Invasive Species Photo by K. Borden | Senator Boxer is fighting to protect US waters from invasive species that spread deadly diseases to people and wildlife, impair water supply infrastructure, harm ecosystems, cause twice the annual economic damage of all natural disasters, and are linked to half of the decline of endangered species. When large ships are not transporting cargo, the ships pump coastal waters and all the living organisms into their ballast tanks while at foreign ports to obtain balance. When closer to our shores, the ballast water is exchanged with ocean waters, but the exchange does not eliminate the invasive species, which then are discharged into our waters. The 9th Circuit has directed the EPA to regulate this pollution while Congress has reached an impasse on legislation. |
Tag: water supplies
Aug 08 2008