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Invasive Species Council Information
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National Invasive
Species Council
Department
of the Interior
Office of the Secretary (OS/SIO/NISC)
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20240
Phone: (202) 513-7243
FAX: (202) 371-1751
E-mail: invasivespecies@ios.doi.gov
In 1997, more than 500 scientists
and land and resource managers from across the U.S. wrote the
Administration to express their deep concerns about invasive
species. In response to the letter and to the growing concern
associated with invasive species the Administration issued Executive Order 13112 on February
3, 1999.
The objective of EO 13112 was
to establish a National Invasive Species Council (NISC) which
would provide national leadership regarding invasive species.
The specific focus of the Council is to ensure that Federal agency
activities concerning invasive species are coordinated, complementary,
cost-efficient, and effective.
The NISC includes the Secretary
of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Defense,
the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture,
the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Transportation, the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Secretary
of Homeland Security, and the Administrator of the U.S. Trade
Representative. The Council is Co-Chaired by the Secretary of
Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of
the Interior.
The NISC is required to produce
a Management Plan. The Management Plan will encourage planning
and action at the local, tribal, State, regional, and ecosystem-based
levels; develop recommendations for international cooperation;
provide guidance on incorporating prevention and control of invasive
species into the National Environmental Policy Act; facilitate
development of a communication network to document, evaluate,
and monitor impacts from invasive species on the economy, the
environment, and human health; and initiate the development of
an information-sharing system that facilitates the exchange of
information concerning invasive species.
The NISC, in order to address
the requirements of EO 13112, established the Invasive Species
Advisory Committee which consists of qualified representatives
from outside of the Federal government. Their role is to provide
stakeholder input to help the NISC achieve the goals and objectives
of the Executive Order. In addition, six Working
Groups consisting of both federal and nonfederal participants
were created to help consolidate information, identify methodology,
and develop ideas necessary for writing the Management Plan.
The specific Working Groups are
the International Working Group; Communication, Outreach, and
Education Working Group; Management Working Group; Policy and
Regulation Working Group; Research, Information Sharing, Documentation
and Monitoring Working Group; and the Risk Analysis and Prevention
Working Group.
The Final National
Management Plan was released in early 2001. For additional
information or clarification please contact the National Invasive
Species Council Staff at (202) 513-7243.
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