[Federal Register: October 23, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 205)]
[Notices]
[Page 63227]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23oc00-17]
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[[Page 63227]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Office of the Secretary
[Docket No. 00-066-1]
Declaration of Emergency Because of Bovine Tuberculosis
Bovine tuberculosis (tuberculosis) is a chronic debilitating
disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis. The disease primarily affects
cattle but can be transmitted to humans and other animals. The Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is working cooperatively
with the national livestock industry and State animal health agencies
to eradicate tuberculosis from domestic livestock in the United States
and, through continued monitoring and surveillance, to prevent its
recurrence.
Scientific analysis has recently identified significant
tuberculosis threats that could lead to the spread of the disease in
the United States and compromise international and domestic trade in
U.S. animals and animal products. These outcomes would threaten
producers with losses and consumers with price increases.
The emerging tuberculosis threats include the transmission of
tuberculosis to livestock from infected wildlife, especially free-
ranging deer. Scientific evidence suggests that infected free-ranging
deer are transmitting the disease to nearby cattle. Such transmission
was recently identified in Michigan, with eight herds of cattle
becoming infected with tuberculosis by free-ranging deer. Despite
efforts by the State of Michigan to contain tuberculosis-infected
wildlife to limited areas, program officials in Michigan subsequently
discovered infected deer 75 miles outside the containment zone. This
situation is threatening all interstate movement of cattle from
Michigan due to concerns that cattle in that State might be exposed to
infected deer.
Transmission of tuberculosis from wildlife also threatens cervids
held in captivity for production. Infected captive cervids, in turn,
pose a threat to cattle and other livestock. It is not currently known
how prevalent tuberculosis is in captive cervids, because APHIS does
not have the resources to conduct area testing of captive cervids.
Additionally, the U.S. cattle population is being threatened by
recurring tuberculosis infection of dairy herds in the El Paso, TX,
area. Recent studies have indicated that the greatest risk of
reinfection in the El Paso area comes from the U.S. dairy herds'
proximity to tuberculosis-infected dairy herds in Juarez, Mexico.
Despite ongoing testing of large dairy herds in the El Paso area and
removal of tuberculosis-infected animals from those herds, reinfection
of U.S. dairy herds in that area continues to occur. Although
depopulation of dairy herds in the El Paso area along the U.S./Mexican
border is the most dependable method of protecting U.S. livestock from
recurring tuberculosis infection in that area of Texas, depopulation of
large U.S. dairy herds has not been a viable option because APHIS has
lacked the resources to pay indemnity for depopulated herds.
A decline in testing for tuberculosis in recent years also
threatens to allow the spread of the disease in the United States. As
the number of tuberculosis-free States has increased, limitations on
Federal resources have in many cases led Department inspectors to take
samples only from those animals exhibiting obvious signs of
tuberculosis. The number of samples taken from cattle at slaughter for
testing for tuberculosis has decreased from approximately 4,000 in 1995
to 900 in 1999. However, APHIS estimates that 10,000 sample submissions
are needed each year to adequately survey the U.S. cattle population
for tuberculosis. APHIS needs additional funds both to provide
assistance in taking the number of samples at slaughter necessary for
adequate surveillance and to increase testing capacity at the
Department's National Veterinary Services Laboratories.
Therefore, in order to address the tuberculosis threat to U.S.
livestock, APHIS has determined that it is necessary to expand the
tuberculosis eradication program in the United States by implementing
the following: Improvement of Federal diagnostic capabilities and
national surveillance for tuberculosis; payment of indemnity for the
depopulation of herds affected with tuberculosis or at high risk for
recurrence of the disease; establishment of identification requirements
for animals imported into the United States for feeding and slaughter;
assistance in eradicating tuberculosis from foreign areas adjacent to
the United States that are at high risk for the disease; and research,
control, and surveillance of tuberculosis in wildlife, captive cervids,
and zoos in the United States. However, APHIS resources are
insufficient to carry out these measures, and additional funds are
needed.
Therefore, in accordance with the provisions of the Act of
September 25, 1981, as amended (7 U.S.C. 147b), I declare that there is
an emergency that threatens the livestock industry of this country and
hereby authorize the transfer and use of such funds as may be necessary
from appropriations or other funds available to the agencies or
corporations of the United States Department of Agriculture to expand
the tuberculosis eradication program in the United States.
Effective Date: This declaration of emergency shall become
effective October 11, 2000.
Dan Glickman,
Secretary of Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 00-27156 Filed 10-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
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