[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 2, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 25494]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10868]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of the Secretary


Working Groups of the Invasive Species Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOI.

ACTION: Establishment.

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SUMMARY: This notice is published in accordance with the provisions of 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463). Pursuant to 
Executive Order 13112, the National Invasive Species Council (Council) 
on behalf of the Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC) is 
establishing working groups to assist preparation of a National 
Invasive Species Management Plan (Management Plan) and ongoing 
stakeholder input to assist ISAC and Council activities.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Working Groups--Scope and Objectives

    The purpose of the working groups is to provide the ISAC and the 
Council advice 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. Six working groups have been established as 
follows:

1. Communication, Outreach, and Education
2. International Activities and Cooperation
3. Policy and Regulation
4. Research, Information Sharing, Documentation and Monitoring
5. Risk Analysis and Prevention
6. Management (Control and Restoration)

    The working groups will help maintain a regular dialogue with 
stakeholders to provide national leadership regarding invasive species 
issues. They will assist the ISAC and the Council to (1) Prepare and 
issue a Management Plan; (2) encourage planning and action at local, 
tribal, State, regional and ecosystem-based levels to achieve the goals 
and objectives of the management plan; (3) develop recommendations for 
international cooperation in addressing invasive species; (4) develop, 
in consultation with the Council on Environmental Quality, guidance to 
Federal agencies pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act on 
invasive species matters; (5) facilitate development of a coordinated 
network to document, evaluate, and monitor impacts from invasive 
species; (6) facilitate establishment of an information-sharing system 
on invasive species that utilizes, to the greatest extent practicable, 
the Internet; and (7) support long-term continuance and effective 
implementation of the Management Plan.
    Working groups have been organized with federal and non-federal co-
leaders. The groups will utilize electronic communications (email, 
listservers, and web-based postings) to accelerate development of 
Management Plan input. The vision or scoping statements developed by 
each working group will reflect a more specific refinement of the draft 
guiding principles now under development by the ISAC. Priority issues 
will be identified and the groups will develop draft responses or 
actions to be taken for consideration by the ISAC. As part of the 
management planning process, model projects will be identified which 
improve coordination and effectiveness and stimulate action.
    The working groups will report to the ISAC at least twice before 
the Management Plan is due to be completed in August, 2000. After 
issuance of the plan, the working groups will help implement the plan 
and begin developing input for its biennial revision.
    Members of the working groups serve without pay.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelsey Passe, National Invasive 
Species Council Program Analyst, Department of the Interior; Email: 
kelsey_passe@ios.doi.gov; Phone: (202) 208-6336; Fax: (202) 208-1526.

    Dated: April 26, 2000.
William Y. Brown,
Science Advisor to the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-10868 Filed 5-1-00; 8:45 am]
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