11 



already mentioned, on agricultural and natural ecosystems. Pres- 

 ently, they receive less attention because they do not creep, crawl, 

 or fly, and in msmy cases they take longer to establish. Their initial 

 appearance is less dramatic, but when they begin to proliferate, be- 

 heve me, they have the most significant economic impact. 



In the near future, I hope there will be cooperation in Congress 

 to revise the Federal noxious weed law, granting full authority to 

 react promptly to the introduction of non-indigenous weed species. 

 Without careftil and deliberate attention, I feel that the rich plant 

 and animal diversity so much a part of our natural habitats will 

 be lost to non-indigenous species. I urge you as Members of Con- 

 gress to review these issues and take appropriate actions, and I 

 certainly think that the OTA report provided to you. Senator, has 

 an excellent blueprint in where to start and specific good policy op- 

 tions, I think, that are well founded and have been well thought 

 out and are generally supported. 



Just to summarize in terms of recommendations that I would 

 make, again, emergency funding options; emphasis on exclusion 

 and early detection; prompt intervention channels. And I think 

 that investments in these, plus an emergency response fund of 

 some type will save money in the long run. In other words, I think 

 if you make a sizable investment now, that will indeed save money 

 in the long run for the citizens of this country. I think that would 

 lead to an improvement of quality of life and protect the environ- 

 ment here in this country. 



We have been working from the weed science perspective in the 

 other agencies that I represent in terms of getting a rewritten ver- 

 sion of the Federal noxious weed law introduced in the Congress. 

 Representative Charlie Rose from my home State of North Carolina 

 has agreed to make that introduction on the House side. We have 

 been working during the last year with Senator Dorgan from North 

 Dakota, and hopefully through efforts of his staff it will be intro- 

 duced on the Senate side. And I would urge your support in this, 

 and I can assure that the State of Hawaii, the Department of Agri- 

 culture supports the rewritten version that we plan to have intro- 

 duced for your consideration through these channels. 



Thank you very much^for the opportunity to offer these com- 

 ments. Senator. 



Senator Akaka. Thank you very much, Mr. Singletary. 



I would now like to hear from Dr. Carlton, and want you to know 

 that Chairman Glenn of this Committee is very interested in your 

 testimony. Senator Glenn has been responsible for legislation ad- 

 dressing zebra mussels and other aquatic pests, and wanted you to 

 know of his interest. May we hear from you now. Dr. Carlton. 



TESTIMONY OF JAMES T. CARLTON, PH.D.,i DIRECTOR, MARI- 

 TIME STUDIES PROGRAM, WILLIAMS COLLEGE-MYSTIC SEA- 

 PORT, MYSTIC, CT 



Mr, Carlton. Thank you. Senator. Good morning and thank you 

 for inviting me. 



On September 8, 1993, a coal vessel (a collier) arrived in Chesa- 

 peake Bay a few miles from this room, having sailed from Israel 



1 The prepared statement of Mr. Carlton appears on page 76. 



