[Congressional Bills 110th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 801 Introduced in House (IH)] 110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 801 To amend the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 to require application to all vessels equipped with ballast water tanks, including vessels that are not carrying ballast water, the requirement to carry out exchange of ballast water or alternative ballast water management methods prior to entry into any port within the Great Lakes, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 5, 2007 Mr. Kirk (for himself, Mr. Emanuel, Ms. Watson, Ms. McCollum of Minnesota, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, Ms. Shea-Porter, Ms. Woolsey, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Higgins, Mr. Ellison, Mr. Ehlers, Mr. Kucinich, Mr. Lipinski, Mr. Kline of Minnesota, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. McHugh, Mrs. Miller of Michigan, Ms. Bean, Mrs. Biggert, Mr. McCotter, and Mr. Walsh of New York) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 to require application to all vessels equipped with ballast water tanks, including vessels that are not carrying ballast water, the requirement to carry out exchange of ballast water or alternative ballast water management methods prior to entry into any port within the Great Lakes, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Great Lakes Invasive Species Control Act''. SEC. 2. APPLICATION TO ALL VESSELS OF REQUIREMENT TO CARRY OUT EXCHANGE OF BALLAST WATER OR ALTERNATIVE BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT METHODS. (a) Requirement.--Section 1101(b)(2)(B) of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4711(b)(2)(B)) is amended in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``a vessel'' and inserting ``a vessel, including a vessel that is not carrying ballast water,''. (b) Deadline for Regulations.--The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall issue and begin implementing regulations in accordance with the amendment made by subsection (a) by not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 3. STUDY OF EFFECTIVENESS OF ALTERNATE BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT METHODS. (a) In General.--The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall conduct, in consultation with the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, a scientifically-based study or studies of the effectiveness, feasibility of application, and environmental soundness of ballast water tank treatment methods, other than ballast water exchange, in reducing the threat of invasive species to the Great Lakes. (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date funds are available to carry out this section, and annually thereafter for the subsequent 2 years, the Secretary shall report to the Congress the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the study under this section. <all>