252

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110 STAT. 4074 PUBLIC LAW 104-332—OCT. 26, 1996 "(6) in 1992, the zebra mussel was discovered at the northernmost reaches of the Chesapeake Bay watershed; "(7) the zebra mussel poses an imminent risk of invasion in the main waters of the Chesapeake Bay; "(8) since the Chesapeake Bay is the largest recipient of . foreign ballast water on the East Coast, there is a risk of further invasions of other nonindigenous species; "(9) the zebra mussel is only one example of thousands of nonindigenous species that have become established in waters of the United States and may be causing economic and ecological degradation with respect to the natural resources of waters of the United States; "(10) since their introduction in the early 1980's in ballast water discharges, ruffe— "(A) have caused severe declines in populations of other species of fish in Duluth Harbor (in Minnesota and Wisconsin); "(B) have spread to Lake Huron; and "(C) are likely to spread quickly to most other waters in North America if action is not taken promptly to control their spread; "(11) examples of nonindigenous species that, as of the date of enactment of the National Invasive Species Act of 1996, infest coastal waters of the United States and that have the potential for causing adverse economic and ecological effects include— "(A) the mitten crab (Eriocher sinensis) that has become established on the Pacific Coast; "(B) the green crab (Carcinus maenas) that has become established in the coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean; "(C) the brown mussel (Pema pema) that has become established along the Gulf of Mexico; and "(D) certain shellfish pathogens; "(12) many aquatic nuisance vegetation species, such as Eurasian watermilfoil, hydrilla, water hyacinth, and water chestnut, have been introduced to waters of the United States from other parts of the world causing or having a potential to cause adverse environmental, ecological, and economic effects; "(13) if preventive management measures are not taken nationwide to prevent and control unintentionally introduced nonindigenous aquatic species in a timely manner, further introductions and infestations of species that are as destructive as, or more destructive than, the zebra mussel or the ruffe infestations may occur; "(14) once introduced into waters of the United States, aquatic nuisance species are unintentionally transported and introduced into inland lakes and rivers by recreational boaters, commercial barge traffic, and a variety of other pathways; and "(15) resolving the problems associated with aquatic nuisance species will require the participation and cooperation of the Federal Government and State governments, and investment in the development of prevention technologies.". (2) DEFINITIONS.— Section 1003 (16 U.S.C. 4702) is amended—