WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) introduced legislation to improve the way invasive species are managed and reduced on federal lands. The Federal Lands Invasive Species Control, Prevention and Management Act specifically directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to work with on-the-ground experts to develop and implement a strategic plan for prevention, control, and management of invasive species. These strategic plans target a 5 percent reduction in invasive species each year.
“Worldwide, invasive species are spreading at an alarming rate. Not only do these species cause severe ecological harm, they also cost the United States billions of dollars each year,” said Barrasso. “We’ve also seen how harmful invasive species can be, in particular cheatgrass, which pushes out native grasses, threatens sage grouse habitat, and increases the risk of catastrophic wildfire. It’s critical that federal agencies work with local, on-the-ground experts to tackle this increasing problem. By working together to meet clear reduction targets, we can begin to rein in the spread of invasive species.”
The Federal Lands Invasive Species Control, Prevention and Management Act is cosponsored by Senators Mike Enzi (R-WY), Mike Crapo (R-ID) and James Risch (R-ID).
Background:
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) reports that invasive plants spread across public lands at an unchecked rate – 4,600 acres per day. This unbridled expansion threatens private lands, waterways, and infrastructure and increases the risk of secondary threats like habitat loss, pressure on threatened species, and wildfire. The Fish and Wildlife Service has supported figures from 2005 that estimate invasive species infestations cost the United States more than $120 billion each year across multiple sectors.
The Federal Lands Invasive Species Control, Prevention and Management Act:
- Requires the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior to develop strategic plans in coordination with local/state/tribal authorities to target a 5 percent annual decrease in IS through control, prevention, and management.
- Requires that 75 percent of funds allocated to IS control should be used for control and management of IS and limits administrative outlay to 10 percent.
- Provides for Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and cooperative agreements to facilitate coherent development and implementation of plans across private, state, and federal lands.
- Provides for Categorical Exclusions (CE) for high-risk land and water sites to enable critical control, management and prevention to maintain healthy ecosystems.
- Require the Secretaries to actively engage in ongoing coordination with on-the-ground experts to determine the appropriate approach for IS control, prevention, and management.
- Requires Secretaries to submit a report to Congress 60 days following the end of the second fiscal year after enactment of the Act to measure implementation and assess progress.
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