FACA

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DOI - 6 - Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force	Agency Name	Department of the Interior
Fiscal Year	2023	Committee Number	6
Original Establishment Date	11/29/1990	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://www.fws.gov/program/aquatic-nuisance-sp...
New Committee This FY	No	Presidential Appointments*	No
Terminated This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	Unlimited
Current Charter Date	3/28/2022	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Executive Secretary, Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force
Date Of Renewal Charter	3/28/2024	Designated Federal Officer Prefix
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Susan
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Pasko
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Establishment Authority*	16 U.S.C. 4701 et. seq.	Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(703) 358-2466
Effective Date Of Authority*	11/29/1990	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(703) 358-2269
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable	Designated Federal Officer Email*	susan_pasko@fws.gov
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Scientific Technical Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Task Force is the only federally mandated intergovernmental organization solely dedicated to preventing and controlling ANS (also known as aquatic invasive species, or AIS). The ANS Task Force strives to create opportunities and synergies among members and participants by sharing resources, expertise, and ideas across agency and organizational lines. Consistent with its authorizing legislation (the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990, or NANPCA) , the ANS Task Force Federal and ex-officio members develop recommendations and products (e.g., management plans, guidance documents, outreach materials) to prevent and manage AIS for use by Federal agencies with AIS responsibilities. The ANSTF also promotes its national public awareness campaigns (Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! and Habitattitude) and assists in the development and implementation of State or interstate ANS management plans (46 plans have been approved through FY 2022) and species-specific management/control plans (10 have been approved through FY 2022). These campaigns and plans are central to many Federal government field activities. The ANS Task Force works in conjunction with six regional ANS panels and issue-specific committees to provide a national and regional infrastructure, which continuously coordinates on important ANS issues at Federal, state, and local levels.
How is membership balanced?*	The ANS Task Force continues to have a balanced membership with 13 Federal members and 13 ex-officio members (including current vacancies) representing non-Federal entities. Task Force membership reflects a spectrum of interests impacted by or involved in responding to ANS or affected by the NANCPA. These interests include: fish, wildlife, and other natural resource protection; management and development; environmental protection; agriculture; aquaculture; shipping; recreation; electric power; water supply; Great Lakes and other regional interests.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The ANS Task Force typically holds meetings two times per year (Spring and Fall). Meeting agendas for the ANS Task Force are constructed to address priority and/or emerging issues with the intent of informing the ANS Task Force members and allowing them to determine if action is warranted. Consideration is also given to recommendations from its members, regional panels, invited guests, and the public. ANS Task Force decisions are generally reached by consensus and are made at the public meetings, or, when necessary, through publicly announced webinars. The January 2023 was the first in-person meeting held since the COVID pandemic. Many are still choosing to participate remotely, resulting in lower travel and meeting costs than historically recorded for in-person meetings.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	ANS issues are significant in their breadth and scope, as this area involves all taxa of life and threatens natural ecosystems around the globe. A variety of pathways are capable of transporting species into new environments, including ballast water and hulls of ships, materials associated with organisms in trade, importation of fruits and vegetables, and the international movement of people. Furthermore, multiple efforts are necessary to encompass the various components of ANS management, including prevention, monitoring, removal, restoration, research, and education. Accordingly, management of ANS must occur at a variety of levels and resources must be allocated in a manner that minimizes duplication of efforts. A coordinated effort by all levels of government that includes other interested/impacted parties is essential. The ANS Task Force provides a leadership, advisory, and coordination mechanism at the Federal level, gathering regional, State, Tribal, and local input that assists in the effective implementation of the NANPCA. The ANS Task Force is unique in that it is the only legislatively mandated intergovernmental organization solely dedicated to preventing and controlling ANS.
Why close or partially close meetings?	All meetings and webinars are open to the public.
Recommendation Remarks	Federal members and ex-officio members of the Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Task Force who are statutorily designated (the Great Lakes Commission, the Lake Champlain Basin Program, the Chesapeake Bay Program, and the San Francisco Bay Estuary Program) do not have a fixed term of service other than the dates of the charter. Ex-officio members who are not statutorily designated are appointed for 3-year terms. In accordance with 16 U.S.C. 4721(b)(1) to (6) and the ANSTF charter, each Federal agency appoints its own representatives to the ANSTF. The co-chairs (Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) invite state agencies and other governmental entities to recommend individuals to serve as ex-officio members. Note: In the section listing committee members, Federal and ex-officio members who are statutorily mandated (and thus have no fixed term of appointment) have been given an "Appointment End Date" that matches the "Expected Renewal Date" for the charter. The appointment dates for ex-officio members who hold 3-year terms initially reflect their first term; once they go beyond their first 3-year term, the appointment dates reflect their total time as part of the ANSTF.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	No	Action Reorganize Priorities*	Yes
Outcome Trust In Government	No	Action Reallocate Resources	Yes
Outcome Major Policy Changes	No	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	Yes	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	Yes
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	Yes	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed legislation based on ANS Task Force recommendations, and the Service's program priorities, resource allocations, grant approval, and regulatory efforts have been directly influenced by the Task Force's recommendations. Projects in the field are focused on implementing ANS Task Force recommendations. In FY 2023, funding was provided to support implementation of 44 approved state/interstate ANS management plans.
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	Yes	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	Under NANCPA, the ANS Task Force is the only multimember organization legislatively mandated to coordinate ANS activities on a national scale. The ANSTF continues to promote its national awareness campaigns, Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! and Habitattitude. A primary role of the ANSTF is to support the development and implementation of State/interstate ANS management plans and 10 species management and control plans, including the Zebra Quagga Action Plan for Western Waters.	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	The coordinating mechanism provided by the ANSTF has helped avoid duplicative efforts and their associated costs, as well as leverage available resources at many levels (Federal, State, Tribal, and local). Estimating the avoided costs of unperformed activities is not feasible.	Grants Review Comment	The committee does not review grant applications; however, recommendations from the ANS Task Force are factored in during grant processes.
Number Of Recommendations*	159	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	At the January 2023 meeting, there was four recommendations: 1. The ANS Task Force recommended that the Prevention Subcommittee distribute the “Decontaminating Firefighting Equipment to Reduce the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species” to ANSTF members and regional panels and after assessing comments received, provide recommendations regarding adoption of the protocol at the next ANSTF meeting. 2. The ANS Task Force recommended that the Rapid Response Fund Working Group distribute the “Model Process for a Rapid Response Fund” document to ANSTF members and regional panels for comments after assessing comments received, present a final document for approval consideration at the next meeting. 3. The ANS Task Force recommended that the Outreach Subcommittee consider options develop a single online national resource similar to “Protect the West” for communicating watercraft inspection and decontamination requirements, procedures, and state program contacts. 4. The ANS Task Force recommended the establishment of an ad-hoc subcommittee to determine the financial impacts to state and territories from limitations on motorboat registration fees as presented by the U.S. Coast Guard guidance letter.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	97.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	While not every operational aspect of the approved plans and protocols have been implemented due to resource constraints, these are all ongoing activities that relate to the plans' implementation. Funding has been provided this FY to support ANSTF-approved state/interstate ANS Management Plans and support select ANSTF-approved species management and control plans. Subcommittees meet virtually on a regular basis to implement annual work plans.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	3.00%	Access Publications	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	Development of the U.S. Coast Guard Report to Congress described under the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act has been delayed; an update was given at the January 2023 meeting. Some efforts to address recommendation's are in progress, but not yet completed including conversations with the watercraft industry to develop a communication strategy, collecting information to enhance the Experts database, assessment of eCommerce to develop a mitigation strategy, continuing conversations on how the ANSTF can best assist with the response efforts under the Connecticut River Hydrilla Control Project Five-Year Management Plan.	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	N/A
Agency Feedback Comment*	Feedback is provided through the semi-annual ANSTF meetings (or webinars), as well as via frequent telephone and email communications from the DFO to the members between meetings. The DFO also maintains a committee website, listserve, and weekly communications newsletter.	Narrative Description*	Consistent with the requirements of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (NANCPA), the ANS Task Force helps the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) support and fulfill its mission by focusing on ANS issues through coordination with many other affected entities at the Federal, regional, State, Tribal, and local levels. The ANS Task Force helps the Service to develop, approve, and implement the overall ANS Program as well as its projects and activities. The ANS Task Force is a focal point for information about ANS activities to prevent their introduction into and spread within North America, and efforts to control them. It encourages and facilitates cooperative efforts to address nationally significant ANS problems and concerns.

COSTS

Payments to Non-Federal Members*		Est Payments to Non-Fed Members Next FY*
Payments to Federal Members*		Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
Payments to Federal Staff*		Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*
Payments to Consultants*		Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Members*		Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Members nextFY*
Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staff Next FY*
Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		Est Travel Reimb to Consultants Next FY*
Other Costs		Est. Other Costs Next FY*
Total Costs	$0.00	Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	2/7/2023 1:09 PM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Agriculture Agriculture Animals Fish and Wildlife Basic Science Biology Environment Environmental Issues Oceans and Atmospheric Sciences Transportation Boating and Navigation Water Rivers Water Use Waterways

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