[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 127 (Wednesday, July 2, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 39594]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-16660]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force Great Lakes Panel Meeting

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a meeting of the Aquatic Nuisance 
Species (ANS) Task Force Great Lakes Panel. The Great Lakes Panel 
meeting will be held in conjunction with a workshop entitled ``Rapid 
Response Plan for Great Lakes Aquatic Invasions''. The meeting topics 
are identified in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

DATES: The Great Lakes Panel will meet from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on 
Tuesday, July 22, 2003, and from 8 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, July 23, 
2003. The Rapid Response workshop will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on 
Wednesday, July 23, 2003, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 
24, 2003.

ADDRESSES: The Great Lakes Panel meeting and Rapid Response workshop 
will be held at the Courtyard Marriott of Ann Arbor, 3205 Boardwalk, 
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108. Phone (734) 995-5900.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathe Glassner-Shwayder, Project 
Manager, Great Lakes Commission, at 734-971-9135 or Sharon Gross, 
Executive Secretary, Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force at 703-358-
2308 or by 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 a 
meeting of the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force Great Lakes Panel. 
The Task Force was established by the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance 
Prevention and Control Act of 1990.
    The Great Lakes Panel, comprised of representatives from federal, 
State, and local agencies and from private environmental and commercial 
interests, performs the following activities:
    (a) Identifies priorities for the Great Lakes Region with respect 
to aquatic nuisance species;
    (b) Makes recommendations to the Task Force regarding programs to 
carry out zebra mussel programs;
    (c) Assists the Task Force in coordinating Federal aquatic nuisance 
species program activities in the Great Lakes region;
    (d) Coordinates, where possible, aquatic nuisance species program 
activities in the Great Lakes region that are not conducted pursuant to 
the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 
(as amended, 1996);
    (e) Provides advice to public and private individuals and entities 
concerning methods of controlling aquatic nuisance species; and
    (f) Submits an annual report describing activities within the Great 
Lakes region related to aquatic nuisance species prevention, research, 
and control.
    Topics to be addressed at the panel meeting include: An update on 
panel products and activities; updates on national issues such as the 
ANS Task Force, the National Invasive Species Council, and the National 
Aquatic Invasive Species Act; an update on the development of ballast 
water standards; an update on the dispersal barrier project and related 
concerns on nonindigenous fish invasions; a discussion on the expansion 
of Ruffe into Lake Michigan; a discussion on the Panel priorities in 
areas of information, education, research coordination, and policy and 
legislation; and updates from the Information/Education Committee, the 
Research Coordination Committee, and the Policy and Legislation 
Committee. The agenda for the Rapid Response Workshop includes; an 
overview of the need for early warning and rapid response to new 
invasive species in the United States; an overview of ANS Task Force 
and Federal perspectives on ANS Rapid response; an overview of the 
multi-jurisdictional experience in coordinating responses to chemical 
spills as a model for ANS rapid response; an overview on the role of 
monitoring for early detection; discussions during breakout sessions on 
communication, public outreach, detection and monitoring, decision 
support and scientific assessment, management options, implementation, 
and adaptive management as components of a rapid response plan; and an 
overview of the operational challenges associated with developing and 
implementing a rapid response plan.
    Minutes of the meeting will be maintained by the Executive 
Secretary, Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, Suite 810, 4401 North 
Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22203-1622, and will be available 
for public inspection during regular business hours, Monday through 
Friday.

    Dated: June 13, 2003.
Mamie Parker,
Co-Chair, Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, Assistant Director--
Fisheries & Habitat Conservation.
[FR Doc. 03-16660 Filed 7-1-03; 8:45 am]
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