No. 31624: R657-60. Aquatic Invasive Species Interdiction

DAR File No.: 31624
Filed: 06/26/2008, 10:12
Received by: NL

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

This purpose of this rule is to define procedures and regulations to prevent and control the spread of aquatic invasive species within the State of Utah.

Summary of the rule or change:

This rule sets the guidelines and regulations designed to prevent and control the spread of Dreissena mussels in Utah. (DAR NOTE: A corresponding proposed new Rule R657-60 is under DAR No. 31623 in this issue, July 15, 2008, of the Bulletin.)

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

Sections 23-27-401, 23-14-18, and 23-14-19

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

DWR determines that these amendments do create a cost impact to the state budget or DWR's budget. The 2008 Utah Legislative Session appropriated $2,500,000 to aid in the implementation costs associated with this rule.

local governments:

This rule does not create any direct cost or savings impact to local governments because they are not directly affected by the rule. Nor are local governments indirectly impacted because the rule does not create a situation requiring services from local governments.

small businesses and persons other than businesses:

This rule may create a cost impact to boat owners and other water enthusiasts in Utah in that if Dreissena Mussels are found in Utah the cost to decontaminate boats and other conveyances will be at the expense of the owner.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

DWR determines that this rule may create a cost impact to individuals who own water vessels and boat in infested waters because they would be required to decontaminate the conveyance.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

The amendments to this rule do not create an impact on businesses. Michael R. Styler, Executive Director

Emergency rule reason and justification:

Regular rulemaking procedures would cause an imminent peril to the public health, safety, or welfare.

Dreissena mussels, specifically Quagga and Zebra mussels, are invasive aquatic wildlife species from the European continent. The two species became established in the Eastern United States a decade ago by transatlantic ocean liners taking on ballast water in European ports and then discharging the water in North American ports. Since then the species have spread throughout the Mississippi River basin causing millions of dollars in damage each year to hydroelectric facilities, heavy industry, irrigation companies, and wild fisheries. The mussels attach to solid objects in the water and colonize by building layer upon layer of shells. Their prolific reproduction and colonization characteristics plug water lines in reservoirs, hydroelectric plants, industrial facilities, boat engines, irrigation systems, etc. The mussels spread from one water to another primarily by attaching to boats. Last year, lower Colorado River reservoirs, such as Lake Mead and Lake Havasu, were found infested with Quagga mussels. Many recreationists that boat in these waters also boat in Utah waters which presents an imminent threat to Utah's industrial and agricultural infrastructure that uses and transports water through pipeline. S.B. 238 was passed into law during the 2008 General Legislative Session which makes it unlawful to transport a boat from an infested water without first decontaminating it and gives the state specialized interdiction tools to prevent the spread of the mussels into Utah waters. S.B. 238 charges the Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) to promulgate administrative rules designating the waters that are considered infested for purposes of boat decontamination and to establish decontamination requirements and procedures. Without these regulatory components in rule, S.B. 238 is largely unenforceable. Given the recreational boat traffic between Lower Colorado River waters and Utah waters, the threat of Quagga mussels spreading to Utah is imminent without the rule's interdiction elements that give S.B. 238 traction to move forward and fulfill its purpose. Emergency rulemaking is necessary to effectively protect Utah waters from Quagga mussel infestation and the imminent peril infestation presents to public health, safety, and welfare. (DAR NOTE: S.B. 238 (2008) is found at Chapter 284, Laws of Utah 2008, and was effective 05/05/2008.)

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Natural Resources
Wildlife Resources
1594 W NORTH TEMPLE
SALT LAKE CITY UT 84116-3154

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

Staci Coons at the above address, by phone at 801-538-4718, by FAX at 801-538-4709, or by Internet E-mail at [e-mail]

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

This rule is effective on:

06/27/2008

Authorized by:

James F Karpowitz, Director

RULE TEXT

R657. Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources.

R657-60. Aquatic Invasive Species Interdiction.

R657-60-1. Purpose and Authority.

(1) The purpose of this rule is to define procedures and regulations designed to prevent and control the spread of aquatic invasive species within the State of Utah.

(2) This rule is promulgated pursuant to authority granted to the Wildlife Board in Sections 23-27-401, 23-14-18, and 23-14-19.

 

R657-60-2. Definitions.

(1) Terms used in this rule are defined in Section 23-13-2 and 23-27-101.

(2) In addition:

(a) "Conveyance" means a terrestrial or aquatic vehicle, including a vessel, or a vehicle part that may carry or contain a Dreissena mussel.

(b) "Decontaminate" means to:

(i) Self-decontaminate equipment or a conveyance that has been in an infested water in the previous 30 days by:

(A) removing all plants, fish, mussels and mud from the equipment or conveyance;

(B) draining all water from the equipment or conveyance, including water held in ballast tanks, bilges, livewells, and motors; and

(C) drying the equipment or conveyance for no less than 7 days in June, July and August;18 days in September, October, November, March, April and May; 30 days in December, January and February; or expose the equipment or conveyance to sub-freezing temperatures for 72 consecutive hours; or

(ii) Professionally decontaminate equipment or a conveyance that has been in an infested water in the previous 30 days by:

(A) Using a professional decontamination service approved by the division to apply scalding water (140 degrees Fahrenheit) to completely wash the equipment or conveyance and flush any areas where water is held, including ballast tanks, bilges, livewells, and motors.

(c) "Dreissena mussel" means a mussel of the genus Dreissena at any life stage, including a zebra mussel, a quagga mussel and a Conrad's false mussel.

(d) "Controlling entity" means the owner, operator, or manager of a water body, facility, or a water supply system.

(e) "Equipment" means an article, tool, implement, or device capable of carrying or containing water or Dreissena mussel.

(f) "Facility" means a structure that is located within or adjacent to a water body

(g) "Infested water" includes all the following:

(i) lower Colorado Riverbetween Lake Mead and the Gulf of California;

(ii) Lake Mead in Nevada and Arizona;

(iii) Lake Mohave in Nevada and Arizona;

(iv) Lake Havasu in California and Arizona;

(v) Lake Pueblo in Colorado;

(vi) Lake Pleasant in Arizona;

(vii) San Justo Reservoir in California;

(viii) Southern California inland waters in Orange, Riverside, San Diego, Imperial, and San Bernardino counties;

(ix) coastal and inland waters east of the100th Meridian in North America; and

(x) other waters established by the Wildlife Board and published on the DWR website.

(h) "Vessel" means every type of watercraft used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water.

(i) "Water body" means natural or impounded surface water, including a stream, river, spring, lake, reservoir, pond, wetland, tank, and fountain.

(j) "Water supply system" means a system that treats, conveys, or distributes water for irrigation, industrial, wastewater treatment, or culinary use, including a pump, canal, ditch or, pipeline.

(i) "Water supply system" does not included a water body.

 

R657-60-3. Possession of Dreissena Mussels.

(1) Except as provided in Subsections R657-60-3(2) and R657-60-5(2), a person may not possess, import, ship, or transport any Dreissena mussel.

(2) Dreissena mussels may be imported into and possessed within the state of Utah with prior writtenapproval of the Director of the Division of Wildlife Resources or a designee.

 

R657-60-4. Reporting of Invasive Species Required.

(1) A person who discovers a Dreissena mussel within this state or has reason to believe a Dreissena mussel may exist at a specific location shall immediately report the discovery to the division.

(2) The report shall include the following information:

(a) location of the Driessena mussels;

(b) date of discovery;

(c) identification ofany conveyance or equipment in which mussels may be held or attached; and

(d) identification of the reporting party with their contact information.

(3) The report shall be made in person or in writing:

(a) at any division regional or headquarters office or;

(b) to the division's toll free hotline at 1-800-662-3337; or

(c) on the division's website at www.wildlife.utah.gov/law/hsp/pf.php.

 

R657-60-5. Transportation of Equipment and Conveyances That Have Been in Infested Waters.

(1) The owner, operator, or possessor of any equipment or conveyance that has been in an infested water shall:

(a) immediately drain all water from the equipment or conveyance at the take out site, including water held in ballast tanks, bilges, livewells, motors, and other areas of containment; and

(b) immediately inspect the interior and exterior of the equipment or conveyance at the take out site for the presence of Dreissena mussels.

(2) If all water in the equipment or conveyance is drained and the inspection undertaken pursuant to Subsection (1)(b) reveals the equipment and conveyance are free from mussels or shelled organisms, fish, plants and mud, the equipment and conveyance may be transported in or through the state directly from the take out site to the location where it will be:

(a) professionally decontaminated; or

(b) stored and self-decontaminated.

(3) If all the water in the equipment or conveyance is not drained or the inspection undertaken pursuant to Subsection (1)(b) reveals the equipment or conveyance has attached mussels or shelled organisms, fish, plants, or mud, the equipment and conveyance shall not be moved from the take out site until the division is contacted and written or electronic authorization received to move the equipment or conveyance to a designated location for professional decontamination.

(4) A person shall not place any equipment or conveyance that has been in an infested water in the previous 30 days into any other water body or water supply system in the state without first decontaminating the equipment or conveyance.

 

R657-60-6. Certification of Decontamination.

(1) The owner, operator or possessor of a vessel desiring to launch on a water body in Utah must:

(a) verify the vessel and any launching device have not been in an infested water in the previous 30 days; or

(b) certify the vessel and launching device have been decontaminated.

(2) Certification of decontamination is satisfied by:

(a) previously completing self-decontamination since the vessel and launching device were last in an infested water and completely filling out and dating a decontamination certification form which can be obtained from the division; or

(b) providing a signed and dated certificate by a division approved professional decontamination service verifying the vessel and launching device were professionally decontaminated since the vessel and launching device were last in an infested water.

(3) Both the decontamination certification form and the professional decontamination certificate, where applicable, must be signed and placed in open view in the window of the launching vehicle prior to launching or placing the vessel in a body of water.

(4) It is unlawful under Section76-8-504 to knowing falsify a decontamination certification form.

 

R657-60-7. Wildlife Board Designations of Infested Waters.

(1) The Wildlife Board may designate a geographic area, water body, facility, or water supply system as infested with Dreissena mussels pursuant to Section 23-27-102 and 23-27-401 without taking the proposal to or receiving recommendations from the regional advisory councils.

 

R657-60-8. Closure Order for a Water Body, Facility, or Water Supply System.

(1)(a) If the division detects or suspects a Dreissena mussel is present in a water body, facility, or water supply system, the division director or designee may, with the concurrence of the executive director, issue an order closing the water body, facility, or water supply system to the introduction or removal of conveyances or equipment.

(b) The director shall consult with the controlling entity of the water body, facility, or water supply system when determining the scope, duration, level and type of closure that will be imposed in order to avoid or minimize disruption of economic and recreational activities.

(2)(a) Aclosure order issued pursuant to Subsection (1) shall be in writing and identify the:

(i) water body, facility, or water supply system subject to the closure order;

(ii) nature and scope of the closure or restrictions;

(iii) reasons for the closure or restrictions;

(iv) conditions upon which the order may be terminated or modified; and

(v) sources for receiving updated information on the status of infestation and closure order.

(b) The closure order shall be mailed, electronically transmitted, or hand delivered to:

(i) the controlling entity of the water body, facility, or water supply system; and

(ii) any governmental agency or private entity known to have economic, political, or recreational interests significantly impacted by the closure order; and

(iii) any person or entity requesting a copy of the order.

(c) The closure order or its substance shall further be:

(i) posted on the division's web page; and

(ii) published in a newspaper of general circulation in the state of Utah or the affected area.

(3) If a closure order lasts longer than seven days, the division shall provide the controlling entity and post on its web page a written update every 10 days on its efforts to address the Dreissena mussel infestation.

(a) The 10 day update notice cycle will continue for the duration of the closure order.

(4)(a) Notwithstanding the closure authority in Subsection (1), the division may not unilaterally close or restrict a water supply system infested with Dreissena mussels where the controlling entity has prepared and implemented a control plan in cooperation with the division that effectively eradicates or controls the spread of Dreissena mussels from the water supply system.

(b) The control plan shall comply with the requirements in R657-60-9.

 

R657-60-9. Control Plan Required

(1) The controlling entity of a water body, facility, or water supply system may develop and implement a control plan in cooperation with the division prior to infestation designed to:

(a) avoid the infestation of Dreissena mussels; and

(b) control or eradicate an infestation of Dreissena mussels that might occur in the future.

(2) A pre-infestation control plan developed consistent with the requirements in Subsection (3) and approved by the division will eliminate or minimize the duration and impact of a closure order issued pursuant to Section 23-27-303 and R657-60-8.

(3) Upon detection of a Dreissena mussel and issuance of a division closure order involving a water body, facility, or water supply system without an approved control plan, the controlling entity shall cooperate with the division in developing and implementing a control plan to address the:

(a) scope and extent of the infestation;

(b) actions proposed to control the pathways of spread of the infestation;

(c) actions proposed to control or eradicate the infestation;

(d) methods to decontaminate the water body, facility, or water supply system, if possible;

(e) actions required to systematically monitor the level and extent of the infestation; and

(f) requirements and methods to update and revise the plan with scientific advances.

(4) Any post-infestation control plan prepared pursuant to Subsection (3) shall be approved by the Division before implementation.

 

R657-60-10. Procedure for Establishing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Utah Department of Transportation.

(1) The division director or designee shall negotiate an agreement with the Utah Department of Transportation for use of ports of entry for detection and interdiction of Dreissena Mussels illegally transported into and within the state. Both the Division of Wildlife Resources and the Department of Transportation must agree upon all aspects of Dreissena Mussel interdiction at ports of entry.

(2) The Memorandum shall include the following:

(a) methods and protocols for reimbursing the department for costs associated with Dreissena Mussel interdiction;

(b) identification of ports of entry suitable for interdiction operations;

(c) identification of locations at a specific port of entry suitable for interdiction operations;

(d) methods and protocols for disposing of wastewater associated with decontamination of equipment and conveyances;

(e) dates and time periods suitable for interdiction efforts at specific ports of entry;

(f) signage notifying motorists of the vehicles that must stop at the port of entry for inspection;

(g) priorities of use during congested periods between the department's port responsibilities and the division's interdiction activities;

(h) methods for determining the length, location and dates of interdiction;

(i) training responsibilities for personnel involved in interdiction activities; and

(j) methods for division regional personnel to establish interdiction efforts at ports within each region.

 

R657-60-11. Penalty for Violation.

A violation of any provision of this rule is punishable as provided in Section 23-13-11.

 

KEY: fish, wildlife, wildlife law

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: June 27, 2008

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 23-27-401; 23-14-18; 23-14-19