Photo: Bark beetle infestation in the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. Copyright 2007 Delena Norris-Tull
Collaboration between Federal Agencies? Or just more confusion?
Summary prepared by Dr. Delena Norris-Tull, Professor Emerita of Science Education, University of Montana Western, June 2022.
In the past two decades, more efforts have been made within Federal Agencies to facilitate a coordinated effort related to invasive species management. For example, in 2001 the USDA Secretary, Ann Veneman, established the Federal Integrated Pest Management Coordinating Committee (FIPMCC). The committee includes representatives of all Federal Agencies that are involved with Integrated Pest Management (IPM) related research. As of May 2022, the most recent report posted by this committee is dated 2018. The table below indicates which agencies held membership on the committee in 2018. The website shows no meetings or reports since 2018.
Another attempt to promote collaboration across Federal Agencies was the formation of the National Invasive Species Council (NISC) which was established by Executive Orders 13112 (signed by President Clinton, Feb. 3, 1999) and 13751 (signed by President Obama, Dec. 8, 2016).
Between 2001 and 2018, the Council has developed and has updated the National Invasive Species Council Management Plan only twice. As of May 2022, no meeting minutes have been posted since 2019. But a new work plan was posted on the website summer 2022, which included an updated statement of mandate:
“The mandate of the National Invasive Species Council (Council) is to provide the vision and leadership to coordinate, sustain, and expand federal efforts to safeguard the interests of the United States from the negative impacts of invasive species.”
Hosted by the US Department of the Interior, its members include all the Presidential Cabinet Members, the NASA Administrator, the EPA Administrator, the USAID Administrator, the Office of the US Trade Representative, the Office of Science & Technology Policy, the Council of Economic Quality, and the Office of Management and Budget. In other words, the Council members are all appointed by the President of the United States.
The Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC) incorporates 12 members who are not part of the Federal Government, representing State agencies, non-profit organizations, tribes, and corporations. This committee has been providing advice to the National Invasive Species Council since 2002. However, the Trump administration defunded and disbanded the Committee in 2019. President Biden reestablished the Committee on September 30, 2021, by Executive Order 14048. The first meeting of the newly instituted committee is slated to be held summer 2022.
In addition to these two Federally sponsored committees, there is also the Federal Interagency Committee for the Management of Noxious and Exotic weeds (FICMNEW). According to that committee’s website, FICMNEW “represents an unprecedented formal partnership between 18 federal agencies with direct invasive plant management and regulatory responsibilities spanning across the United States and territories. FICMNEW was established through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by agency leadership in 1994 and 1997.” However, based on what’s available on the website (which was updated in May 2022), this committee has had no activity since 2017. The next meeting of the committee is scheduled for July 2022. A new list of Federal Agency Members, dated 2019, has recently appeared on the committee website.
Delena’s commentary on Federal Agencies:
Rather than increasing collaboration, having three separate committees might lead to more confusion within the Federal Government. It is unclear why there is a need for three separate Federal Interagency committees on invasive species. As is apparent in the table below, there is an almost complete overlap between the FIPMCC and FICMNEW. Conversely, the NISC has a very different membership than the other two committees, for no apparent reason. It might make sense to collapse these three committees into one.
The recent loss of many individuals during the Trump Administration, especially the loss of many scientists within several crucial agencies, will have a long-term impact on the capacity of these Agencies to carry out their missions. Loss of these crucial personnel causes loss of institutional memory, which sets back the progress of any Agency, and the loss of much important scientific research. What plans and resources do the Agencies have to restore the lost personnel and re-invigorate their research programs?
A recent review (May 2022) of the Federal Agency websites revealed the following:
It is unclear how much Federal funding is devoted to these important programs, nor what research is being conducted to examine how effective the programs have been in managing invasive plants or in collaborating with States and tribes.
Memberships of Each Federal Interagency Committee, related to Invasive Species:
(Organized by Federal Agency)
Collaboration between Federal Agencies? Or just more confusion?
Summary prepared by Dr. Delena Norris-Tull, Professor Emerita of Science Education, University of Montana Western, June 2022.
In the past two decades, more efforts have been made within Federal Agencies to facilitate a coordinated effort related to invasive species management. For example, in 2001 the USDA Secretary, Ann Veneman, established the Federal Integrated Pest Management Coordinating Committee (FIPMCC). The committee includes representatives of all Federal Agencies that are involved with Integrated Pest Management (IPM) related research. As of May 2022, the most recent report posted by this committee is dated 2018. The table below indicates which agencies held membership on the committee in 2018. The website shows no meetings or reports since 2018.
Another attempt to promote collaboration across Federal Agencies was the formation of the National Invasive Species Council (NISC) which was established by Executive Orders 13112 (signed by President Clinton, Feb. 3, 1999) and 13751 (signed by President Obama, Dec. 8, 2016).
Between 2001 and 2018, the Council has developed and has updated the National Invasive Species Council Management Plan only twice. As of May 2022, no meeting minutes have been posted since 2019. But a new work plan was posted on the website summer 2022, which included an updated statement of mandate:
“The mandate of the National Invasive Species Council (Council) is to provide the vision and leadership to coordinate, sustain, and expand federal efforts to safeguard the interests of the United States from the negative impacts of invasive species.”
Hosted by the US Department of the Interior, its members include all the Presidential Cabinet Members, the NASA Administrator, the EPA Administrator, the USAID Administrator, the Office of the US Trade Representative, the Office of Science & Technology Policy, the Council of Economic Quality, and the Office of Management and Budget. In other words, the Council members are all appointed by the President of the United States.
The Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC) incorporates 12 members who are not part of the Federal Government, representing State agencies, non-profit organizations, tribes, and corporations. This committee has been providing advice to the National Invasive Species Council since 2002. However, the Trump administration defunded and disbanded the Committee in 2019. President Biden reestablished the Committee on September 30, 2021, by Executive Order 14048. The first meeting of the newly instituted committee is slated to be held summer 2022.
In addition to these two Federally sponsored committees, there is also the Federal Interagency Committee for the Management of Noxious and Exotic weeds (FICMNEW). According to that committee’s website, FICMNEW “represents an unprecedented formal partnership between 18 federal agencies with direct invasive plant management and regulatory responsibilities spanning across the United States and territories. FICMNEW was established through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by agency leadership in 1994 and 1997.” However, based on what’s available on the website (which was updated in May 2022), this committee has had no activity since 2017. The next meeting of the committee is scheduled for July 2022. A new list of Federal Agency Members, dated 2019, has recently appeared on the committee website.
Delena’s commentary on Federal Agencies:
Rather than increasing collaboration, having three separate committees might lead to more confusion within the Federal Government. It is unclear why there is a need for three separate Federal Interagency committees on invasive species. As is apparent in the table below, there is an almost complete overlap between the FIPMCC and FICMNEW. Conversely, the NISC has a very different membership than the other two committees, for no apparent reason. It might make sense to collapse these three committees into one.
The recent loss of many individuals during the Trump Administration, especially the loss of many scientists within several crucial agencies, will have a long-term impact on the capacity of these Agencies to carry out their missions. Loss of these crucial personnel causes loss of institutional memory, which sets back the progress of any Agency, and the loss of much important scientific research. What plans and resources do the Agencies have to restore the lost personnel and re-invigorate their research programs?
A recent review (May 2022) of the Federal Agency websites revealed the following:
- Many Agency websites have not been updated in several years or even decades.
- The BLM is relying on information on managing noxious weeds that is two to three decades old. As of May 2022, in the section on the Weeds and Invasives Program, the FAQs refer to guidelines for managing weeds that were created in 1987 and 1991. Several links in the FAQs are no longer accurate. And, in the few examples of invasive species given, some are native plants. And it references an important book, “Biological Control of Weeds in the West,” by Rees, et al., but that book was written in 1996 and is no longer in print.
- The USDA Federal Noxious Weed list was last updated in 2010. The USDA APHIS (Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service) website does explain what that Agency is able to do, to help prevent movement of noxious weeds into or out of the USA or between States. The APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program, “Partners with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to prevent the introduction of agricultural pests and diseases at U.S. ports of entry; Develops quarantine policies and regulatory requirements for agricultural commodities and plant resources; Establishes requirements for and facilitates the safe import and export of agricultural products; Monitors and surveys throughout the country for pests and diseases; Prevents, detects, manages, and if possible, eradicates foreign pests and diseases in the United States; Develops scientifically advanced, environmentally sound methods to respond to plant health threats; and, Collects and analyzes pest data, both in the United States and overseas, to identify and evaluate pathways for the introduction and movement of invasive plant pests and weeds. Through these activities, PPQ protects America’s agriculture and the environment against pest and disease threats. This helps to ensure a diverse natural ecosystem and an abundant and healthy food supply for all Americans.”
It is unclear how much Federal funding is devoted to these important programs, nor what research is being conducted to examine how effective the programs have been in managing invasive plants or in collaborating with States and tribes.
Memberships of Each Federal Interagency Committee, related to Invasive Species:
(Organized by Federal Agency)
FIPMCC |
NISC |
FICMNEW |
- |
Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) (Wildland Fire Leadership Council) |
Office of Pest Management Policy (USDA) |
Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA) |
- |
Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA) |
Agricultural Research Service (USDA) |
- |
Agricultural Research Service (USDA) |
National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA) |
- |
National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA) |
Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA) |
- |
Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA) |
Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA) |
- |
Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA) |
Farm Service Agency (USDA) |
- |
Farm Service Agency (USDA) |
Forest Service (USDA) |
- |
Forest Service (USDA) |
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
EPA Administrator |
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
Office of Environment, Health, Safety, & Security (Dept. of Energy) |
- |
Office of Sustainable Environmental Stewardship (DOE) |
National Park Service (DOI) |
Secretary of the Interior (DOI) (Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force) |
National Park Service (DOI) |
Bureau of Land Management (DOI) |
- |
Bureau of Land Management (DOI) |
Fish & Wildlife Service (DOI) |
- |
Fish & Wildlife Service (DOI) |
Bureau of Indian Affairs (DOI) |
- |
Bureau of Indian Affairs (DOI) |
Bureau of Reclamation (DOI) |
- |
Bureau of Reclamation (DOI) |
US Geological Survey (DOI) |
- |
US Geological Survey (DOI) |
Armed Forces Pest Management Board (DOD) |
Secretary of Defense (DOD) |
Armed Forces Pest Management Board (DOD) |
Army Corps of Engineers (DOD) |
- |
Army Corps of Engineers (DOD) |
- |
Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) |
- |
- |
Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator |
- |
- |
Secretary of Commerce |
- |
- |
Secretary of Homeland Security |
- |
- |
Secretary of State |
- |
- |
Secretary of Transportation |
Department of Transportation |
Federal Highway Administration (DOT) |
- |
Federal Highway Administration (DOT) |
- |
Secretary of the Treasury |
- |
- |
NASA Administrator |
- |
- |
Office of the US Trade Representative (Executive Office of the President) |
- |
- |
Office of Science & Technology Policy (Executive Office of the President) |
- |
- |
Council of Economic Quality (Executive Office of the President) |
- |
- |
Office of Management and Budget (Executive Office of the President) |
- |
By invitation of FIPMCC: Regional IPM Centers; IR-4 Project; National IPM Coordinating Committee |
- |
- |