16 U.S.C. § 4712
The Task Force, in cooperation with the Secretary, shall conduct a study-
The Task Force, in cooperation with the Secretary, shall conduct a study to determine whether aquatic nuisance species threaten the ecological characteristics and economic uses of Lake Champlain and other waters of the United States other than the Great Lakes.
The Secretary shall conduct a study to determine the need for controls on vessels entering waters of the United States, other than the Great Lakes, to minimize the risk of unintentional introduction and dispersal of aquatic nuisance species in those waters. The study shall include an examination of-
The Task Force, in cooperation with the Secretary, shall conduct ecological surveys of the Chesapeake Bay, San Francisco Bay, and Honolulu Harbor and, as necessary, of other estuaries of national significance and other waters that the Task Force determines-
In conducting the surveys under this paragraph, the Task Force shall, with respect to each such survey-
The Secretary, in cooperation with the Task Force, shall conduct surveys of ballast water discharge rates and practices in the waters referred to in paragraph (1)(A) on the basis of the criteria under clauses (i) and (ii) of such paragraph.
In conducting the surveys under this paragraph, the Secretary shall-
The Secretary, in cooperation with the Task Force and academic institutions in each of the States affected, shall conduct an ecological and ballast water discharge survey of the Columbia River system consistent with the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2).
Not later than 18 months after November 29, 1990, and prior to the effective date of the regulations issued under section 4711(b) of this title (as in effect on the day before December 4, 2018), the Task Force shall submit a report to the Congress that presents the results of the study required under subsection (a)(1) and makes recommendations with respect to such regulations.
Not later than 18 months after November 29, 1990, the Secretary and the Task Force shall each submit to the Congress a report on the results of their respective studies under paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (a).
The Secretary, working through the International Maritime Organization, is encouraged to enter into negotiations with the governments of foreign countries concerning the planning and implementation of measures aimed at the prevention and control of unintentional introductions of aquatic nuisance species in coastal waters.
Out of amounts appropriated to carry out this subsection for a fiscal year, the Under Secretary may-
The Secretary shall develop and maintain, in consultation and cooperation with the Task Force and the Smithsonian Institution (acting through the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center), a clearinghouse of national data concerning-
The owner or operator of a vessel subject to this chapter shall submit to the National Ballast Information Clearinghouse, by not later than 6 hours after the arrival of the vessel at a United States port or place of destination, the ballast water management report form approved by the Office of Management and Budget numbered OMB 1625-0069 (or a successor form), unless the vessel is operating exclusively on a voyage between ports or places within contiguous portions of a single Captain of the Port Zone.
The owner or operator of a vessel subject to this chapter may submit a single report under subparagraph (A) for multiple ballast water discharges within a single port or place of destination during the same voyage.
A State may require the owner or operator of a vessel subject to this chapter to submit directly to the State, or to an appropriate regional forum, a ballast water management report form-
On receipt of a ballast water management report under paragraph (2), the National Ballast Information Clearinghouse shall-
Not later than 30 days after the date of receipt of a ballast water management report under paragraph (2), the National Ballast Information Clearinghouse shall make the data in the report fully and readily available to the public in a searchable and fully retrievable electronic format.
Not later than July 1, 2019, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall prepare and submit a report in accordance with this paragraph.
Each report under this paragraph shall synthesize and analyze the data described in paragraph (1) for the preceding 2-year period to evaluate nationwide status and trends relating to-
The Secretary shall prepare each report under this paragraph in consultation and cooperation with-
The Secretary shall-
Not later than 1 year after December 4, 2018, the Secretary shall establish a working group, including members from the National Ballast Information Clearinghouse and States with ballast water management programs, to establish a process for compiling and readily sharing Federal and State commercial vessel reporting and enforcement data regarding compliance with this chapter.
16 U.S.C. § 4712
EDITORIAL NOTES
REFERENCES IN TEXTSection 4711 of this title (as in effect on the day before December 4, 2018), referred to in subsecs. (c)(1) and (f)(1)(B), means section 4711 of this title as in effect prior to repeal by Pub. L. 115-282, title IX, §903(a)(2)(A)(i), Dec. 4, 2018, 132 Stat. 4354.This chapter, referred to in subsec. (f)(2), was in the original "this title", meaning title I of Pub. L. 101-646, 104 Stat. 4761, known as the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of title I to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 4701 of this title and Tables. This chapter, referred to in subsec. (f)(5), was in the original "this Act", which, to reflect the probable intent of Congress, was translated as reading "this title" meaning title I of Pub. L. 101-646, 104 Stat. 4761, known as the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of title I to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 4701 of this title and Tables.
AMENDMENTS2018-Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 115-282, §903(a)(2)(B)(i), inserted "(as in effect on the day before December 4, 2018)" after "section 4711(b) of this title". Subsec. (f)(1)(B). Pub. L. 115-282, §903(a)(2)(B)(ii), inserted "(as in effect on the day before December 4, 2018)" after "section 4711(c) of this title".Subsec. (f)(2) to (5). Pub. L. 115-282, §903(h)(1), added pars. (2) to (5) and struck out former par. (2). Prior to amendment, text of par. (2) read as follows: "In consultation and cooperation with the Task Force and the Smithsonian Institution (acting through the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center), the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Task Force and the Congress, on a biennial basis, a report that synthesizes and analyzes the data referred to in paragraph (1) relating to-"(A) ballast water delivery and management; and "(B) invasions of aquatic nuisance species resulting from ballast water."1998-Subsec. (f)(2). Pub. L. 105-362 substituted "biennial basis" for "biannual basis" in introductory provisions.1996- Pub. L. 104-332, §2(h)(1), made technical amendment to Pub. L. 101-646, §1102, which enacted this section. Pub. L. 104-332, §2(c)(1), substituted "management information" for "control program" in section catchline. Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 104-332, §2(c)(2)(A), inserted ",in cooperation with the Secretary," before "shall conduct" in introductory provisions.Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 104-332, §2(c)(2), inserted ",in cooperation with the Secretary," before "shall conduct" and "Lake Champlain and other" after "economic uses of".Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104-332, §2(c)(3), added subsec. (b) and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (b). Text read as follows: "The Secretary and the Task Force shall cooperate in conducting their respective studies under this section."Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104-332, §2(g), substituted "Congress" for "appropriate Committees" in pars. (1) and (2). Subsecs. (e), (f). Pub. L. 104-332, §2(c)(4), added subsecs. (e) and (f).
- Great Lakes
- "Great Lakes" means Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron (including Lake St. Clair), Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, and the connecting channels (Saint Mary's River, Saint Clair River, Detroit River, Niagara River, and Saint Lawrence River to the Canadian Border), and includes all other bodies of water within the drainage basin of such lakes and connecting channels.1
- Secretary
- "Secretary" means the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating;
- State
- "State" means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands of the United States;
- Task Force
- "Task Force" means the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force established under section 4721 of this title;
- Under Secretary
- "Under Secretary" means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere;
- aquatic nuisance species
- "aquatic nuisance species" means a nonindigenous species that threatens the diversity or abundance of native species or the ecological stability of infested waters, or commercial, agricultural, aquacultural or recreational activities dependent on such waters;
- ballast water
- "ballast water" means any water and associated sediments used to manipulate the trim and stability of a vessel;
- exclusive economic zone
- "exclusive economic zone" means the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States established by Proclamation Number 5030, dated March 10, 1983, and the equivalent zone of Canada;
- unintentional introduction
- "unintentional introduction" means an introduction of nonindigenous species that occurs as the result of activities other than the purposeful or intentional introduction of the species involved, such as the transport of nonindigenous species in ballast or in water used to transport fish, mollusks or crustaceans for aquaculture or other purposes.1So in original. The period probably should be a semicolon.
- waters of the United States
- "waters of the United States" means the navigable waters and the territorial sea of the United States; and