Chronic Wasting Disease in Cervids; Payment of Indemnity

We are establishing animal health regulations to provide for the payment of indemnity by the United States Department of Agriculture for the voluntary depopulation of captive cervid herds known to be infected with chronic wasting disease. The payment of indemnity will encourage depopulation of infected herds, and therefore will reduce the risk of other cervids becoming infected with the disease. We have determined that this action, which will accelerate existing chronic wasting disease eradication efforts, is necessary to protect cervids not infected with chronic wasting disease from the disease.