---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 8506"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "8506"
heading: "Role of brown tree snake Technical Working Group"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/8506"
units:
  - "Chapter 111 — Brown Tree Snake Control and Eradication"
---

# §8506. Role of brown tree snake Technical Working Group

- (a) **Purpose—** The [Technical Working Group](/usc/7/8501.md?p=7) shall ensure that Federal, [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5), [territorial](/usc/7/8501.md?p=8), and local agency efforts concerning the [brown tree snake](/usc/7/8501.md?p=1) are coordinated, effective, complementary, and cost-effective.
- (b) **Specific duties and activities—** The [Technical Working Group](/usc/7/8501.md?p=7) shall be responsible for the following:
  - (1) The evaluation of Federal, [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5), and [territorial](/usc/7/8501.md?p=8) activities, programs and policies that are likely to cause or promote the [introduction](/usc/7/8501.md?p=4) or spread of the [brown tree snake](/usc/7/8501.md?p=1) in the [United States](/usc/7/8501.md?p=9) or the [Freely Associated States](/usc/7/8501.md?p=3) and the preparation of recommendations for governmental actions to minimize the risk of [introduction](/usc/7/8501.md?p=4) or further spread of the [brown tree snake](/usc/7/8501.md?p=1).
  - (2) The preparation of recommendations for activities, programs, and policies to reduce and eventually eradicate the [brown tree snake](/usc/7/8501.md?p=1) in Guam or other areas within the [United States](/usc/7/8501.md?p=9) where the snake may be established and the monitoring of the implementation of those activities, programs, and policies.
  - (3) Any revision of the [Brown Tree Snake](/usc/7/8501.md?p=1) Control Plan, originally published in June 1996, which was prepared to coordinate Federal, [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5), [territorial](/usc/7/8501.md?p=8), and local government efforts to control, interdict, eradicate or conduct research on the [brown tree snake](/usc/7/8501.md?p=1).
- (c) **Reporting requirement—**
  - (1) **Report—** Subject to the availability of appropriations for this purpose, the [Technical Working Group](/usc/7/8501.md?p=7) shall prepare a report describing—
    - (A) the progress made toward a large-scale population reduction or eradication of the [brown tree snake](/usc/7/8501.md?p=1) in Guam or other sites that are infested by the [brown tree snake](/usc/7/8501.md?p=1);
    - (B) the interdiction and other activities required to reduce the risk of [introduction](/usc/7/8501.md?p=4) of the [brown tree snake](/usc/7/8501.md?p=1) or other nonindigenous snake species in Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Hawaii, American Samoa, and the [Freely Associated States](/usc/7/8501.md?p=3);
    - (C) the applied and basic research activities that will lead to improved [brown tree snake](/usc/7/8501.md?p=1) control, interdiction and eradication efforts conducted by Federal, [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5), [territorial](/usc/7/8501.md?p=8), and local governments; and
    - (D) the programs and activities for [brown tree snake](/usc/7/8501.md?p=1) control, interdiction, research and eradication that have been funded, implemented, and planned by Federal, [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5), [territorial](/usc/7/8501.md?p=8), and local governments.
  - (2) **Priorities—** The [Technical Working Group](/usc/7/8501.md?p=7) shall include in the report a list of priorities, ranked in high, medium, and low categories, of Federal, [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5), [territorial](/usc/7/8501.md?p=8), and local efforts and programs in the following areas:
    - (A) Control.
    - (B) Interdiction.
    - (C) Research.
    - (D) Eradication.
  - (3) **Assessments—** [Technical Working Group](/usc/7/8501.md?p=7) shall include in the report the following assessments:
    - (A) An assessment of current funding shortfalls and future funding needs to support Federal, [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5), [territorial](/usc/7/8501.md?p=8), and local government efforts to control, interdict, eradicate, or conduct research on the [brown tree snake](/usc/7/8501.md?p=1).
    - (B) An assessment of regulatory limitations that hinder Federal, [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5), [territorial](/usc/7/8501.md?p=8), and local government efforts to control, interdict, eradicate or conduct research on the [brown tree snake](/usc/7/8501.md?p=1).
  - (4) **Submission—** Subject to the availability of appropriations for this purpose, the [Technical Working Group](/usc/7/8501.md?p=7) shall submit the report to Congress not later than one year after October 30, 2004.
- (d) **Meetings—** The [Technical Working Group](/usc/7/8501.md?p=7) shall meet at least annually.
- (e) **Inclusion of Guam—** The [Secretaries](/usc/7/8501.md?p=6) shall ensure that adequate representation is afforded to the government of Guam in the [Technical Working Group](/usc/7/8501.md?p=7).
- (f) **Support—** To the maximum extent practicable, the [Secretaries](/usc/7/8501.md?p=6) shall make adequate resources available to the [Technical Working Group](/usc/7/8501.md?p=7) to ensure its efficient and effective operation. The [Secretaries](/usc/7/8501.md?p=6) may provide staff to assist the [Technical Working Group](/usc/7/8501.md?p=7) in carrying out its duties and functions.
- (g) **Authorization of appropriations—** There is authorized to be appropriated to each of the [Secretaries](/usc/7/8501.md?p=6) not more than $450,000 for each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2010 to carry out this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 108–384, § 7, Oct. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2224.)