WRP Executive Committee Meeting
Minutes
Members Present: Tina Proctor, Jim Athearn, Mark Sytsma, Susan Ellis, Mike Stone, Dwight Williamson, John Chapman
Members Absent: Blaine Parker, Scott Smith, Ted Grosholz, Nate Dechoretz
1. NAISA Update
2. North American Commission on Environmental Cooperation
3. Proposals for Funding
b. Determining the Best Management Practices to Prevent ANS Importation by Fishing Tournament Anglers; Lynn Schlueter
c. Education and Outreach during the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial; Blaine Parker and Stephen Phillips
d. Updating of Expert lists in the Rapid Response Plan.
4. WRP Recommended State Actions
5. Updates
b. The 100th Meridian Initiative is funding an outreach project to marinas along the Missouri River to target travelers during the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commemoration. Bill Zook, formerly with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, visited all the marinas and portage operators last fall to make initial contact. A meeting will be held in Pierre, SD on March 11 and 12 to make decisions on what outreach actions to take.
c. The Pacific Ballast Water Group sent a letter yesterday with 17 signatures to support NAISA saying they liked most aspects of the bill and encourage its passage. One suggestion was to take off the restrictions for research funding. The letter also asked for an additional $3 million for management of ballast water and coastal shipping along the West Coast.
d. Tina reported speaking with three State members who are interested in applying for funds to do ANS Management Plans: Idaho, North Dakota and Utah. She is also in contact with folks in Guam and they may be interested too. The deadline has been extended until February 21st.
e. There will be a conference call meeting in the next 2-3 weeks to start planning the annual meeting: members of the committee are Paul Olin, Tina, Scott, John, Jim, Mike, Susan and Erin Williams.
Next meeting: Thursday, March 13, 9:00 Pacific Time
February 14, 2003
The draft bill has been returned from Legislative Council. However, there were some changes that need to be made. There will be a NAISA Advisory Panel conference call this afternoon to discuss changes before the bill is introduced on February 25. Supportive letters from States and organizations should be sent as soon as possible. If letters were sent before the end of the last Congress, they are no longer valid. However a cover letter could be sent with the original letter saying there is still concurrence.
The workshop on identifying ANS and pathways of common North American Concern will be held in San Diego, Feb. 18-19, 2003. John will represent the WRP and is taking a proposal with him about a tri-lateral meeting on ballast water issues which is one of the projects approved at the WRP annual meeting in Salt Lake City. He will let the Executive Committee read it first. This meeting is to get a focus on pathways and screening. Susan will also be attending and is especially interested in the aquarium industry session. John was reassured that they would also address ballast wateras it impacts Mexico, the U.S. and Canada even though it isn’t on the agenda.
a. Pacific Coast Invasive Species Database; Henry Lee II and Deborah Reusser
The proposal was approved for WRP funding of $10,000. John will follow up regarding making the database web accessible from the beginning even if it can’t be put on the web for the available funding.
The proposal needs more work and Tina will contact Lynn with the Executive Committee comments.
The proposal needs more work and Tina will contact Blaine and Stephen with the Executive Committee comments.
Susan and Erin Williams will be speaking to students at UC-Davis about taking on this project.
There was considerable discussion about this draft list of actions that could be pursued by States. One suggestion was to put the PowerPoint presentation on what the states are doing regarding ANS that Tina presented at the annual meeting in Salt Lake City onto the WRP web site. Then State members could be aware of actions by other States and know who to go to with questions. There will be a final decision at the next conference call.
a. Scott will do a presentation on the WRP at the Gulf of Mexico Regional Panel meeting at the end of February. The Committee asked that he send a copy of his presentation to the Committee beforehand.