To direct the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct a study of the feasibility of a variety of approaches to eradicating Asian carp from the Great Lakes and their tributary and connecting waters.
Mr. KIRK introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
To direct the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct a study of the feasibility of a variety of approaches to eradicating Asian carp from the Great Lakes and their tributary and connecting waters.
(a) In General- The Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall conduct a study to--
(1) identify methods to eradicate Asian carp from the Illinois Waterway System, including methods for harvesting Asian carp; and
(2) evaluate the feasibility and costs of each such method.
(b) Consultation- The Director shall conduct the study under subsection (a) in consultation with--
(1) the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and
(2) at least two interstate bodies representing the Mississippi River and Great Lakes States.
(c) Contents- The study shall include, at a minimum, an evaluation of the feasibility of temporarily harvesting Asian carp as a method for eradicating the carp from the Illinois River. Such evaluation shall include evaluations of--
(1) species biomass and distribution for all fish species in the Illinois River, including a comparison with historical biomass and distribution data if such data is available;
(2) possible harvesting methods for Asian carp;
(3) possible products that could be generated from Asian carp;
(4) available types of temporary processing locations for harvested Asian carp;
(5) the environmental effects of constructing and operating temporary processing facilities at such locations;
(6) methods to repopulate the Illinois River ecosystem with native species; and
(7) the effect of Asian carp on the Illinois River ecosystem if temporary harvesting of Asian Carp is not conducted.
(d) Report-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Director, in consultation with the Administrator, shall submit to Congress a report containing the findings, conclusions, and recommendations resulting from the study under subsection (a).
(2) CONTENTS- The report shall include recommendations concerning--
(A) regulatory and other mechanisms to ensure--
(i) expeditious action to address the Asian carp problem;
(ii) effective eradication of such carp; and
(iii) that an appropriate deadline is set for the completion of harvesting of such carp;
(B) preferred harvesting methods for Asian carp;
(C) the ideal quantity and distribution of--
(i) temporary processing locations for harvested Asian carp; and
(ii) temporary buying stations for harvested Asian carp; and
(D) methods to repopulate the Illinois River ecosystem with native species.
(e) Deadlines- The Director shall--
(1) begin the study under subsection (a) not later than three months after the date of enactment of this Act;
(2) complete the study not later than 15 months after the date of enactment of this Act; and
(3) submit the report under subsection (d) not later than three months after the date of completion of the study.
U.S. Congress - Text of H.R.51 as Introduced in House Eradicating Asian Carp in the Great Lakes Study Act of 2009
