National Invasive Species Act

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.
Acronyms (colloquial)	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
	Introduced in the House of Representatives as H.R. 4283 by Steve LaTourette (R–OH) on 28 September 1996; Signed into law by President Bill Clinton on October 26, 1996;

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.