« National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility

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Environmental Impact Statement Process for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF)

The Department of Homeland Security has released the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility Draft Environmental Impact Statement (NBAF DEIS) for public review and comment as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

The NBAF draft environmental impact statement analyzes the potential environmental impacts of taking no action, as well as siting, constructing and operating the proposed NBAF at the following six site alternatives:

• South Milledge Avenue Site, Athens, Georgia
• Manhattan Campus Site, Manhattan, Kansas
• Flora Industrial Park Site, Flora, Mississippi
• Plum Island Site, Plum Island, New York
• Umstead Research Farm Site, Butner, North Carolina
• Texas Research Park Site, San Antonio, Texas

The public comment period is from June 27 through August 25, 2008. Read more about submitting comments.

NBAF Draft Environmental Impact Statement

These files are very large and may take some time to download.

• Abstract/Executive Summary (PDF, 18 pages - 1.4 MB)
• Table of Contents, Acronyms (PDF, 37 pages - 207 KB)
• Chapter 1 (PDF, 13 pages - 835 KB)
• Chapter 2 (PDF, 50 pages - 4.73 MB)
• Chapter 3 - 3.1 to 3.5 (PDF, 95 pages - 5.62 MB)
• Chapter 3 - 3.6 to 3.8 (PDF, 125 pages - 6.39 MB)
• Chapter 3 - 3.9 to 3.13 (PDF, 141 pages - 5.16MB)
• Chapter 3 - 3.14 (PDF, 140 pages - 16.55 MB)
• Chapter 3 - 3.15 to 3.18 (PDF, 10 pages - 656 KB)
• Chapters 4-8 (PDF, 68 pages - 571 KB)
• Appendices A and B (PDF, 25 pages - 2.09 MB)
• Appendices C and D (PDF, 103 pages - 3.85 MB)
• Appendices E and F (PDF, 173 pages - 11.95 MB)

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement used excerpts and summaries from the following support documents, which are expected to assist the decision maker in a final decision:

• Biodefense Knowledge Center Rapid Response, May 22, 2008 (PDF, 11 pages – 1.71 MB)
• Biodefense Knowledge Center Rapid Response, May 29, 2008 (PDF, 13 pages – 1.54 MB)
• Site Cost Analysis (PDF, 118 pages - 33 MB)
• Site Characterization Study (PDF, 180 pages - 8.56 MB)
• Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) Closure and Transition Cost Study (PDF, 40 pages - 1.36 MB)

The supporting documents for DEIS (National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility - Draft Environmental Impact Statement) are not fully accessible.  The Section 508 compliant version of these documents will be posted on or by August 25, 2008.  If you need assistance accessing the supporting documents prior to August 25, please call 1-866-501-NBAF (6223) for assistance.

How the NBAF Decision Will Be Made

Several factors will affect the decision on whether or not the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility is built, and where. The environmental impact statement (EIS) itself will not be the sole deciding factor. The decision will be made based on the following factors:

• analyses from the environmental impact statement;
• a combination of environmental, economic, engineering and other technical factors;
• applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulatory requirements;
• consultation requirements among the federal, state, and local agencies, as well as federally recognized American Indian Nations;
• policy considerations; and
• public comment.

The Department of Homeland Security Under Secretary for Science and Technology Jay M. Cohen, with other Department officials, will consider the analyses conducted relative to the proposed NBAF and potential sites, along with other programmatic considerations, in making final decisions regarding the NBAF. A Record of Decision (ROD) that explains the final decisions will be made available no sooner than 30 days after the final NBAF EIS is published.

This page was last reviewed/modified on August 13, 2008.