DHS Likely to Delay NBAF Final Site Selection

November 17, 2008 — 

It now appears that the results of a final environmental impact statement naming one of the six sites in contention for the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) proposed National Bio and Agro-defense Facility (NBAF) will likely not be released until mid December at the earliest. A final decision on the site would then be made approximately 30 days later.

Officials indicate that it is likely now that the decision will be made after President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration given the current administration's reluctance to move forward on a number of executive decisions. The 500,000-square-foot $451 million laboratory would replace the current facility on Plum Island, NY. The facility is expected to generate about 1,500 new construction jobs. Once operational, it also would pay $25 million in annual salaries to about 326 employees and create dozens of secondary jobs.

The six sites currently in contention include: Flora, MS; Athens, GA; Manhattan, KS; Butner, NC; San Antonio, TX, and Plum Island, NY.