[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 30, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 66926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-30974]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of the Secretary
Invasive Species Advisory Committee
ACTION: Establishment.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Executive Order 13112, and acting as
administrative lead on behalf of the new interdepartmental Invasive
Species Council (Council), the Secretary of the Interior is
establishing the Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC). This
notice is published in accordance with the provisions of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gordon Brown, Invasive Species
Council, telephone (202) 208-6336; fax (202) 219-0229; e-mail
a__gordon__brown@ios.doi.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Invasive species are transforming America's
lands and waters. Foreign animal and plant species are replacing native
wildlife and wreaking enormous financial and ecological damage.
Invasive species are second only to habitat destruction in causing
species to be endangered, and estimates of economic harm from these
biological invaders run as high as $123 billion annually. Among other
things, invasive species crowd out nutritious native forage, create
fire hazards, limit recreation, clog lakes and waterways, undermine
fisheries, and corrupt water pipes.
Invasive species causing harm include weeds like yellow starthistle
and leafy spurge, which cattle cannot eat; purple loosestrife, which
chokes wetlands; miconia, which may destroy the Hawaiian rainforest;
and melaleuca trees now expanding across the Everglades. Animals are
also problems, such as the zebra mussel, corrupting water supply
facilities; the brown tree snake, which has extirpated forest birds on
Guam; and the Asian tiger mosquito, which has spread avian malaria to
wild birds and other diseases to both humans and other animals.
Purpose and Objective
To advise the Council as authorized by Executive Order 13112 on a
broad array of issues related to preventing the introduction of
invasive species and providing for their control and minimizing the
economic, ecological, and human health impacts that invasive species
cause. The Council is co-chaired by the Secretary of the Interior, the
Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of Commerce.
The ISAC will maintain an intensive and regular dialogue with
stakeholders and existing organizations to actively explore these
issues and will draw on the expertise of its members and other sources
to provide advice. The ISAC will meet up to four times per year.
Balanced Membership Plans
The Committee consists of up to 25 United States citizens. Members
of the ISAC will be appointed by the Secretary of the Interior in
consultation with the other members of the Council. Members will be
selected based on specific needs of the Council in order to balance
viewpoints, institutions, geographic diversity, and the advisory
functions required to effectively address invasive species science and
management. These factors are important and weight is given to
geographical distribution, gender, minority status, and institution.
No member may serve on the ISAC for more than three consecutive
terms of 2 years. Reappointment terms will be staggered within
stakeholder groups (2 or 3 years) to avoid turnover.
Responsible DOI Officials
Gordon Brown, Invasive Species Council, Department of the Interior,
1849 C. St., NW, Room 6635, Washington, DC 20240.
Dated: November 19, 1999.
Bruce Babbitt,
Secretary of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 99-30974 Filed 11-29-99; 8:45 am]
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