WHEREAS, these impacts are resulting in damage to Idaho's environment and causing economic hardships to public, private, and tribal owners; and

     WHEREAS, the multitude of public and private organizations with an interest in controlling and preventing the spread of harmful invasive species in Idaho need a mechanism for cooperation, collaboration, and for planning a statewide plan of action to meet this threat; and

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Governor of the State of Idaho, by the authority vested in me by law, do hereby order:

1. There is created the Idaho Invasive Species Council.
2. The purpose of the Idaho Invasive Species Council is to provide policy level direction and planning for combating harmful invasive species infestations throughout the state and for preventing the introduction of others that may be potentially harmful.

     The Invasive Species Council's responsibilities will be:

1. To minimize the effects of harmful non-native species on Idaho citizens and to ensure the economic and environmental well being of the State of Idaho;
2. To serve as a nonpartisan forum for identifying and understanding invasive species issues from all perspectives;
3. To take measures that will encourage control and prevention of harmful non-native species;
4. To organize and streamline the process for identifying and controlling invasive species;
5. To consider ways to halt the spread of invasive species as well as finding possible ways to bring current problems under control;

     The Idaho Invasive Species Council is a joint effort between local, tribal, state, and federal governments, as well as the profit and not-for-profit private sectors. Its purpose is to foster coordinated approaches that support local initiative for the prevention and control of invasive species, not to usurp the individual missions of any of its member organizations or duplicate effort.

     Membership shall include a representative from the executive office of the Governor and the directors of the following state entities:

1. State Department of Agriculture
2. Department of Environmental Quality
3. Department of Parks and Recreation
4. Department of Fish and Game
5. Department of Lands
6. Department of Water Resources
7. Department of Commerce
8. Department of Health and Welfare
9. Idaho Transportation Department
10. University of Idaho

     Representatives and members of the following federal entities shall be invited to join the council and participate:

1. USDA Forest Service
2. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
3. USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service
4. Bureau of Land Management
5. Bureau of Reclamation
6. Idaho's United States Senators (2)
7. Idaho's United States Congressmen (2)

     A representative from each of the following local government organizations shall be invited to participate:

1. Association of Idaho Cities
2. Idaho Association of Counties
3. Regional planning or economic development districts
4. Resource Conservation and Development Districts (RC&Ds)
5. Health Districts

     A representative of each of the five tribal governments of Idaho shall be invited to participate:

1. Kootenai Tribe
2. Coeur d'Alene Tribe
3. Nez Perce Tribe
4. Shoshone-Paiute Tribes
5. Shoshone-Bannock Tribes

     Representatives from private and not-for-profit organizations with an interest in the well being of Idaho pertaining to invasive species shall be invited to participate.

     Additional Members may be added by consensus of the Council.

     The Idaho Invasive Species Council will meet no less than twice annually. The chairman of the council shall be the director of the Idaho Department of Agriculture or his/her representative. The council shall submit a report of its activities to the Governor and the Legislature annually.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho at the Capitol in Boise on this twenty-sixth day of September in the year of our Lord two thousand and one and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred twenty-fifth and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred eleventh.

PETE T. CENARRUSA
SECRETARY OF STATE