National Invasive Species Act
| Long title | An Act to provide for ballast water management to prevent the introduction and spread of nonindigenous species into the waters of the United States, and for other purposes. |
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| Acronyms (colloquial) | USNISA NISA |
| Enacted by | the 104th United States Congress |
| Effective | 26 October 1996 |
| Citations | |
| Public law | Pub. L. 104–332 (text) (PDF) |
| Statutes at Large | 110 Stat. 4073 |
| Codification | |
| Acts amended | Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1991 |
| Titles amended | 16 (Conservation) |
| U.S.C. sections amended | 16 U.S.C. § 4701 |
| Legislative history | |
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The National Invasive Species Act (NISA) is a United States federal law intended to prevent invasive species from entering inland waters through ballast water carried by ships. NISA reauthorized and amended a previous measure, the Non-indigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1991 (NANPCA).
Organisms targeted by NISA are categorized as aquatic nuisance species, including in particular zebra mussels and Eurasian ruffe. To extend upon NANPCA, NISA authorizes regulation of ballast water, a key factor in the spread of aquatic invasive species; funding for prevention and control research; regional involvement with the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force; and education and technical assistance programs to promote compliance with the new regulations. NISA also includes specific actions for certain geographical locations, such as the Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, and San Francisco Bay.