article: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Wildlife Disease Emergency Act of 2010''. SEC. 2. PURPOSES. The purposes of this Act are to-- (1) authorize the Secretary of the Interior to identify and declare wildlife disease emergencies; (2) establish a fund through which the Secretary may coordinate rapid response to these emergencies; and (3) prepare for, identify, and address diseases adversely affecting wildlife populations and biodiversity through strategic and coordinated actions between the Federal agencies and State and local agencies, Indian tribes, and nongovernmental organizations. SEC. 3. DECLARATION OF WILDLIFE DISEASE EMERGENCY. (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Governor of a potentially affected State or States, may declare within such State or States a wildlife disease emergency for disease that is-- (1) occurring within the United States; or (2) occurring outside the United States with the potential to enter the United States. (b) Considerations.--In making a declaration under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider-- (1) the level of threat the disease poses to affected wildlife populations, based on the-- (A) relative threat to population levels; (B) relative strength of the contagion and spread of the disease; (C) observed rate of morbidity or mortality of the disease; and (D) priority of affected species or ecosystems, including-- (i) species listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); (ii) species protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.), Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), or other Federal statutes; (iii) species and habitats identified as priorities through the National Fish and Wildlife Climate Adaptation Plan or other Federal, State or local laws, regulations, and conservation plans; and (iv) wildlife located on Federal lands; (2) the sufficiency of resources available in the Wildlife Disease Emergency Fund established under section 4; (3) the ability of the Department of the Interior and other Federal, State, and local agencies, tribal governments, and other stakeholders to address and coordinate response to the disease through other authorities; and (4) the request of any State Governor to make such a declaration. (c) Response Coordination.-- (1) In general.--Upon a declaration of a wildlife disease emergency by the Secretary, the Secretary shall lead a coordinated response to the emergency that shall include appropriate Federal agencies, State and local governments, Indian tribes, nongovernmental organizations, or other stakeholders. (2) Grant program.--The Secretary shall develop and implement a grant program to provide funding to State wildlife agencies and Indian tribes to address wildlife disease emergencies. SEC. 4. WILDLIFE DISEASE EMERGENCY FUND. (a) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of the United States a separate account, which shall be known as the ``Wildlife Disease Emergency Fund'' and shall consist of-- (1) such amounts as are appropriated to the Secretary for activities to address wildlife disease emergencies authorized by this Act; and (2) any amounts received by the Secretary as donations, gifts, or contributions identified for use to address wildlife disease emergencies. (b) Expenditures From Fund.--Subject to the availability of appropriations, amounts in the fund shall be available to the Secretary for use in carrying out activities authorized by this Act. SEC. 5. WILDLIFE DISEASE COMMITTEE. (a) Establishment.--The Secretary may establish a Wildlife Disease Committee. The purpose of the Committee shall be to assist the Secretary in increasing the level of preparedness of the United States to address emerging wildlife diseases. (b) Purpose.--The Committee shall-- (1) advise the Secretary on risk assessment, preparation, monitoring, research, and response to wildlife diseases that may significantly impact the health and sustainability of wildlife populations; and (2) draft reports, recommendations, plans, or other documents toward accomplishment of these purposes as appropriate. (c) Membership.--Members of the Committee-- (1) shall be appointed by the Secretary from among individuals who are qualified by education, training, and experience; and (2) shall include-- (A) individuals employed by Federal and State agencies and tribal entities who have expertise in wildlife health, biology, ecology, wildlife conservation, and natural resource management; and (B) representatives of public and private organizations who have such expertise. (d) Committee Chair.--The Committee shall be chaired by the Secretary or a designee of the Secretary. (e) Staffing and Assistance.--The Secretary shall make available to the Committee any staff, information, administrative services, or assistance the Secretary determines is reasonably required to enable the Committee to carry out its functions. (f) Renewal.--Notwithstanding the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 5 et al.), the Secretary may renew the Committee beyond the date it would otherwise terminate under that Act. SEC. 6. RAPID RESPONSE TEAMS. The Secretary, in consultation with the Committee as appropriate, may convene rapid response teams to address any particular wildlife disease emergency. SEC. 7. SAVINGS CLAUSE. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to-- (1) limit the Secretary's authority to respond to wildlife disease events that are not declared wildlife disease emergencies under this Act; or (2) limit, repeal, supersede, or modify any provision of Federal, State, local, or tribal laws and regulations. SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Disease.--The term ``disease'' means an infectious or noninfectious, pathological condition occurring in a susceptible population of wildlife, and that is not zoonotic. (2) Fund.--The term ``fund'' means the Wildlife Disease Emergency Fund as established by section 4. (3) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self- Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b). (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior. (5) State.--The term ``State'' means any State, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands. (6) United states.--The term ``United States'' includes the States and the territories and possessions of the United States. (7) Wildlife.--The term ``wildlife'' means any species native to the United States including nondomesticated mammals, fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles, mollusks, and arthropods. (8) Wildlife disease emergency.--The term ``wildlife disease emergency'' means a disease that is-- (A) infectious and caused by a newly discovered pathogen or a known infectious disease that is expanding its geographic range, species impacted, or other recognized impacts; (B) posing significant threats to the sustainability of a wildlife species; (C) spreading rapidly; or (D) posing a significant threat to the health of a functioning ecosystem in a priority landscape identified as part of the National Fish and Wildlife Climate Change Adaptation Plan or another Federal, State, local, or tribal law, regulation, or conservation plan.
summary: Wildlife Disease Emergency Act of 2010 - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) declare a wildlife disease emergency in one or more states for a disease that is occurring either within the United States or outside the United States with the potential to enter the United States, (2) lead a coordinated response to the emergency, and (3) implement a grant program to provide funding to state wildlife agencies and Indian tribes to address such emergencies. Directs the Secretary, in making such a declaration, to consider: (1) the level of threat the disease poses to affected wildlife populations; (2) the sufficiency of resources available in the Wildlife Disease Emergency Fund; (3) the ability of the Department of the Interior and other federal, state, and local agencies, tribal governments, and other stakeholders to address and coordinate a response to the disease through other authorities; and (4) any state governor's request for such a declaration. Establishes in the Treasury a Wildlife Disease Emergency Fund, which shall be available to the Secretary for activities authorized by this Act. Directs the Secretary to establish a Wildlife Disease Committee to assist the Secretary in increasing the level of preparedness of the United States to address emerging wildlife diseases. Authorizes the Secretary to convene rapid response teams to address a wildlife disease emergency.