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USDA Contact: Alisa Harrison (202) 720-4623
DOI Contact: Frank Quimby (202) 208-7291

USDA AND DOI ANNOUNCE FORMATION OF JOINT CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE WORKING GROUP

Release No. 0195.02

WASHINGTON, May 16, 2002—The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of the Interior today announced the formation of a joint working group on chronic wasting disease (CWD) to ensure a coordinated and cooperative federal approach to assisting the states with CWD response efforts.

"Working together with industry, states and other federal agencies is vital in further addressing this issue," Deputy Undersecretary of Agriculture Dr. Jim Butler said in testimony before a joint hearing of two House Resources Subcommittees. "In particular, working with the Department of the Interior will ensure the most efficient response to CWD by coordinating the efforts of both departments in the areas of research, surveillance and management."

CWD is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) of deer and elk. There is no evidence that CWD is linked to disease in humans, or in domestic animals other than deer and elk. The disease has been detected in wild deer and elk and in farmed elk herds. Wild deer and elk have been found with the disease in Colorado and Wyoming. Wild deer with CWD have been found in Nebraska and Wisconsin. States that currently have or have had farmed elk herds with CWD are South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Montana.

"Both departments bring unique capabilities to this issue," said Chip Groat, director of the U.S. Geological Survey. "This joint federal working group will allow the various agencies to bring the most knowledgeable scientists together to share information and develop a unified approach to aid the states in responding to this disease."

USDA is responsible for the health, quality and marketability of our nation's captive wildlife and alternative livestock industries. The DOI, through the National Park Service, Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Indian Affairs, the department provides assistance to, cooperates with, and, in some cases, co-manages with states to ensure healthy, viable wildlife populations. The U.S. Geological Survey is the principal science and research agency for the department and conducts extensive biological studies on wildlife diseases through its National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wis. The center coordinates its activities with states and other federal agencies on critical disease outbreaks in wildlife. Bobby Acord, administrator of the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Steve Williams, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will serve as the co-chairs of the working group.

In conjunction with the states and industry groups, APHIS is developing a nationwide program to eliminate CWD from farmed elk. The agency will soon issue proposed regulations for this program, which, if finalized, would require that all captive cervids be enrolled prior to interstate movement. APHIS continues to work with its counterparts at the state level. USDA recognizes and respects the jurisdiction of states and acknowledges the state wildlife agencies as the lead in CWD in wildlife. When CWD has been found in free-ranging populations, APHIS has assisted, and will continue to assist, the affected states by providing laboratory and diagnostic testing support and by assisting with CWD surveillance activities. APHIS has also provided support to Wisconsin and Colorado in harvesting deer and elk for further sampling after new finds in wildlife.

In September 2001, USDA began a program to eradicate CWD in affected farmed elk populations. To date, a total of $14.8 million has been transferred to APHIS from the Commodity Credit Corporation for depopulation, indemnity payments, cleaning and disinfections and information dissemination. These funds are also being used to support surveillance and diagnostics in wild elk and deer.

In April 2002, USDA agreed to buy-out farmed elk herds in the area of Colorado where free-ranging animals have tested positive for the disease. About 15 ranches with about 1,000 animals are expected to participate in the program. Participating elk herd owners will have their animals appraised, with USDA providing indemnification at 95 percent of the appraised value, which is capped at $3,000 per elk. Elk owners who agree to the indemnity will only be allowed to restock their land with non-cervid ruminants such as cattle, swine and sheep.

The President's budget request for fiscal year 2003 includes $7.2 million to establish a certification and control program for CWD. With these funds, APHIS will enhance the quality, safety and competitiveness of the U.S. farmed cervid industry by controlling and eliminating CWD from the industry and further protect the industry by assisting with surveillance and disease control activities in free-ranging cervids.

The first meeting of the joint working group on chronic wasting disease is scheduled for May 23.