The Pennsylvania Sea Grant Program is sponsoring a workshop in Erie on ballast water policy on March 13-14 at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, Presque Isle, Erie.

The workshop will provide an update and overview of current ballast water policy, legislation and research as it applies to the Great Lakes. Scientists, legal experts, legislators, industry personnel and agency staff will discuss the current state of ballast water policy, pending legislation, proposed ballast water treatment methods and evaluating the current risk of introduction and spread of AIS to Great Lakes ports by foreign and domestic ships.

Goals of the workshop include: creation of a document that others can use as a tool to develop law, policy and regulations regarding the introduction of invasive species into the Great Lakes and bringing invasive species stakeholders together from the lower Great Lakes in an atmosphere conducive to dialogue and relationship-building that will enable future gains in reacting to, mitigating and preventing introductions of additional invasive species into the Great Lakes.

Agency staff, industry stakeholders, policymakers and others interested in the impact of ballast water policy and legislation and the spread of invasive species in the Great Lakes

For more information and to register, contact Marti Martz at 814-217-9015 or send email to: mam60@psu.edu.

1/18/2008