[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 74 (Monday, April 19, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19190-19191]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-9763]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force Meetings

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of meetings.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the winter meeting, field trip, and 
awards presentation of the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force and 
meetings of its Ballast Water Program Effectiveness and Adequacy 
Criteria Committee, Western Regional Panel, Recreational Activities 
Committee, and Great Lakes Panel to be held in conjunction with the 
Ninth International Zebra Mussel and Aquatic Nuisance Species 
Conference. The focus of the field trip and other events and meeting 
topics are identified in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

DATES: The ANS Task Force events will occur as follows:

ANS Task Force Awards Presentation, Monday, April 26, 1999, 12:25 to 
12:45 p.m.
Criteria Committee Meeting, Monday, April 26, 1999, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.
Western Regional Panel Breakfast Roundtable, Tuesday, April 27, 1999, 
7:15 to 8:30 a.m.
Recreational Activities Committee Meeting, Tuesday, April 27, 1999, 
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
ANS Task Force Harbor Tour, Tuesday, April 27, 1999, 12:45 to 3:00 p.m.
Great Lakes Panel Ballast Water Research Agenda Symposium, Thursday, 
April 29, 1999, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
ANS Task Force Meeting, Thursday, April 29, 1999, 1:30 to 5:00 p.m.; 
Friday, April 30, 1999, 8:30 to 4:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: All events will occur at or depart from the Duluth 
Entertainment Convention Center, 350 Harbor Drive, Duluth, Minnesota 
55802.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert A. Peoples, Executive 
Secretary, Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, at 703-358-2025 or 
[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 a 
meeting, field trip, and awards presentation of the Aquatic Nuisance 
Species Task Force and meetings of its Ballast Water Program 
Effectiveness and Adequacy Criteria Committee, Western Regional Panel, 
Recreational Activities Committee, and Great Lakes Panel to be held in 
conjunction with the Ninth International Zebra Mussel and Aquatic 
Nuisance Species Conference. The Task Force was established by the 
Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (16 
U.S.C. 4701-4741). The activities or topics for each event are 
summarized below.

ANS Task Force Awards Presentation

    The First Annual ANS Task Awards for an individual and an 
organization recognizing significant long-term contributions to 
identifying and responding to ANS issues and problems will be presented 
during the Conference luncheon.

Ballast Water Program Effectiveness and Adequacy Criteria Committee

    This brief inaugural meeting of the Criteria Committee will 
identify the requirements to be addressed and begin exploring how to 
address them.

Western Regional Panel

    During this Breakfast Roundtable, the Panel will receive updates 
from its members, discuss the status of its annual report, work plan, 
and October 1999 meeting agenda, discuss the Western Informational 
Strategy, and honor the Panel Chair upon his retirement.

Recreational Activities Committee

    The Committee will discuss ideas for a plan to disseminate the 
recommended national voluntary recreational activities guidelines 
recently submitted to the ANS Task Force. This will involve the 
implementation of Task B of the Committee's February 1998 draft Action 
Plan, i.e, develop an education/outreach strategy.

Duluth/Superior Harbor Tour

    Weather permitting, a brief boat tour of this major international 
port in the middle of North America will explore introduced fish 
ecology, monitoring and impacts, highlight industry generated voluntary 
Great Lakes ballast water management guidelines, and visit the Great 
Lakes Ballast Demonstration Project facility.

Great Lakes Panel Ballast Water Research Agenda Symposium

    This Symposium will identify current initiatives in ballast water 
research, allow the research community and users to provide their 
perspectives on gaps and unmet needs in ballast water research, and 
begin identifying points of consensus on priorities for additional 
research and next steps.

ANS Task Force Meeting

    Topics to be covered Thursday afternoon will include briefings 
about the Chicago Waterways Nonindigenous Species Dispersal Barrier, 
the voluntary national ballast water management guidelines and 
regulatory changes, and the U.S. position on the IMO Marine 
Environmental Protection Committee's proposal for a new international 
instrument requiring ballast water management such as a new annex to 
MARPOL. In addition, updates on mitten crab and Caulerpa taxifolia 
efforts, an overview of Executive Order 13112 and its implementation 
(including agency efforts), a legislative update, regional panel 
updates, and the report of the National Nonindigenous Aquatic Species 
Survey Program Work Group will be presented. Topics to be covered on 
Friday include the Gulf of Mexico Regional Panel, recommended voluntary 
national recreational activity guidelines, the 100th Meridian 
Initiative to Prevent Westward Spread of Zebra Mussels, adoption of the 
Ballast Exchange Study, ballast water management initiatives under the 
Clean Water Act, establishment of a Legislative Committee, and the 
Executive Secretary's report.
    Minutes of all meetings will be maintained by the Executive 
Secretary, Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, Suite 840, 4401 North 
Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22203-1622. Minutes of the committee 
and panel meetings will also be maintained by the committee chairs and 
panel administrators as follows:

Criteria Committee: Professor Jim Carlton, Williams College-Mystic 
Seaport Maritime Studies Program, 75 Greenmanville, Avenue, Mystic, CT 
06355-0990. 860-572-5359, Ext. 3, [email protected]
Western Regional Panel: Linda Drees, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
315 Houston Street, Suite E, Manhattan, KS 66502. 785-539-3474, Ext. 
20, [email protected]
Recreational Activities Committee: Patricia Carter, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 1875 Century Boulevard, Room 240, Atlanta, GA 30345. 
404-679-7108, [email protected]

[[Page 19191]]

Great Lakes Panel: Michael Donahue, Executive Director, Great Lakes 
Commission, The Argus II Building, 400 Fourth Street, Ann Arbor, MI 
48103-4816. 734-665-9135, [email protected]

    Minutes for the meeting will be available at these locations for 
public inspection during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.

    Dated: April 13, 1999.
Gary Edwards,
Co-Chair, Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, Assistant Director--
Fisheries.
[FR Doc. 99-9763 Filed 4-16-99; 8:45 am]
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