[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 57 (Wednesday, March 25, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 14472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7805]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Forum on Ecological Surveys of Aquatic Nuisance Species--Aquatic 
Nuisance Species Task Force

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the Forum on Ecological Surveys of 
Aquatic Nuisance Species. The 1996 amendments to the Nonindigenous 
Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act added a new subsection 
requiring that the Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Task Force, in 
consultation with the U.S. Coast Guard, conduct ecological surveys in 
nationally significant estuaries and other waters that are highly 
susceptible to invasion by ANS resulting from ballast water operations 
and other operations of vessels and require further study. The surveys 
shall determine what nonindigenous aquatic species are present and 
estimate the effectiveness of ballast water and other vessel management 
guidelines and regulations in abating invasions. Studies of the 
Chesapeake Bay, San Francisco Bay, and Honolulu Harbor are specifically 
required.

DATES: The Workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 21, 
1998.

ADDRESSES: The Workshop will be held at the Smithsonian Environmental 
Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater, Maryland 21037. 
Minutes of the meeting will be maintained by the Executive Secretary, 
ANS Task Force, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax 
Drive, Suite 840, Arlington, Virginia 22203-1622.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Craig A. Czarnecki, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, by telephone at 
703-358-2025 or E-mail at [email protected] or Dr. Gregory Ruiz, 
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center at 301-261-4190 (ext. 227) or 
E-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 10(a)(2) of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. I), this notice announces the 
Forum on Ecological Surveys of Aquatic Nuisance Species pursuant to 
section 1102(b) of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and 
Control Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4701-4741).
    The purposes of this meeting are to (1) provide background on the 
statutory requirements for ecological surveys, (2) provide an update on 
past, ongoing, and future studies with a similar focus, (3) discuss 
standardized approaches for conducting and disseminating results from 
future ecological surveys, and (4) identify strategies for synthesis 
and comprehensive analysis among completed surveys.
    The meeting is open to the public. Interested persons may make oral 
statements at the meeting or submit written statements for 
consideration.

    Dated: March 20, 1998.
Rowan Gould,
Acting Assistant Director--Fisheries, Co-Chair, Aquatic Nuisance 
Species Task Force.
[FR Doc. 98-7805 Filed 3-24-98; 8:45 am]
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