DHS Narrows List of NBAF Sites

August 10, 2006 — 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has narrowed to 18 the number of sites it is considering for the proposed National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF).

The proposal calls for a facility to address biological and agricultural national security risks by co-locating scientists from several federal agencies in a state-of-the-art bio safety containment facility. DHS plans to equip the NBAF with numerous laboratories that will conduct research in high-consequence biological threats involving foreign animal, zoonotic (transmitted from animals to humans), and human diseases.

As a key part of this, DHS plans to house laboratories that will provide high security spaces for agricultural and animal studies and training. In addition, DHS plans for the NBAF to develop vaccine countermeasures for foreign animal diseases, and provide advanced test and evaluation capability for threat detection, vulnerability, and countermeasure assessment for animal and zoonotic diseases. The facility would largely replace the role currently served by the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) off the coast of Long Island, NY.

Initially, 29 sites in 20 states applied to house the facility. The DHS formed a multi-agency team comprised of representatives from DHS, USDA, Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Defense (DOD) to evaluate the applicants based on four criteria: acquisition/construction/operations, research capabilities, workforce, and community acceptance. This resulted in the list be pared down to 18 sites in 11 states.

According to the DHS, the list of potential sites will be further narrowed to a small list of final candidates by the end of 2006. These final candidates will then be subjected to environmental impact studies and a final site announced by early 2008.

The PIADC is no longer on the list. The fate of the Plum Island facility was not discussed.

Source:
DHS, Press release, August 9, 2006