The Refuge Ecology Protection, Assistance, and Immediate Response Act addresses a major threat to refuges: invasive species. Invasive species crowd out habitat, food and other resources necessary to support the wildlife that depend on the refuge. The REPAIR Act sets up a program of special grants to bring the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service together with state agencies and community groups (like Audubon chapters!) to address the significant problem of invasive species on our refuges.

The bill also authorizes immediate response grants when a harmful non-native species has been found on a refuge and identified as an immediate threat to a refuge at a stage when rapid eradication is possible. This will help us prevent new invasive species from taking hold and wreaking havoc on refuge ecosystems.

The second line of defense in the bill comes in the form of REPAIR grants, which contribute to a more long-term strategy for combating existing invasive species. These grants would go to states, local governments, community groups, or individuals to remove harmful non-native species and promote native species and their habitat on lands and waters on and adjacent to National Wildlife Refuges. Additionally, the grants could be used to complete assessment projects consistent with existing state wildlife conservation plans to identify invasive species, assess the needs on the ground, and target resources to address the problem adequately.

The House passed this bill in October 2007; it is now up to the Senate to act.