communities, the hunting public, farmed cervid producers, and State wildlife and agricultural agencies, because the only known measure for reducing the spread of chronic wasting disease is the complete depopulation of herds that test positive for the disease, a drastic measure which comes with great costs for all. (9) The long-term environmental persistence of chronic wasting disease’s causative agent means that State wildlife management agencies, State departments of agriculture, and private cervid farmers have relatively few options to mitigate the effects of such disease. (10) There are ongoing debates about the predominant transmission pathways that are causing the new detections and continued spread of chronic wasting disease in cervids across the United States. 3. Chronic wasting disease transmission in cervidae resource study (a) Study The Secretary shall conduct a special resource study to identify the predominant pathways and mechanisms of the transmission of chronic wasting disease in wild, captive, and farmed populations of species of the family Cervidae in the United States. (b) Conducting the study (1) In general In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall request the National Academy of Sciences to conduct such study under an arrangement under which the actual expenses incurred by such Academy in conducting such study will be paid by the Secretary. If the National Academy of Sciences is willing to do so, the Secretary shall enter into such an arrangement with such Academy for the conduct of such study. (2) Other entities If the National Academy of Sciences is unwilling to conduct such study under such an arrangement, then the Secretary shall enter into a similar arrangement with an appropriate research institute or institute of higher education under which such institute will conduct such study and prepare and submit the reports thereon. (3) Data sharing For integration into the study, the Secretary shall share with the National Academy of Sciences or the institute referred to