[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 205 (Monday, October 23, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 63227]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27156]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 205 / Monday, October 23, 2000 / 
Notices  

[[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]
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