[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 
[email protected].

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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