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contamination could be monitored. While no additional cholera 

 was found and the shellfish beds are clear of the bacteria, the 

 Coast Guard will continue to assist In this effort. In an effort 

 to prevent a recurrence of this type of Introduction, without 

 having ballast water enforcement authority outside of the Great 

 Lakes, the Coast Guard published the IMO ballast water guidelines 

 In the Federal Register and asked for voluntary compliance by 

 vessels coming to the United States. The Coast Guard Is aware of 

 at least one major shipping line that changed Its procedures to 

 conform with the guidelines. 



A number of states have expressed Interest In ballast water 

 management and the Coast Guard has provided assistance to the 

 states of Alaska, California, Maryland, and Washington. The 

 State of California passed a requirement that vessels entering 

 ports In California maintain records of where they took on 

 ballast. The Coast Guard Is assisting state authorities In 

 Identifying the proper methods to secure this Information using 

 existing resources. 



In addition to assisting state governments, the Coast Guard is 

 participating In a number of scientific efforts to identify and 

 control aquatic nuisance species. The Ninth Coast Guard District 

 is working closely with environmental and industry groups to 

 foster compliance and understanding of the problem in that 

 region. The Coast Guard participates in the Zebra Mussel 

 monitoring program, administrated by the Fish and Wildlife 



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