Whirling Disease Response Act of 1995

Summary: Whirling Disease Response Act of 1995 - Requires the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to submit preliminary and final reports to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives concerning whirling fish disease and other fish parasites and pathogens. 
Directs the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to make funds available to:  (1) the Fish Technology Center in Bozeman, Montana; and (2) State, local, and private entities for cooperative studies of whirling disease at such center.  Authorizes appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Whirling Disease Response Act of 
1995''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) the Madison River is a world-renowned, blue-ribbon 
        trout river in Montana, over which the State has principal 
        management authority;
            (2) rainbow trout populations in the upper reaches of the 
        Madison River have declined from 3,300 fish per mile in 1991 to 
        300 fish per mile in 1994;
            (3) these sharp declines have occurred simultaneously with 
        the detection of whirling disease, which is caused by myxobolus 
        cerebralis, a parasite that induces significant deformity in 
        trout and can affect the stability of wild trout populations;
            (4) because cold water sport fisheries provide tremendous 
        economic and recreational benefits to the United States, it is 
        in the public interest to devote resources to mitigate and 
        control the spread and impact of whirling disease on trout 
        populations in the Madison River and other rivers in the United 
        States;
            (5) because Montana is the only State in the continental 
        United States that manages fluvial cold water sport fisheries 
        as wild, naturally reproducing populations and, therefore, the 
        impacts of myxobolus cerebralis can be observed without 
        confounding influences related to propagation and stocking 
        activities, it is desirable to locate Federal activities 
        dedicated to the study of whirling disease in Montana;
            (6) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service is the 
        Federal agency with appropriate expertise and responsibility to 
        work collaboratively with the State of Montana to address 
        whirling disease; and
            (7) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Fish 
        Technology Center in Bozeman, Montana, is the appropriate 
        office to assist the State in the testing of fish affected by 
        whirling disease.

SEC. 3. WHIRLING DISEASE REPORT.

    (a) Preliminary Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director of the United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service shall submit a preliminary report to the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on 
Resources of the House of Representatives that--
            (1) summarizes Federal efforts and findings as of the date 
        of the report with respect to whirling disease and other fish 
        parasites and pathogens;
            (2) identifies gaps in scientific information with respect 
        to whirling disease and other fish parasites and pathogens; and
            (3) recommends interim management initiatives that can be 
        carried out by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to 
        assist the State of Montana and other States in curbing the 
        spread of whirling disease, and other fish parasites and 
        pathogens, in the Madison River and to other rivers and 
        minimizing the impacts of the disease, parasites, and 
        pathogens.
    (b) Final Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director of the United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service shall submit a final report to the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the Committee on 
Resources of the House of Representatives that--
            (1) provides the summary and identification described in 
        paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a) as of the date of 
        submission of the final report;
            (2) identifies likely causes for the spread of whirling 
        disease, and other fish parasites and pathogens, throughout the 
        western United States; and
            (3) recommends initiatives, and provides information 
        concerning scientific design for the initiatives, that can be 
        carried out by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to 
        assist the State of Montana and other States in curbing the 
        spread of whirling disease, and other fish parasites and 
        pathogens, in the Madison River and to other rivers and 
        minimizing the impacts of the disease, parasites, and 
        pathogens.

SEC. 4. WHIRLING DISEASE DIAGNOSIS.

    The United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall make funds 
available to the Fish Technology Center in Bozeman, Montana, to permit 
continued field and laboratory studies, including research, diagnostic 
services and testing of infected fish, that will lead to measures that 
mitigate and control whirling disease in the Madison River and other 
rivers.

SEC. 5. WHIRLING DISEASE RESEARCH STATION.

    The United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall make funds 
available to the Fish Technology Center in Bozeman, Montana, to 
construct a complete containment facility in which whirling disease, 
and other fish parasites and pathogens, can be studied without danger 
of watershed contamination.

SEC. 6. WHIRLING DISEASE COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    The United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall make funds 
available for cooperative studies with State, local, and private 
entities to study whirling disease, and other fish parasites and 
pathogens, at the Fish Technology Center in Bozeman, Montana.

SEC. 7. ENNIS FISH HATCHERY.

    The United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall make funds 
available for modifications at the Ennis, Montana, fish hatchery to 
prevent the introduction and spread of whirling disease or other 
fishborne diseases in the Madison River.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary 
to carry out this Act, to remain available until expended.