Regional Biosecurity Plan for Micronesia and Hawaii Volume II Prepared by: University of Guam and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community 2014 This plan was prepared in conjunction with representatives from various countries at various levels including federal/national, state/territory/commonwealth, industry, and non-governmental organizations and was generously funded and supported by the Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) and Headquarters, Marine Corps. MBP PHASE 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY NISC Executive Summary Prepared by the National Invasive Species Council On March 7th, 2007 the U.S. Department of Navy (DoN) issued a Notice of Intent to prepare an “Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (OEIS)” for the “Relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Forces to Guam, Enhancement of Infrastructure and Logistic Capabilities, Improvement of Pier/Waterfront Infrastructure for Transient U.S. Navy Nuclear Aircraft Carrier (CVN) at Naval Base Guam, and Placement of a U.S. Army Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Task Force in Guam”. This relocation effort has become known as the “build-up”. In considering some of the environmental consequences of such an undertaking, it quickly became apparent that one of the primary regional concerns of such a move was the potential for unintentional movement of invasive species to new locations in the region. Guam has already suffered the eradication of many of its native species due to the introduction of brown treesnakes and many other invasive plants, animals and pathogens cause tremendous damage to its economy and marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. DoN, in consultation and concurrence with relevant federal and territorial regulatory entities, determined that there was a need to develop a biosecurity plan to address these concerns. It is important to note that in February 2012, the United States (U.S.) Department of the Navy (Navy) initiated a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to evaluate the environmental consequences of establishing a live-fire training range complex (LFTRC) on Guam in support of the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps (USMC or Marines) forces to Guam (the "LFTRC SEIS"). Shortly thereafter, the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee (SCC) issued a joint statement announcing its decision to adjust the plans outlined in the May 2006 Realignment Roadmap. In accordance with the SCC's adjustments (the "2012 Roadmap Adjustments"), the Department of Defense (DoD) adopted a new force posture in the Pacific, providing for a substantially smaller Marine Corps relocation to Guam. As a result of the 2012 Roadmap Adjustments, the Navy expanded the scope of the LFTRC SEIS to also evaluate the potential environmental consequences from construction and operation of a main cantonment area, including family housing, and associated infrastructure to support the relocation of a substantially reduced number of Marines than previously analyzed. The SEIS will supplement the 2010 Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Guam and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Military Relocation. The need for a comprehensive plan to address biosecurity threats posed by the proposed action has not been eliminated as a result of the changes to the force posture. To address this identified need, DoN has joined forces with partners in other U.S. federal agencies and with local, regional and international governments and organizations to develop a comprehensive Micronesia Biosecurity Plan (MBP). Invasive species are considered the second most significant driver of biodiversity loss worldwide and are by far the number one cause on islands. They also have significant, direct negative impacts upon other critical island issues such as food security, culture, natural resources, economic development and climate change adaptation. Invasive species are spread, intentionally or unintentionally, by trade, travel and tourism. All three of these activities are projected to increase significantly as a result of the USMC relocation to Guam. The projected growth will result in an increased potential to spread 1 MBP PHASE 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY NISC invasive species which cause or are likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. The development of the MBP is a proactive effort to determine how to best prevent and mitigate the risks of increased invasive species damages as a result of the build-up. The MBP is unprecedented in its scope and covers invasive species risks from all major taxonomic groups (plants, animals and pathogens) and for all major ecosystems (freshwater, marine and terrestrial) for the vast majority of the region of Micronesia – including Palau, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Nauru and Kiribati are part of Micronesia but are not included in this analysis because they will not be impacted by the build-up. The State of Hawaii is also being addressed in this effort – but only to the extent to which it will be directly impacted by invasive species concerns related to the build-up. To develop the MBP, DoN has provided over $3,700,000 in direct funding to scientists and invasive species experts from the Departments of Agriculture and Interior (USDA and DOI), the Smithsonian Institute (SI), the National Invasive Species Council (NISC) and the University of Guam (UOG). The cooperating federal partners (USDA, DOI, SI and NISC) and numerous local and regional cooperators have contributed, and continue to contribute, significant time, resources and expertise to this effort above and beyond the direct funding provided. This comprehensive approach to biosecurity for the region of Micronesia is a multi-level, multi- disciplinary, collaborative effort, aimed at preventing the introduction and establishment of additional invasive species at both regional and jurisdictional levels. Such a holistic biosecurity plan considers implementation of pre-border (such as pre-clearance), at-the-border (such as inspection and quarantine) and post-border (such as monitoring, rapid response and eradication of invasive species) measures. While all three of these measures are considered critical to an effective biosecurity plan, preventing the establishment of invasive species is most effectively undertaken via pre-border and at the border efforts. Additionally, these efforts are significantly less expensive (in terms of both capital and negative impacts) than long-term control of established invasive species. For many invasive species there are no feasible long-term control options. Left uncontrolled, invasive species and their damage to environment and economy spread and intensify. The development of the MBP is being conducted in two phases. The overall goal of Phase 1 of the MBP is (1.) to identify terrestrial, marine and freshwater biosecurity risks posed by changes associated with the build-up in transportation and commerce to and within Micronesia and to and from Hawaii, and (2.) to document prevention, control and treatment measures for invasive species that can be incorporated by civilian and military operations. Phase 2 is an ongoing effort with high levels of interest both within and outside of the Micronesia region. It includes the development of an independent scientific peer review of Phase 1 results and creation of a regionally vetted Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP), including extensive in-person consultation with regional invasive species experts and stakeholders. This unique effort will help address both invasive species threats to the military mission and invasive species concerns raised by the Micronesian Chief Executives and federal and regional partners. Phase 1 of the MBP has been completed and this summary is focused on that effort. 2 MBP PHASE 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY NISC Phase 1 was prepared by federal scientists from three different federal departments working in partnership with a variety of other local, territorial, state, national and international invasive species scientists and experts. Experts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) addressed terrestrial invasive species concerns and conducted a variety of port examinations. The Smithsonian Institution conducted all work on marine invasive species as well as invasive freshwater plant concerns for the region. Scientists from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s – U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) examined invasive issues in regards to the regions freshwater fauna. The National Invasive Species Council (NISC) served as the overall coordinating body during the development of Phase 1. A primary NISC duty was to work closely with DoD counterparts to encourage regional engagement in the MBP process and to facilitate collaboration between local and regional invasive species experts, such as the members of the Micronesia Regional Invasive Species Council, and the federal scientists. The development of Phase 1 of the MBP marks the first time that scientists from different federal departments have collaborated on such an effort at this scale. It represents a new level of inter- departmental collaboration in invasive species studies and planning that takes advantage of the various centers of invasive species expertise throughout the federal government. The geographic range and taxonomic scope of this effort, combined with the level of intra-federal cooperation and in-depth collaboration with local, territorial,