The
answers follow immediately below -- like an open-book test! Short, but highly
recommended for all and please do share widely.
1. What state passed an “Invasive Species” law -- with the full stakeholder
cooperation of the green industries -- but whose industry now finds that 15 of
its products, worth $18-20M in annual sales, are on the “Invasive Species”
list?
2. Which three Federal agencies were involved in the case of a Pennsylvania
landowner who was required to plant only native species (and to remove
nonnative, “Invasive Species”) on his own private property to control
erosion along the federally designated “Wild and Scenic” Allegheny River?
3. What major Congressional bill contains clauses that introduce new National
Environmental Policy Act mitigation and inventory processes similar to those in
the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act for regulation of “invasive”
and native species on highway projects?
4. Though clearly harmful to human health, poison ivy, poison oak and poison
sumac are not found on “Invasive Species” lists. Why?
5. True or False: Rainbow trout is listed as an “Invasive Species” by
Federal agencies.
6. In what State was a commercial beekeeper prevented from placing a bee yard on
public land because the honeybee is of European origin, thus an “Invasive
Species”?
7. True or False: In 1999, tall fescue, birdsfoot trefoil, crownvetch, redtop
and ryegrass -- for decades the primary species recommended for conservation use
in the Northeast by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) -- were
“no longer recommended” because they were suddenly considered “Invasive
Species”.
8. Which Federal agency falsely states that perennial ryegrass, sweet clover and
crownvetch are on State noxious weed lists?
9. What major university conducted a study and released it to the Associated
Press, concluding that the flower seed industry was acting irresponsibly by
selling “Invasive Species” seeds of Black-eyed Susan, cosmos, bachelor
buttons, snapdragon, baby’s breath and others?
10. Under what statute are Federal agencies authorized to list or prohibit
“Invasive Species”.
ANSWERS:
1. Connecticut.
2. The U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers. (The USFS came up with the initial requirement.)
3. The Senate version of the Transportation bill, the House having removed the
clauses. The bill did not pass in the last Congress (108th), but will be
re-introduced in the current session (109th).
4. They are native to North America.
5. True.
6. Colorado.
7. True.
8. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
9. The University of Washington, Seattle.
10. None. All listings, prohibitions, etc., have emanated from President
Clinton’s “Invasive Species” Executive Order No. 13112. It is vital that
we stop “Invasive Species” from becoming law. Any clauses allowed to remain
in the transportation bill, the National Aquatic Invasive Species Act, the
Public Land Protection and Conservation Act and others, that refer to
“invasive species” will encumber America with what is tantamount to ‘the
next ESA’ if not removed or the bills defeated.
Prepared by Fred Grau - State College, PA