FACT SHEET
                   DEVELOPMENT OF INVASIVE SPECIES ACTION PLAN FOR
             EPA's OFFICE OF WETLANDS, OCEANS, AND WATERSHEDS (OWOW)
BACKGROUND

If left unchecked, the number, density, and
rates of nonindigenous species introductions to
the nation's aquatic ecosystems and to
terrestrial ecosystems dependent on healthy
aquatic ecosystems are expected to increase, as
will their impacts on ecosystems, human health,
and socio-economic well-being.  The
prevention, monitoring, management, and
control of introduced aquatic species that
become established (Aquatic Nuisance Species
or ANS) cost the economy many billions of
dollars per year.
DEVELOPMENT OF INVASIVE SPECIES
ACTION PLAN FOR OWOW

EPA's Office of Wetlands, Oceans and
Watersheds (OWOW) is developing a Draft
Invasive Species Action Plan (Plan) to improve
OWOW's effectiveness at countering invasive
species that adversely impact the nation's
aquatic systems. The Plan will articulate
OWOW's invasives species priorities and will
help OWOW effectively contribute to Federal
efforts aimed at combating invasive species.
For example, it will:
   •   recommend full utilization of all
       available and appropriate
       programmatic tools to prevent
       introductions and to manage and
       control invasive species, and
   •   identify new opportunities for action
       and partnerships.
PLAN'S PRIORITY ACTIONS

Six priority actions are likely to be addressed in
the Plan. They are described in the box below.
      LIKELY PRIORITY ACTIONS IN
   OWOW'S INVASIVE SPECIES ACTION
                    PLAN

  1.  Review Authorities and Tools: Review
     existing regulatory authorities and non-
     regulatory tools to identify opportunities for
     preventing introduction and spread of
     invasives.
  2.  Monitoring:  Encourage inclusion of
     invasive species in existing monitoring
     programs.
  3.  Education and Outreach:  Prevent
     introduction of invasive species and
     promote public understanding using
     education and outreach tools.
  4.  Barriers to Rapid Response: Take lead role
     in identifying and analyzing barriers
     (statutory, regulatory, policy) to rapid
     response.
  5.  Review OWOW Project Funding: Review
     all uses of OWOW funding, to ensure that
     OWOW does not fund activities causing or
     promoting invasions and to explore uses of
     OWOW assistance agreements to target
     invasive species impacts on aquatic systems.
  6.  Economic Impact: Estimate economic
     impacts of invasive species affecting aquatic
     environments.

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