Rulemaking to Establish Criteria for the Importation of Designated Ruminants and Ruminant Products from Canada into the United States. Final Environmental Assessment, December 2004

摘要

Consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 United States Code 4321 et seq.) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) implementing regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 15001508), as well as the implementing procedures of the United States Department of Agricultures (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) (7 CFR Part 372), this environmental assessment (EA) explores potential environmental effects associated with a rulemaking to allow some currently prohibited ruminants, ruminant products, and ruminant by-products to be imported from other countries where there is a minimal risk that bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, also known as 'mad cow disease') could thereby become prevalent in the United States. Available evidence discussed in risk analyses indicates that BSE is unlikely to become prevalent in the United States as a result of protection measures developed to prevent the spread and further introduction of the disease.