S. 125 — Introduced in Senate

II 113th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 125 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 24 (legislative day, January 3), 2013 Mr. Brown (for himself, Mr. Toomey, Mr. Franken, Mr. Casey, and Ms. Klobuchar) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works A BILL To direct the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, in coordination with the Army Corps of Engineers, the National Park Service, and the United States Geological Survey, to lead a multiagency effort to slow the spread of Asian carp in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River basins and tributaries, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Strategic Response to Asian Carp Invasion Act. 2. Findings Congress finds that— (1) the rapid spread of several invasive species of Asian carp in the Upper Mississippi River and Ohio River basins and tributaries threatens ecosystems and billions of dollars of economic activities connected to outdoor recreation in States throughout the Midwest; and (2) while Federal efforts have focused on preventing the spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes, there is growing recognition of the threat Asian carp pose to other ecosystems in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River basins. 3. Multiagency effort to slow the spread of Asian carp in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River basins and tributaries (a) In general The Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, in coordination with the Chief of Engineers, the Director of the National Park Service, and the Director of the United States Geological Survey, shall lead a multiagency effort to slow the spread of Asian carp in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River basins and tributaries by providing high-level technical assistance, coordination, best practices, and support to State and local governments in carrying out activities designed to slow, and eventually eliminate, the threat posed by Asian carp. (b) Best practices To the maximum extent practicable, the multiagency effort shall apply lessons learned and best practices such as those described in the document prepared by the Asian Carp Working Group entitled Management and Control Plan for Bighead, Black, Grass, and Silver Carps in the United States, and dated November 2007, and the document prepared by the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee entitled FY 2012 Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework and dated February 2012. 4. Report to Congress (a) In general Not later than December 31 of each year, the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall submit to the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Environmental and Public Works of the Senate a report describing the coordinated strategies established and progress made toward goals to control and eliminate Asian carp in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River basins and tributaries. (b) Contents Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall include— (1) any observed changes in the range of Asian carp in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River basins and tributaries during the 2-year period preceding submission of the report; (2) a summary of Federal agency efforts, including cooperative efforts with non-Federal partners, to control the spread of Asian carp in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River basins and tributaries; (3) any research that the Director determines could improve the ability to control the spread of Asian carp; (4) any quantitative measures that Director intends to use to document progress in controlling the spread of Asian carp; and (5) a cross-cut accounting of Federal and non-Federal expenditures to control the spread of Asian carp.