Building Consensus in the West: Developing a Model Legal Framework for Watercraft Inspection and Decontamination Programs

For the past three years I have been a member of the planning team that is implementing the project I am proposing to speak about.  My general presentation description is as follows:

“Building Consensus in the West,” is an initiative of the Western Regional Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species. The goal of the WRP initiative is to develop a multi-state vision for watercraft inspection and decontamination (WID) programs.

Model Legal Framework

In April 2014, the National Sea Grant Law Center and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies released “Preventing the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species by Recreational Boats: Model Legislative Provisions & Guidance to Promote Reciprocity among State Watercraft Inspection and Decontamination Programs.” These Model State Legislative Provisions were developed for two purposes. First, the provisions offer guidance to states with existing WID programs to create a foundation for multi-state reciprocity. Second, for states without WID programs, the provisions outline a legal framework for the authorization of new WID programs.