National Invasive Species Council Information

National Invasive Species Council --> Council Information

 

National Invasive Species Council
Department of the Interior
Office of the Secretary (OS/SIO/NISC)
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20240

Phone: (202) 513-7243
FAX: (202) 371-1751
E-mail: invasivespecies@ios.doi.gov

In 1997, more than 500 scientists and land and resource managers from across the U.S. wrote the Administration to express their deep concerns about invasive species. In response to the letter and to the growing concern associated with invasive species the Administration issued Executive Order 13112 on February 3, 1999.

The objective of EO 13112 was to establish a National Invasive Species Council (NISC) which would provide national leadership regarding invasive species. The specific focus of the Council is to ensure that Federal agency activities concerning invasive species are coordinated, complementary, cost-efficient, and effective.

The NISC includes the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. The Council is Co-Chaired by the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of Commerce.

The NISC is required to produce a Management Plan. The Management Plan will encourage planning and action at the local, tribal, State, regional, and ecosystem-based levels; develop recommendations for international cooperation; provide guidance on incorporating prevention and control of invasive species into the National Environmental Policy Act; facilitate development of a communication network to document, evaluate, and monitor impacts from invasive species on the economy, the environment, and human health; and initiate the development of an information-sharing system that facilitates the exchange of information concerning invasive species.

The NISC, in order to address the requirements of EO 13112, established the Invasive Species Advisory Committee which consists of qualified representatives from outside of the Federal government. Their role is to provide stakeholder input to help the NISC achieve the goals and objectives of the Executive Order. In addition, six Working Groups consisting of both federal and nonfederal participants were created to help consolidate information, identify methodology, and develop ideas necessary for writing the Management Plan. The specific Working Groups are the International Working Group; Communication, Outreach, and Education Working Group; Management Working Group; Policy and Regulation Working Group; Research, Information Sharing, Documentation and Monitoring Working Group; and the Risk Analysis and Prevention Working Group.

The Final Management Plan will be released in early 2001. Drafts of the plan can be obtained on this Web site. For additional information or clarification please contact the National Invasive Species Council Staff at ((202) 513-7243.

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