HARMFUL NON-INDIGENOUS SPECIES IN THE 



UNITED STATES 



TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1994 



U.S. Senate, 

 Committee on Governmental Affaire, 



Washington, DC. 



The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:10 p.m. in room 

 SD-342, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Daniel K. Akaka 

 presiding. 



Present: Senators Akaka and Glenn. 



OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR AKAKA 



Senator Akaka. The Committee on Governmental Affairs hearing 

 on Harmful Non-Indigenous Species will come to order. 



Alien pests represent a serious threat to our Nation's agriculture, 

 environment and economy. While they often fail to receive the at- 

 tention they deserve, 4,500 foreign species inhabit our land, air and 

 waters. A significant number of these species cause serious eco- 

 nomic harm. No region of the country can escape the slow, silent 

 invasion of this destructive force. 



Toda/s hearing is the second I have chaired on harmful non-in- 

 digenous species. Last Friday, witnesses from the scientific and 

 conservation communities gave their recommendations about how 

 to address this problem. We will now hear from the Federal agen- 

 cies responsible for research, prevention, control and eradication of 

 alien species. We will also receive testimony from the Office of 

 Technology Assessment, which recently issued a comprehensive re- 

 port on the subject. 



According to the OTA, we have no real national policy to combat 

 harmful ahen species. The current system is piecemeal, lacking 

 rigor and comprehensiveness. Federal and State initiatives simply 

 cannot keep pace with new and spreading pests. 



Non-indigenous species attack our economy on all fronts. Accord- 

 ing to APHIS, American farmers suffer crop losses of $2 to $3 bil- 

 lion each year due to non-indigenous weeds. Losses would be far 

 higher if farmers did not spend more than $7 biUion annually for 

 pest control. 



During the early 1980's, the utility industry spent $4.5 billion to 

 clear water lines and correct other fouling problems caused by 

 Asian clams. American consumers paid the bill for this massive ret- 

 rofit. An additional $100 million is spent annually to control zebra 

 mussels, hydrilla, and other aquatic pests. 



A recent Federal study of the risks associated with Siberian tim- 

 ber imports estimated that losses of $35 to $50 biUion could occur 



(35) 



