movement was published in the Federal Register on December 23, 2003. Comments 

 on the proposed rule have been evaluated, and the final rule is in the clearance 

 process. In addition, recently detected outbreaks in wildlife and requests for assistance 

 from the States prompted Congress to ask USDA and the U.S. Department of the 

 Interior to work with the States to create a national plan to assist States, Federal 

 agencies, and Indian tribes in addressing CWD in both farmed and wild animals. 

 Involved agencies continue to work toward the implementation of this plan as 

 existing budgets allow. 



2-22 



