Flora Bio Facility a ‘Prime Terrorist Target’?

By the way, that post was taken from this JFP forum, where there is more discussion on both sides of the issue.

This excerpt from Emsy's post is interesting:

There have been huge protests, sit-ins, rallies, and all sorts of activism in a more rural suburb of where I’m living this summer (metro Raleigh/Durham North Carolina) about the potential for the Bio Lab to be built there (it’s one of the sites, along with Flora, being considered).

For some perspective, just check out the Independent Weekly (our local alt weekly) at http://www.indyweek.com and search “Bio Lab.” You get oodles of results, from letters-to-the-editor, to commentary, to reported features.

Many people here are extremely upset because they are concerned about the safety of the project. While you are correct thirdcup that the CDC is “safe,” the Bio Lab is going to be a whole ‘nother animal (umm..quite literally!). I’m curious how much information about the proposed lab has been disseminated in the Jackson area. The local city governments, as well as the state government here, have been grilling Homeland Security Folks, among others, about the project for months and there have been hearings going on for well over a year.

Check out http://www.nobio.org for insight into the local struggle to put the Federal Bio Lab in Butner, North Carolina.

(Oh and thirdcup, here’s some information from these “No Bio Lab” folks, including what they have to say about your CDC comparison:

Safety Concerns: The current lab is on a large uninhabited island off the coast of NY, surrounded by water, with no livestock nearby. That lab is home to “more than 50” exotic animal and zoonotic diseases which are looking for a new home. Even with a new high-tech building, people make mistakes. Of the 103 accidents reported at high-containment labs over the past 4 years, 90% were caused by human error.

Environmental Concerns: NBAF will be different from other labs such as the CDC in Atlanta, because it will research large animals. Those large animals, when infected with diseases for scientific testing, generate large amounts of infected waste. When they die, they have large carcasses which are infected and must be disposed of. This high volume of infected waste creates more opportunities for safety systems to break down and for NBAF workers to make mistakes which can result in a disease release.

The waste (which we hope they treat perfectly every time) would be released to the South Granville water treatment facility, and then into FallsLake. Four other reservoirs besides FallsLake (LakeMichie, LakeHolt, Little River Reservoir and Creedmoor’s reservoir) are within 5 miles of the site.

Economic Concerns: NBAF researchers will study live foot and mouth disease, which can wipe out livestock in a huge area in a short time. Release of food and mouth would devastate NC’s agricultural economy.

Nor is NBAF the economic windfall claimed by its promoters; instead, it may cost taxpayers money, now that Homeland Security is asking the State to kick in money. Homeland Security has said that NBAF will employ “250-350 people,” but people from the NY lab will be hired for many of these jobs, and many others will be staffed by a private company based in Alaska. )

Maybe we don't need this thing then. As I watched 911 I remember saying I'm glad we don't have anything to make us a terrorist threat. I remember thinking how lucky we were to be inconsequential in times like that!

Yes, we would no longer be inconsequential to terrorists. That goes without saying, it seems.

When I read these posts it saddens me. If we keep high tech industry out of MS because it may make us a target of terrorists then doesn't that mean the terrorists have won? Haven't they struck terror in our hearts and caused us to change the way we live?

I for one hope that this lab comes to MS. Even if all of the employees come from other states they will still buy houses, pay taxes and spend their earnings in the local economy. That is where the economic benefit comes from.

There are different types of high-tech industry. I'd like to see us get the kind that doesn't come here just because not enough people are asking questions here.

That said, I'm not saying I'm against this per se. But I'm also not for it. It makes me very nervous ... and not (just) because we'd be a target for terrorrists, but because I'm not sure I trust the safety from a government that couldn't manage to get ice to the Gulf Coast after Katrina. Be sure to read all the links above before assuming it's a good thing just because it brings jobs.

Also, I never buy the eco-devo argument that we should take it regardless of what it is because it'll bring jobs. I've seen entire towns overrun by prisons, and cities open their arms to corrupt developers because they're only seeing green first. But they pay in the end.

Here's a recent letter from the Independent Weekly in Raleigh-Durham:

6 AUG 2008
The controversy surrounding the proposed bio lab in Butner has been going on for almost a year now ("Buying the farm," by Lisa Sorg, July 23). Nearby residents have been bombarded by claims that the lab will be "safe," "secure" and "state of the art."

However, a look at the safety record of similar facilities reveals a disturbing history of decaying infrastructure, infected workers and escaping germs.

The Plum Island Animal Disease Center off the coast of New York was the scene of releases of foot and mouth disease due to a combination of "human error, lack of proper maintenance, equipment failure and deviation from standard operating procedures."

At Plum Island's "sister lab," the Pirbright facility—"located in a farming community on the mainland of the United Kingdom," an accidental release of foot and mouth disease resulted in the slaughter of more than 6 million animals and the loss of billions of dollars to the local economy.

In 1979, an accidental anthrax release at Sverdlovsk, in the former Soviet Union, resulted in the deaths of "at least 64 people." As forensic anthropologist Jeanne Guillemin observed, "Whatever the risks that emanated from its laboratory, not all Svedlovsk citizens shared them equally." A similar inequity in the "burden of risk was carried by the little communities near U.S. and British BW facilities during World War II and after, in places like Vigo, Ind.; Pine Bluff Ark.; Frederick, Md.; and the Scottish village across from Gruinard Island."

For those who would have to live with the consequences of an accident, the benefits of National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility—economic and otherwise—are not worth the risks.

Lynn Mitchell Kohn
Durham

And definitely [url=http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid:261311] read Indy Weekly editor Lisa Sorg's piece, "Buying the farm":

The NBAF would study some of the world's most lethal diseases that, according to Homeland Security's own documents, if accidentally or intentionally released, could economically and environmentally devastate not only North Carolina, but possibly the entire Southeast or beyond.

And while federal officials and NBAF proponents emphasize the risk of an accident is "extremely low," the lab would be run by Homeland Security, the under-staffed, ill-prepared government agency with a documented track record of financial and managerial incompetence.

Finally, North Carolina taxpayers could foot the bill for the tens of millions of dollars in roads, sewers, electric and gas lines and a utility plant required to support the operation.

In return, this is what the state would get: 63 permanent jobs directly related to the lab that would go to local residents; the promise of scientific prestige; potential, but not certain, spinoff industries to the biotech and academic community; and several million dollars in annual tax revenue (although that amount varies depending on whom you ask).

Now, after more than two years of meetings, documents and studies, it is game time. Released late one Friday afternoon in June, the NBAF Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is an opus comparing the pros and cons of the final six locations in contention. It also evaluates the potential risks and benefits to health, safety and the environment at each site. And although Homeland Security contends it has not decided where or if the lab will be built, by the 1,000th page it looks like Butner, despite its lack of infrastructure, has accumulated enough plusses to be a contender among contenders.

From Lisa's information box (definitely read whole piece, and their other coverage; this is one of the best alt-weeklies in the country):

What diseases will be studied?

These diseases are listed in the latest draft environmental impact statement and in an earlier feasibility study for the lab. The list can change, according to Homeland Security officials, depending on how new diseases or threats emerge. Scientists will use research subjects including live and dead animals, ticks, mosquitoes and viruses.

(* Transmissible to humans)

Foot and mouth disease
Classical swine fever
Japanese encephalitis
Rift Valley Fever*
Nipah virus*
Hendra virus
African swine fever virus
Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia
What are some potential environmental impacts of the NBAF?

Wastewater generation: 25 million to 30 million gallons per year, pretreated and sent to the Southern Granville Water and Sewer Authority treatment facility.
Air emissions: Increased emissions from generators, traffic and carcass disposal, possibly including incineration or rendering. State air permits would be required.
Other impacts: In case of a release of an infected mosquito(es), a wide area may have to be aerially sprayed with insecticide, according to officials, for "an extended period of time." The DEIS notes that N.C.'s climate would be hospitable to mosquitos most of the year.
How many jobs will it create?

About 1,500 temporary construction jobs
About 250 to 350 jobs to operate NBAF, including scientists, lab staff, security and maintenance. All but 63 positions are expected to come from out of state.

Homeland Security will consider your comments regarding the location of the lab but ONLY through Monday, August 25. After that, it's all over but the shouting.

You can write, fax or call in your comments as follows:

Online: e-mail

Toll-Free Voice Mail (24/7): 1-866-501-NBAF (6223)

Toll-Free Fax: 1-866-508-NBAF (6223)

U.S. Mail: U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Science and Technology Directorate; James V. Johnson; Mail Stop #2100; 245 Murray Lane, SW; Building 410; Washington, DC 20528

Do It Now!