Speak Out to Stop Invasive Zebra Mussels

Invasive species like zebra mussels have devastated native fish in the Great Lakes and throughout our nation's waterways. The small, sharp mussels were brought to the Great Lakes by ocean-going ships, and these same ships are still allowed to give invasive species a "free ride" in the water they carry in their ballast tanks from across the globe to the Great Lakes to almost all waters across the U.S.

Although the Environmental Protection Agency has a new proposal for the water discharged from commercial vessels' ballast tanks, it is not strong enough to protect the Great Lakes and our nation’s waters from new invasive species.

Tell the Environmental Protection Agency to stop new invasive species before it is too late for our Great Lakes and nation’s wildlife.

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National Wildlife Federation

Dear Administrator Regan,

A strong federal program to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species in  our nation’s lakes and waterways is desperately needed. Please strengthen the proposed EPA ballast water rule to help protect the Great Lakes and all our nation's waterways from discharges of invasive species in vessels’ ballast water.

The proposed ballast water rule is not strong enough to protect waters across the U.S. from invasive species.  It should:

Require that all vessels  (new and old) – including domestic “lakers” vessels that travel only within the Great Lakes, as well as international ocean-going "salties" to use the Best Available Technology to treat their ballast water before discharging - to provide full protection of fish and wildlife from aquatic invasive species.

Please revise the proposed EPA standard to prevent the introduction and control the spread of invasive species in ballast water discharges and to continue to work with the Coast Guard to establish a robust monitoring and enforcement program to ensure that the standards are working to protect the Great Lakes and lakes and waterways across the country.

Thank you,
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Invasive Species