Strategy 4: Promote legislation and regulations that support AIS prevention.

There is a need to evaluate criteria and procedures to identify opportunities to improve
AIS management within the Flathead Basin. This would include surveying and
documenting existing laws, regulations, and policies; identifying weaknesses,
inconsistencies, or absences in authorities and procedures; and
supporting/implementing solutions that address the needs identified.

Strategy 4A: Survey and document existing laws, regulations, and policies.

Tasks

  • Assemble all Federal, Tribal and State laws relevant to water quality, AIS, and the
    interstate movements of species. Review relevant laws from adjacent States and
    Provinces.
  • Review and assemble all Flathead Basin associated agency regulations pertinent to
    AIS control and protection of its jurisdictional waters.
  • Inventory all legal authorities and procedures for Flathead Basin agencies interdicting
    AIS. Identify and address multi‐jurisdictional gaps in authority.

Strategy 4B: Identify weaknesses, inconsistencies, or absences in authorities and
procedure.

Tasks

  • By agency, list and map extent of legal authorities to prevent AIS through inspection
    and decontamination.
  • Compare legal authorities in AIS enforcement for overlapping jurisdictions and
    establish a lead agency.
  • Identify current Flathead Basin enforcement procedures, and promote consistency.

Strategy 4C: Support and/or implement solutions that address
the needs identified in Strategy 4A and 4B.

Tasks

  • As allowed, promulgate local restrictions, regulations, and containment measures for
    AIS contaminated waters and non‐contaminated waters to ensure they are not
    contaminated in the future, and promote strengthening of laws and regulations
    where weaknesses exist.
  • Where needed, and where existing laws allow, petition State, Federal, Tribal, and
    Provincial agency heads to strengthen rules and regulations to prevent AIS.
  • Where needed and permissible, delegate deputy authority for
    local AIS enforcement to secondary agencies.
  • Through private partners, government agencies, and non‐government organizations,
    share information with elected officials to facilitate the passage of robust State and
    Federal laws that discourage the movement of AIS.
  • Identify interested groups that will independently make recommendations to elected
    officials for laws that protect uncontaminated waters from AIS.
  • Identify groups, individuals, or business ventures that advance the interstate
    movement of AIS for economic gains or short sighted recreational motives in the
    Flathead Basin.
  • Promote public knowledge of laws and regulations to increase awareness and
    prevention of AIS through voluntary compliance.