[APWG] LEGISLATION: Information on HR 669 - the Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act (fwd)

[Olivia Kwong]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Southeast EPPC [mailto:SE-EPPC at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Chuck
Bargeron
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 11:24 AM

FYI, since there seems to be a lot of discussion about this bill:

Attached is a publication that explains more about the intent of this bill
as well as two other documents that give some Questions and Answers as well
as Myths -vs- Facts.

Passage of H.R. 669 will establish a  pro-active process for evaluating
nonnative wildlife species based on scientific information, with public
input, to determine if they should be approved or not approved for
importation and interstate commerce. This process would take several years
to implement, during which time there would be no restrictions on trade,
and all stakeholders would have the opportunity to participate in the
process.  Under the current process, the Lacey Act, the  US Fish and
Wildlife Service (USFWS)  is required to demonstrate that a nonnative
species is injurious or harmful to humans or the environment before it can
be prohibited. Under this process, it took 7 years to list the Black Carp
as injurious, during that time it spread to 4 states harming both native
fish and mussel populations. Similarly, a 2006 petition submitted to list
the Burmese Python as an injurious species has not yet been approved.

H.R. 669 addresses the trade in wildlife. Domesticated animals, such as
cats, dogs, rabbits, goldfish, horses, and other species added by USFWS
would be exempt from the evaluation process. As a result of these
exceptions, much of the pet trade will be unaffected by the bill.   Also,
even though HR 669 includes a list of exempted species, this does not mean
that all non-exempt species will be prohibited under H.R. 669. The
non-exempt species will be assessed for risk, and species that are found
not to be risky based on the Fish and Wildlife Service’s evaluation will be
approved for importation. H.R. 669 also includes a grandfather provision so
that people will know that they can keep their pets, even if the species
later gets classified as not approved for importation.

Additional information about HR669 can be found at:

Union of Concerned Scientists
http://www.ucsusa.org/invasive_species/solutions/screening-bill.html

National Environmental Coalition on Invasive Species
http://www.necis.net/
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