The National Invasive Species Council (NISC) staff prepares the NISC Report. The NISC staff can be reached at (202) 513-7243 and by fax at (202) 371-1751. If you have difficulty reaching the NISC staff, please call Chris Dionigi on his cell phone at (703) 447-4726.

NISC Updates

July 11 – 15, 2005: Tim Carlson, ISAC member, met with NISC Staff members and participated in the hearings concerning tamarisk legislation (see below).

July 12, 2005: A North American Free Trade Agreement Commission on Environmental Cooperation (NAFTA-CEC) held a teleconferencing meeting between the United States, Mexico, Canada and the CEC Secretariat regarding the selection of the aquatic pathway and invasive species that will be tested using the new draft CEC Risk Guidelines. The U.S. selection was coordinated through NISC with extensive input from NOAA and DOI. NISC Staff attended (Staff Contact Richard Orr).

July 13, 2005: The NISC Principal’s Meeting was held from 2:00 – 4:00 pm at the NISC Office at 1201 Eye Street, NW 5^th floor. NISC staff attended (Staff Contact Lori Williams).

July 18, 2005: Mari Lou Livingood resigned her position on ISAC. Her last day with the Association of Marina Industries was July 18, 2005. She has joined the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation as Assistant Director of Development. The NISC staff thanks her for her work and wishes her well in her new endeavors.

July 19, 2005: A conference call concerning choosing a pathway and its aquatic invasive species to be tested under the draft North American Free Trade Agreement Commission for Environmental Cooperation draft Risk Assessment Guidelines was held. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA, and other agencies are negotiating with Canada and Mexico through NISC to determine what the test subjects (species and pathway) will be tested under for the draft CEC Risk Assessment guidelines will be (Staff Contact Richard Orr).

July 20 – 21, 2005: The National Plant Board's Peer Review Committee held a meeting on the procedures and standards that govern the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS) consideration of import and export requests through the use of risk analysis. This is being done under Section 402(a) of the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act. The Committee is composed of non-APHIS professionals with risk analysis backgrounds. A representative from NISC is on the Committee (Staff Contact Richard Orr).

July 21, 2005: NISC staff briefed Alan Burdick (author of the much discussed In Our World, a Discover Magazine Article on invasive species and author of a new book entitled Out Of Eden), on NISC’s mission and work, from at the NISC Office at 1201 Eye Street, NW. This briefing was purely for informational /educational purposes. NISC Policy Liaisons and departmental representatives presented their agency’s work on invasive species (Staff Contact Anna Cherry).

July 22, 2005: There was a Chesapeake Bay Program Ad Hoc Panel Meeting to evaluate new proposals and current progress on scientific and environmental studies on the introduction of a non-native oyster (Crassostrea ariakensis) into the Chesapeake Bay. The Panel was created in 2002 by the Living Resources Committee of the Chesapeake Bay Program. NISC has had a representative member on the Panel since its formation (Staff Contact Richard Orr).

Prior Events

Recent Publication on Invasive Plants: The Weed Science Society of America (WSSA), recently published a book entitled, Invasive Plants of Range and Wildlands and their Environmental, Economic and Societal Impacts, which is edited by C.A. Duncan and J.K. Clark. A synopsis of the publication can be viewed at http://www.wssa.net/publications.html.

Federal Register Announcement on Requests for Proposals on Ballast Water Technology: June 30, 2005, the request for proposals on ballast water technology development was posted in the Federal Register on June 30, 2005. Please note that all of NOAA's grant programs were also contained in the same Federal Register notice so there are 23 pages of material--most of which relates to other things. To view the Federal Register announcement, please see http://fedgrants.gov/EPSData/DOC/Synopses/1250/OAR-SG-2006-2000363/June%26%23032%3B30-2005%26%23032%3BFRN.pdf (Staff Contact Dean Wilkinson).

Introduction of bill on invasive aquatic species: Senator Boxer of California introduced a lengthy bill to implement recommendations of the Commission on Ocean Policy. The bill number is S. 1224, and Title VII of the bill is on aquatic invasive species and is very similar to other bills already introduced. The ballast water section appears to track S. 363. The other parts of the Title appear to track S. 770.

The Invasive Reptile Management and Response Workshop: July 11 – 16, 2005: The Invasive Reptile Management and Response Workshop was held at the South Florida West Management District Field Station in West Palm Beach, FL. For additional information, contact Skip Snow (NPS) at (305) 242-7827, Earl Campbell (FWS) at (808)792-9400 or Tony Pernas (NPS) at (305) 252-0347. NISC staff attended (Staff Contact Phil Andreozzi).

A Meeting of the Federal Interagency Committee on Invasive Terrestrial Animals and Pathogens (ITAP): July 14, 2005, a meeting of the Federal Interagency Committee on Invasive Terrestrial Animals and Pathogens (ITAP) was held in Beltsville, Maryland. Discussions included the Memoradum-of-Understanding (MOU) signing progress, subcommittee reports, along with other cross-cutting invasive species issues. NISC Staff attended (Staff Contact Richard Orr).

Hearing on Tamarisk and Russian Olive: July 14, 2005, the House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands (Steve Pearce, New Mexico Chair) held a hearing on several bills, one of which is H.R. 2027 introduced by representative Pearce. This bill concerns tamarisk and Russian olive. Department of Interior representatives testified (Staff Contact Gordon Brown).

New Director of the Weed Science Society of America: July 18, 2005, Dr. Lee Van Wychen began his work as the Director of Science Policy for the National and Regional Weed Science Societies (i.e., Weed Science Society of America) in their DC offices. This is the position formerly held by Rob Hedberg (Staff Contact Chris Dionigi).

California Invasive Weeds Awareness Week: July 18 – 24, 2005, the California Invasive Weeds Awareness Coalition is sponsored the second annual California Invasive Weeds Awareness Week. The week of projects included local activities such as exhibits, field trips, and other activities. For more information please contact Elizabeth Brusati at edbrusati@cal-ipc.org

Hearing on the Eastern Oyster Crassostera Virginica: July 19, 2005, the House Resources held a hearing at the Longworth Building to answer the question on whether or not the eastern oyster merits protection under the Endangered Species Act

Up-coming Events

A Meeting on New Japanese Invasive Species Legislation: July 26, 2005, a meeting is scheduled to discuss Japanese Invasive Species Legislation at the NISC headquarters, at 1201 Eye Street, NW, from 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. Please contact Jeff Fisher from the US Department of State at (202) 647-6867 (Staff Contact Richard Orr).

An Interagency Roundtable on Animal Disease and Public Health: August 3, 2005, the State Department will hold an Interagency Roundtable on Animal Disease and Public Health from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm in Room 1205 at the State Department, 2201 C Street, N.W., Washington D.C. This meeting is for federal employees only. Jim Pearson of the Iowa-based Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) will speak on a recently published issue paper entitled "Global Risks of Infectious Animal Diseases." CAST Executive Vice President, Dr. John Bonner will also be present to answer any questions about the paper and to provide an overview of the work that CAST is doing. If you plan to attend please send your DOB and SSN to (BerghKA@state.gov) by COB Friday, July 29, 2005, in order to be cleared to enter the building. NISC staff plan to attend (Staff Contact Chris Dionigi).

Shellfish Safety Workshop: August 10 – 12, 2005 a Workshop entitled "Molluscan Shellfish Safety: Integration of Science and Policy for Vibrios and Viruses" will be held at the Grand Marriott, Point Clear, AL (http://www.masgc.org/issc_icmss). Molluscan shellfish are the most often incriminated food in the Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) food-borne illnesses. Ballast water issues will be discussed at this meeting, primarily as they relate to shellfish viruses and diseases. The Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference (ISSC) (http://www.issc.org) annual meeting will be held at the same location August 13 – 15, 2005 (Contact Ron Lukens at rlukens@gsmfc.org).

Conference on “Invasive Plants: Perspectives, Prescriptions and Partnerships”: August 16 – 17, 2005, the Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council and the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania will sponsor a conference entitled, “Invasive Plants: Perspectives, Prescriptions and Partnerships” at the University of Pennsylvania’s Houston Hall in Philadelphia. The conference will focus on the negative effects caused by invasive exotic plants and will highlight management techniques to try to control them. Featured speakers will include Nelroy Jackson, Barry Yinger, and Dr. Lewis H. Ziska. To request a brochure for more information on the conference, please contact the Morris Arboretum at 215-247-5777 ext. 156 or e-mail jlm@pobox.upenn.edu. NISC staffers do not plan on attending (Staff Contact Chris Dionigi)

Conference on Sustainable Agriculture: August 21 – 24, 2005, the International Conference on the Environmental Effects of Agricultural Practices: Remediation, Prevention, and Sustainability will be held at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, 71 Banyan Drive, in Hilo, HI. Additional information can be found at http://www.dce.ksu.edu/dce/conf/ag&environment/. The deadline for submission of oral presentation or poster presentation abstracts is March 18, 2005. Presentation topics will include the following:

*Remediation;

*Environmental health;

*Risk management;

*Sustainable agriculture;

*International initiatives;

*Persistent Organic Pollutants

(POPs) Convention;

*Pollution prevention and best

management practices;

*Innovative technologies;

*Indigenous approaches; and

*Ecological Restoration.

It is anticipated that invasive species issues will be discussed within these topic areas (Staff Contact Chris Dionigi).

The “Forest Out-of-Balance: The Impact of Invasives” Workshop: August 22 - 24, 2005, the Forest Service is sponsoring a workshop entitled, “Forest Out-of-Balance: The Impact of Invasives”, which will be held at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV. Additional information is located at the website http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/invasive_plants/calendar/index.shtm.

NISC staff plan to attend (Staff Contact Hilda Diaz-Soltero).

A Session on Invasive Species at the American Chemical Society Meetings in DC: August 30, 2005, a session entitled “Control of Invasive Species: Regulatory Concerns and Achievements” will be presented at the American Chemical Society meetings in Washington, DC. In addition, an oral presentation entitled, “National Invasive Species Council Update” will be given by Chris Dionigi (Staff Contact Chris Dionigi).

Western Regional Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force (ANSTF) Panel Meeting: September 7 - 9, 2005, the Western Regional Panel of the ANSTF will hold their annual meeting in Wichita, KS (Chris Dionigi will attend).

International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species: September 16, 2005: is the deadline for submitting abstracts for the 14^th International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species that is being hosted by the US Geological Survey in Key Biscayne, Florida, May 14 – 19, 2006. Abstracts should be emailed to profedge@renc.igs.net. A few of the suggested topic areas include:

§ Monitoring and rapid response to new invaders

§ Economic impacts of invasive species

§ Ballast water

§ Pet trade industry.

For additional information, please go to www.icais.org. NISC staff plan to attend (Staff Contact Chris Dionigi).

The Second New England Invasive Plant Summit: September 16 – 17, 2005, the Second New England Invasive Plant Summit will be held in the Sheraton Framingham Hotel, Framingham, MA. NISC staff will attend (Staff Contact Chris Dionigi).

The Agricultural Research (ARS) Service and the Cooperative, State, Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) workshop on Animal Health: September 21 – 22, 2005, ARS/CSREES will hold a workshop on animal health and will offer a National Program Planning Workshop, which will be held at the Clarion Hotel Sports Complex in Kansas City, MO (Chris Dionigi may attend).

Soybean Rust Symposium: November 15 – 16, 2005, American Phytopathological Society (APS) and the USDA will host a National Soybean Rust Symposium at the Renaissance Hotel, in Nashville, TN. For more information, go to www.apsnet.org/on-line/sbr. NISC Staff members do not plan on attending (Staff Contact Chris Dionigi).