Wildlife Resources Commission Proposes Emergency Powers to Confront Wildlife Disease Threats
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) will hold three public hearings across the state in early December to present proposed emergency powers to be invoked in case of a wildlife disease outbreak. The General Assembly authorized the NCWRC to implement this emergency powers program in conjunction with the Governor’s Office and the Office of the State Veterinarian to be prepared for any potential wildlife disease that might require exceptional actions to combat.
The greatest potential threat from wildlife disease at present is Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in white-tailed deer. CWD has been identified in deer in West Virginia and Virginia but not North Carolina at this time. Effective control and containment of a wildlife disease such as CWD requires swift, decisive, and extraordinary actions that cannot wait for time consuming rule making procedures.
Go to the WRC website, http://www.ncwildlife.org/documents/10A_1201.pdf, to review this proposed Rule and to locate the public hearings near you. If you can attend the hearing, you will be able to learn about the danger of wildlife diseases and the scope of actions that may have to be taken to combat any outbreak. If you cannot attend, you may access the public comment link on this site and submit your comment on line. When you click the comment button, an e-mail message form to Kathryn Pipkin (kathryn.pipkin@ncwildlife.org) will appear. She is receiving public comment on this proposed Rule. Comments will be taken until January 3, 2011.
NC Camo recommends that you support this Rule to establish a strong wildlife disease capability should such an event occur here in NC. You may paste the following comment in support of the emergency powers Rule into the body of the e-mail. Or, you may compose your own message.
“I am a citizen concerned about the welfare of our wildlife resources in NC. I do support the emergency powers Rule proposed by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to prepare for possible introduction of any wildlife disease into our state.
Sincerely,”
NC Camo Coalition is a project of the NC Wildlife Federation.