16 USC 667i - Chronic wasting disease research and management program

U.S Code last checked for updates: Nov 23, 2024

§ 667i.

Chronic wasting disease research and management program

(a)

Research program

(1)

In general

(2)

Criteria for selection

In entering into cooperative agreements or other legal instruments pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that shall conduct research relating to—

(A)

(i)

methods and products to effectively detect infectious chronic wasting disease prions in live cervids, cervid excreta, the environment, and inorganic surfaces, and to decontaminate such infectious prions; or

(ii)

testing methods that significantly improve sensitivity and accelerate timelines for test results on non-live cervids;

(B)

the long-term suppression or eradication of chronic wasting disease; or 2

 So in original.

(C)

determination markers for genetic resistance to chronic wasting disease and strategies for using genetic resistance to combat the spread of the disease;

(D)

sustainable cervid harvest management practices to reduce chronic wasting disease occurrence and to prevent or limit spatial spread of chronic wasting disease; or

(E)

factors contributing to local emergence of chronic wasting disease, increased prevalence of chronic wasting disease, and distribution of chronic wasting disease, including mechanisms of disease transmission and effective barriers to transmission.

(3)

Size of awards

(4)

Administrative costs by eligible entities

(b)

Support for State efforts to manage and control chronic wasting disease

(1)

In general

(2)

Application

(3)

Funding priorities

In allocating funds made available to carry out this subsection for a fiscal year among State and Tribal wildlife agencies or departments of agriculture that submit an application for direct financial assistance under this subsection, the Secretary shall give priority to States and Indian tribes that have—

(A)

within their respective jurisdictions, the highest incidence of chronic wasting disease;

(B)

shown the greatest financial commitment to managing, monitoring, surveying, and researching chronic wasting disease;

(C)

comprehensive policies and programs focused on chronic wasting disease management that have integrated the programs and policies of all involved agencies related to chronic wasting disease management;

(D)

the greatest risk of an initial occurrence of chronic wasting disease originating from surrounding areas; or

(E)

the greatest need for response to new outbreaks of chronic wasting disease occurring in—

(i)

areas in which chronic wasting disease is already found; or

(ii)

areas with first infections, with the intent of containing chronic wasting disease in any new area of infection.

(4)

Rapid response

(5)

Public education on chronic wasting disease

(c)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Chronic wasting disease

The term “chronic wasting disease” means the animal disease afflicting deer, elk, and moose populations that—

(A)

is a transmissible disease of the nervous system resulting in distinctive lesions in the brain; and

(B)

belongs to the group of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, which includes scrapie, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, and Cruetzfeldt-Jakob disease.

(2)

Eligible entity

The term “eligible entity” means—

(A)

a State or Tribal department of agriculture;

(B)

a State or Tribal wildlife agency;

(C)

a Tribal research facility;

(D)

an institution of higher education (as defined in section 1001 of title 20); and

(E)

a research center conducting or qualified to conduct scientific research on chronic wasting disease.

(d)

Review of herd certification program standards

Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish a notice in the Federal Register soliciting public feedback on potential updates and improvements to the chronic wasting disease herd certification program standards with special consideration given to—

(1)

minimizing or eliminating the interaction of captive and wild deer;

(2)

reviewing and updating indemnity practices, including the use of live testing, to ensure the timely and targeted removal of chronic wasting disease positive deer from the landscape; and

(3)

increasing participation in the herd certification program.

(e)

Authorization of appropriations

(1)

In general

(2)

Allocation among programs

(3)

Set-aside for wildlife agencies

(f)

Administrative costs

(g)

Rule of construction

(Pub. L. 117–328, div. HH, title V, § 603, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5996.)

cite as: 16 USC 667i