52 



ers have set up a monitoring program in Saginaw Bay and Lake 

 Huron. The National Sea Grant College Program also provides edu- 

 cation and technical assistance to its Sea Grant offices £ind marine 

 advisory service program. 



The waters of the United States are a resource of immeasurable 

 environmental, economic and aesthetic value. Although the task 

 force did start slowly, we believe we have picked up the pace and 

 by working closely together we are well on the way to establishing 

 a comprehensive program to deal with the risks presented by non- 

 indigenous species. Further recommendations are likely to emerge 

 as a result of some of the studies that have been mentioned. Al- 

 though it is not possible to prevent all species introductions — in- 

 deed, there have been some beneficial introductions — we should be 

 able to reduce the risks posed by non-indigenous aquatic species. 



Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to testify and I will 

 be happy to answer any questions you may have. 



Senator Akaka. Thank you very much. 



Now, we will hear from B. Glen Lee. 



TESTIMONY OF B. GLEN LEE,i DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR, 

 PLANT PROTECTION AND QUARANTINE, U.S. DEPARTMENT 

 OF AGRICULTURE 



Mr. Lee. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am very pleased to be here 

 today to discuss the OTA report that is the subject of discussion on 

 harmful non-indigenous species in the U.S. The efforts of the U.S. 

 Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

 Service to prevent and control the spread of non-indigenous species 

 were reviewed in detail within that report. 



With me today are several of my colleagues to assist me with 

 questions, should that need arise: Dr. George Winegar, who is the 

 Assistant Deputy Administrator of our veterinary services staff; 

 Mr. Don Hawthorne, the Associate Deputy Administrator of the 

 Animal Damage Control Programs; Mr. Bill Wallace, who is the Di- 

 rector of our Policy and Program Development staff, and also a 

 member of the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force. 



USDA appreciates the tremendous effort that went into the OTA 

 report, creating such a comprehensive document for our consider- 

 ation and discussion, and believes that the report generated valu- 

 able insight into approaches for handling such difficult issues. 



As the report indicates, the negative effects of certain non-indige- 

 nous species have created economic losses into the billions of dol- 

 lars, and you cited some of those in your introductory comments. 

 The OTA report concludes that a dynamic national agenda is need- 

 ed to effectively address non-indigenous species in the U.S., and we 

 in the Department agree with that conclusion. 



APHIS, in particular, has significant experience and expertise in 

 monitoring and evaluating dangers of non-indigenous species and 

 in developing cooperative programs for the exclusion, the control 

 and eradication of certain non-indigenous plant and amimal dis- 

 eases and pests. 



We have traditionally in the Department been charged with pro- 

 tecting agriculture in the U.S. fi"om plant and animal pests and 



' The prepared statement of Mr. Lee appears on page 107. 



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