[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 72 (Thursday, April 13, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19953-19957]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-9248]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

[USCG-2000-7206]


Voluntary Guidelines on Recreational Activities To Control the 
Spread of Zebra Mussels and Other Aquatic Nuisance Species

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice; Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard seeks comments on voluntary guidelines for 
persons engaged in water-related recreational activities (e.g., boating 
and fishing). The Coast Guard must issue voluntary guidelines based on 
the recommendations prepared by the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force 
to help control the spread of the zebra mussel and other aquatic 
nuisance species. We request your comments on these voluntary 
guidelines.

DATES: Comments and related material must reach the Docket Management 
Facility on or before June 12, 2000.

ADDRESSES: To make sure your comments and related material are not 
entered in the docket more than once, please submit them by only one of 
the following means:
    (1) By mail to the Docket Management Facility, (USCG-2000-7206), 
U.S. Department of Transportation, room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    (2) By delivery to room PL-401 on the Plaza level of the Nassif 
Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone 
number is 202-366-9329.
    (3) By fax to the Docket Management Facility at 202-493-2251.
    (4) Electronically through the Web Site for the Docket Management 
System at http://dms.dot.gov.
    The Docket Management Facility maintains the public docket for this 
notice. Comments and material received from the public will become part 
of this docket and will be available for inspection or copying at room 
PL-401 on the Plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street 
SW., Washington,

[[Page 19954]]

DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. You may also find this docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions on this notice or 
associated guidelines, call Lieutenant Karen Weaver, Project Manager, 
Office of Operating and Environmental Standards (G-MSO), Coast Guard, 
telephone, 202-267-2079. For questions on viewing or submitting 
material to the docket, call Dorothy Walker, Chief, Dockets, Department 
of Transportation, telephone 202-366-9329.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

How May I Comment on the Voluntary Guidelines?

    You may submit comments and related material on the voluntary 
guidelines to the Docket Management Facility as indicated previously in 
the ADDRESSES section of this notice. If you submit written comments 
please include--
     Your name and address;
     The docket number for this notice (USCG-2000-7206);
     The specific section of this notice to which each comment 
applies; and
     The reason for each comment.
    You may mail, deliver, fax, or electronically submit your comments 
and attachments to the Docket Management Facility, using an address or 
fax number listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. Please do 
not submit the same comment or attachment more than once. If you mail 
or deliver your comments, they must be on 8\1/2\-by-11-inch paper, and 
the quality of the copy should be clear enough for copying and 
scanning. If you mail your comments and would like to know if the 
Docket Management Facility received them, please enclose a stamped, 
self-addressed postcard or envelope. The Coast Guard will consider all 
comments and material received during the comment period.

Why Is the Coast Guard Issuing Voluntary Guidelines?

    To comply with the National Invasive Species Act of 1996 (NISA), we 
are issuing voluntary guidelines for recreational activities to control 
the spread of zebra mussels and other Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS). 
We are providing this opportunity for public comment on the voluntary 
guidelines. After considering the comments we will issue a final 
version of the voluntary guidelines. These guidelines will be explained 
in pamphlets, videos, and other types of outreach media.
    The voluntary guidelines in this notice are based on the ones 
drafted and recommended by the Recreational Activities Committee of the 
Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force (the Committee). The guidelines 
developed by the Committee are available in the docket and may be 
accessed on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

What are Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS)?

    ANS are organisms introduced into non-native habitats and are often 
freed from the natural predators, parasites, pathogens, and competitors 
that have kept them in check. Once established, these organisms can 
displace native species; they can impede municipal, industrial, and 
private water-intake systems; and they can degrade aquatic ecosystems.
    The introduction of most ANS is the work of humans. In some cases 
this is intentional, but in many it is accidental. In addition to 
overland transport of boats, which has long been identified as a key 
dispersal pathway, there are many others. The other human activities 
that can disperse ANS include angling, scuba diving, and waterfowl 
hunting.
    Establishing these voluntary guidelines will help to promote good 
habits that will control the spread of ANS. Surveys have shown that 
participants in recreational activities will take necessary precautions 
if they know what to do. Conversely, they will not take precautions 
unless they know what to do.

What Is the Purpose of the Voluntary Guidelines?

    The voluntary guidelines will give the public clear, concise 
information on how to avoid the transport of ANS. These voluntary 
guidelines provide specific procedures that individuals engaged in the 
corresponding recreational activity can follow so they will not 
accidentally transport ANS.

What Activities Do the Voluntary Guidelines Address and What Are 
the Recommended Procedures?

    These voluntary guidelines address the following water-related 
recreational activities: Scuba diving; waterfowl hunting; harvesting of 
bait by recreational anglers; angling; boating; operating seaplanes; 
and operating personal watercraft. These voluntary guidelines are 
intended to assist natural-resource managers and others involved in 
educating individuals who participate in these recreational activities 
about the problems associated with the spread of ANS in the United 
States.

Voluntary Guidelines for Recreational Activities To Control the 
Spread of Zebra Mussels and Other Aquatic Nuisance Species

Generic Guidelines

    Some guidelines are appropriate for any recreational activity 
associated with water. The generic preventive guidelines listed below 
apply to most recreational activities occurring in marine and inland 
waters. In addition to these guidelines, States and provinces may 
include specific laws and guidelines for their areas.
    Always do the following:
     Always inspect equipment (in the broadest sense, e.g., 
boats, planes, trailers, decoy anchors, SCUBA gear, and lures) for 
visible plants and animals before transporting.
     Always remove visible plants and animals from equipment 
(expel plants, animals, and water from internal parts).
     Always drain water from equipment before transporting.
     Always clean equipment that has been in infested waters 
before placing it in other waters (see the ``Pathway-specific 
guidelines'' section for specific methods).
     Always report questionable species to your resource agency 
for identification. Information is available from many sources about 
identification of ANS; however, specimens are needed to confirm 
sightings. Many jurisdictions have different rules regarding possession 
and transport. Always ask your local natural resources management 
agency for instructions.
    Never do the following:
     Never transport plants, animals, mud, or water from lakes, 
rivers, wetlands, and coastal waters.
     Never release animals or plants (e.g., aquarium species, 
bait, pets, hunting dogs, or water garden plants) into the wild unless 
you release them into the same waterbody or location where the species 
came from.

Pathway-Specific Guidelines

    These guidelines cover recreational activities that are potential 
pathways for transferring ANS. Individuals engaged in these activities 
should follow these guidelines to help prevent the spread of ANS. You 
should note that States and provinces may add to these voluntary 
guidelines their own related laws and guidelines, if any, regarding 
transport or possession of ANS.
(a) Scuba Diving
    You can unintentionally transport ANS, such as the zebra mussel, 
spiny water flea, and Eurasian water milfoil, from one body of water to 
another on

[[Page 19955]]

your scuba-diving gear. You should take precautions to reduce the risk 
of spreading these unwanted species, especially when diving in 
different waters on the same or consecutive days.
    Many scuba divers believe that zebra mussels have benefited the 
sport by improving visibility in the waters they inhabit. They soon 
learn, however, that geological formations and shipwrecks that once 
attracted them are encrusted with layers of zebra mussels, which 
obscure these objects. The harm to the environment, the fisheries, and 
industrial, municipal, and private water intakes, therefore, far 
outweigh any benefit.
    Any objects removed from the water have the potential of 
introducing ANS to new waters. By adhering to the guidelines that 
follow, you can help prevent the spread of ANS when you scuba dive, and 
you can help protect the environment from the harmful impacts of these 
species.
Guidelines
     Inspect your equipment.
     Remove any plants, mud, or animals that are visible before 
leaving all waters.
     Drain water from buoyancy compensator (bc), regulator, 
tank boot, and any other equipment that may hold water before leaving 
all waters.
     ANS can survive for a period of time on wet scuba gear or 
in water. Therefore, do at least one of the following:
    (1) Dry your suit and all equipment completely before diving in 
different waters, and rinse the inside of your bc with hot or salted 
water as described in items (2) and (3), which immediately follow.
    (2) Submerge and wash your suit and equipment, and rinse the inside 
of your bc with hot water (at least 40 deg. (C or 104 deg. (F).
    (3) Submerge and wash your suit and equipment in a tub or tote 
containing salted water (\1/2\cup of salt dissolved in one gallon of 
water); rinse the inside of your bc with the salted solution; and rinse 
your equipment with clean water.
(b) Waterfowl Hunting
    Nonindigenous ANS such as the zebra mussel, purple loosestrife, and 
Eurasian water milfoil can damage habitat for fish, waterfowl, and 
other wildlife. Waterfowl hunters should be aware that it is possible 
to inadvertently spread ANS from one lake or wetland via boats, motors, 
trailers, and decoys. Waterfowlers should assume that any fragments of 
aquatic plants could be potentially harmful and should not be 
transported from one wetland, lake, river, or coastal area to another. 
In addition, zebra mussels and their microscopic larvae can attach to 
aquatic plants. If fragments of these plants are transported, they can 
inadvertently transport zebra mussels to other waters. By following the 
guidelines on recreational activities, you can help prevent the spread 
of ANS via waterfowl hunting.
Guidelines
    Before the hunting season--
     Switch to elliptical, bulb-shaped, or strap anchors on 
decoys, which avoid collecting submerged and floating aquatic plants; 
or
     If boats are moored in waters infested with zebra mussels, 
use the following tips to remove or kill zebra mussels or other aquatic 
animals and plants that might be in or on your boat:
    (1) Remove any visible zebra mussels from the boat and wash and 
rinse the boat with hot water; or
    (2) Spray the boat with high-pressure water; or
    (3) Dry all parts of the boat for at least 5 days before placing it 
into another waterbody.
    After hunting--
     Inspect waders or hip boots; remove aquatic plants; and, 
where possible, rinse mud from them before leaving the waters;
     Remove aquatic plants, animals, and mud that are attached 
to decoy lines or anchors; and
     Drain the water from boats before transporting to other 
waters.
    Between hunting trips--
     Inspect equipment for any aquatic plants, animals, and mud 
not removed after hunting; remove and dispose of them on land away from 
the waters; and
     Follow the guidelines for boaters in paragraph (e).
(c) Recreational Anglers' Harvest of Live Bait (Non-Commercial Harvest)
    The guidelines that follow apply to the non-commercial harvesting 
of live bait by recreational anglers. Also, the RAC is developing 
guidelines for commercial bait.
    Nonindigenous species can lodge in nets and other equipment used to 
harvest baitfish and can be unintentionally transported into 
noninfested waters. Some species can survive up to 2 weeks out of water 
and remain viable when dislodged into another waterbody. Non-target ANS 
species like ruffe and round goby, as well as fragments of aquatic 
nuisance plants, such as hydrilla or Eurasian water milfoil, can be 
harvested along with target baitfish species. If such species are 
transferred to noninfested waters, they can have harmful effects on 
native fish populations. To help prevent the transfer of these species, 
you should conduct the procedures that follow during or after the 
harvest of live bait for personal use.
Guidelines
     Inspect harvested live bait for non-target species, and 
remove them where harvested.
     Always dispose of unwanted live bait on land (away from 
contact with waters) before leaving the waters. Never release live bait 
into a waterbody or move aquatic plants or animals from one waterbody 
into a different waterbody.
     Remove all aquatic plants from boats, trailers, nets, or 
other equipment while on shore before leaving the water-body access.
     Before reusing nets, roll out, hand clean, and dry them.
     Drain water from boats and equipment (bilge pump, tubs, 
live wells, etc.) before leaving any waterbody access.
     Never use water from infested waters to transport live 
bait to other waters. In many States and provinces, live bait harvested 
from designated infested waters is illegal. Check with your local State 
natural resource agency before you collect live bait.
     In areas where harvest of bait from infested waters is 
legal, avoid using the same equipment in infested and noninfested 
waters. Some aquatic nuisance species once removed from infested waters 
can survive up to two weeks in a moist environment. By drying surfaces 
where they can be lodged or attached, you can substantially reduce the 
risk of transporting them in boats and equipment.
     Rinse all equipment, including boats and trailers, with 
tap water and dry them for as long as possible, but for at least 5 days 
before re-use, especially in other waters. Before re-use, you should 
roll out nets, hand clean them, and dry them for a minimum of 10 days, 
or freeze them for 2 days.
     The following applies to disinfection, specific to zebra 
mussels, of equipment that is difficult to treat with drying and 
washing methods (use these methods away from the waterbody):
    (1) As an added equipment treatment, a dip of 100 percent vinegar 
for 20 minutes can kill small zebra mussels and may be effective 
against other ANS.
    (2) Treatment with other chemicals such as a 1-percent solution of 
table salt for 24 hours can be as effective as a dip of vinegar.

[[Page 19956]]

    The recipes provided in the following table are for a 1-percent 
solution of table salt (sodium chloride) treatment in water.\1\
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    \1\ Adapted from ``Fisheries Scientist's Pocket Reference'' 
booklet by Iowa Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, 1991, by 
Doug Jensen, University of Minnesota Sea Grant Program.

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                                                                Cups of
                       Gallons of 2ater                          salt*
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5............................................................      \2/3\
10...........................................................     1\1/4\
25...........................................................          3
50...........................................................     6\1/4\
100..........................................................   12\2/3\
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* Based on 312 g per cup.

(d) Angling
    The introduction of ANS can cause significant changes in freshwater 
and marine ecosystems. Populations of prey and game fish can be 
significantly harmed by the presence of species such as the sea 
lamprey, Asian swamp eel, Chinese carp, and zebra mussel. Some aquatic 
nuisance plants (e.g., hydrilla, Eurasian water milfoil, and water 
hyacinth) may limit the viable fishing area of inland waters. You can 
help prevent the transfer of ANS by following the guidelines in this 
section whenever you engage in angling.
Guidelines
     Dispose of unwanted live bait on land before leaving the 
waterbody. Never release live bait into a waterbody or move aquatic 
plants or animals from one waterbody to another.
     Wash and dry your boat, tackle, downriggers, float tube, 
waders, and other equipment to remove or kill harmful species that were 
not visible at the boat launch.
     Inspect all fish caught using seines, dipnets, or other 
types of netting; remove and properly discard all non-target species.
(e) Boating
    ANS, such as the zebra mussel, spiny water flea, and Eurasian water 
milfoil, can be unintentionally transported through water-related 
recreation activities because some ANS can survive many days out of 
water. If you are a water recreationalist (e.g., boater, angler, water-
skier, canoeist, or kayaker), there are some important actions you can 
take to prevent the transport of ANS from one waterbody to another.
Guidelines
     Before leaving all waters, inspect your boat (sailboats 
check centerboard and bilgeboard wells, and keel boats check the 
rudder-post area), trailer (check axles, runners, lights, and rollers), 
and other boating equipment (check anchors, water-skis, or other tow 
lines), and remove any plants, animals, or mud that are visible (see 
diagram 1).
     Drain water from the motor, livewell, bilge, and transom 
wells while on land and before leaving all waters.
     Wash and dry your boat, tackle, downriggers, trailer, and 
other boating equipment to kill harmful species that were not visible 
at the boat launch. You can do this on your way home or once you arrive 
home.
     Before you transport to other waters, do one of the 
following:
    (1) Rinse your boat and boating equipment with hot (greater than 40 
 deg.C or 104  deg.F) tap water.
    (2) Spray your boat and trailer with high-pressure water.
    (3) Dry your boat and equipment for at least 5 days.
    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN13AP00.018
    
    For your information, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in 
conjunction with Canadian officials and other partners, are 
implementing the 100th Meridian Initiative, which focuses on preventing 
the westward spread of zebra mussels and other ANS by boat inspections 
and by dissemination of posters, brochures, and other information about 
ANS. There are many other State and Federal initiatives focusing on 
controlling the spread of ANS. Consult your local Fish and Wildlife 
Service facility or other appropriate State or Federal natural resource 
management agency for additional information.

(f) Seaplanes

    Many ANS, such as the zebra mussel and Eurasian water milfoil, can 
be unintentionally transported from one waterbody to another on the 
floats of seaplanes. Therefore, it is important to clean the aircraft 
to remove ANS before traveling, rather than after landing at new 
locations. In addition, it is important for you to incorporate the 
procedures listed here into the operation of your seaplane. However, 
plane safety is the first priority when considering and following these 
guidelines.
    Guidelines:
    Before entering the aircraft--
     Inspect and remove aquatic plants from the floats, wires 
or cables, and water rudders;
     Pump floats, which may contain infested water; and
     If moored in waters infested by zebra mussels for extended 
periods, check the transom, chine, bottom, wheel wells, and step area 
of floats (see diagram 2). If zebra mussels are present on the floats, 
you can use (any) one of the following methods to remove or kill them:
    (1) Wash the floats with hot water.
    (2) Spray the floats with high-pressure water.
    (3) Dry all parts of the floats for at least 5 days.
    Before takeoff--

[[Page 19957]]

     Avoid taxiing through heavy surface growths of aquatic 
plants before takeoff;
     Raise and lower water rudders several times to clear off 
plants. This will also minimize cable stretch and improve the 
effectiveness of the rudders for steering.
    After takeoff--
     Raise and lower water rudders several times to free 
fragments of aquatic plants while over the waters you are leaving or 
while over land; and
     If aquatic plants remain visible on floats or water 
rudders, return to the lake and remove the plants.
    Storage or mooring--
     Remove aircraft from the water, as is often done at 
seaplane bases, and allow all parts of the floats to dry. A few days of 
hot, summer temperatures will kill adult zebra mussels (longer drying 
times of up to 10 days are required to kill adult mussels during cool, 
humid weather); and
     Aircraft moored for extended periods in zebra-mussel-
infested waters may have zebra mussels attached to the floats and 
should be cleaned regularly. In remote locations, where zebra mussels 
are present, but where there are no provisions for drying, spraying, or 
treating the floats with hot water, the best option available for 
preventing the spread of the mussels is to hand-clean the submerged 
portions of floats with a scrub brush and to physically remove adult 
mussels. (Aircraft moored for extended periods in zebra-mussel-infested 
waters may have zebra mussels attached to the floats and should be 
cleaned regularly.)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN13AP00.019

(g) Personal Watercraft
    Personal watercraft that have jet-drive systems require some extra 
precautions to avoid ANS. A pump pulls water in through an opening 
under the craft, and the impeller (an internal propeller) forces water 
out, moving the craft forward. ANS can easily get lodged in the jet-
drive system and get transported if the watercraft is taken from one 
waterbody to another. A small piece of Eurasian water milfoil, or other 
ANS, caught in the impellers can infest a new lake or river. Zebra 
mussels can survive in excess water in the jet drive and spread to 
other waters. By applying the following guidelines, you can help 
prevent the transfer of ANS via your personal watercraft.
    Guidelines:
    In the water--
     Avoid running the engine through aquatic plants near the 
boat access; and
     Push or winch the watercraft up on the trailer without 
running the engine.
    On the trailer--
     After you pull the watercraft from the water, start the 
engine for 5 to 10 seconds to blow out any excess water and vegetation. 
(The dark, damp, enclosed area of the impeller provides an ideal 
environment for aquatic nuisance plants to survive.); and
     After the engine stops, pull plants out of the steering 
nozzle. Inspect your trailer and any other sporting equipment for 
fragments of aquatic plants, and remove them before you leave the 
access area.
    After trailering and before re-use--
     Wash and dry your watercraft and equipment to kill or 
remove harmful species that you did not see at the boat launch. You can 
do this on your way home or once you arrive home. Choose one of the 
following methods of disinfection before transporting to another 
waterbody:
    (1) Rinse your watercraft and other equipment with hot (greater 
than 40  deg.C or 104  deg.F) tap water.
    (2) Spray your watercraft and trailer with high-pressure water.
    (3) Dry your watercraft and equipment for at least 5 days.

    Dated: April 7, 2000.
Joseph J. Angelo,
Director of Standards, Marine Safety and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 00-9248 Filed 4-12-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-U