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HANDOUTS
- Agenda, May 22, 2003
- April 24, 2003, Draft Community Liaison Council
(CLC) Meeting Minutes
- NIH CLC Members Roster as of May 22, 2003
- Town Hall Meeting Announcement—Congressman
Chris Van Hollen
- Healthfest 2003 Announcement
WELCOME
Dr. Gallagher welcomed CLC members and guests and
thanked them for relocating in Wilson Hall for this
meeting. He said the June meeting once again would take
place in the Natcher Conference Center, Building 45
on the NIH campus.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dr. Gallagher asked members to review the minutes of
the April CLC meeting and said that later in the meeting
he would call for their approval or changes.
He prefaced his introduction of the first speaker by
noting that Stella Serras-Fiotes, Director, Division
of Facilities Planning (DFP), Office of Research Facilities
(ORF), NIH, was delayed in coming to the meeting. However,
Dr. Gallagher wanted the CLC members to be aware of
Ms. Serras-Fiotes's idea to conduct a follow-up count
to determine an accurate number of non-employees who
traverse the Campus to reach Metro. He said this would
be done because there had been divergent results reported
in earlier surveys taken both by the NIH and by the
Huntington Terrace Citizens group. Dr. Gallagher said
Ms. Serras-Fiotes's plan is to conduct this count after
the installation of the perimeter fence and before the
gates are in position. He said pedestrians may be identified
and counted as they funnel through these eight entrance
points. Dr. Gallagher said NIH could use several approaches
to get an accurate number, including the counting of
those not wearing an NIH ID badge. He said counts could
take place half-a-dozen times and an average number
derived. Further, he said a count could be taken of
those approaching Metro, and surveyors standing at Metro
could subtract those who debark from Metrobuses and
walkers who approach from Rockville Pike.
Ralph Schofer, Maplewood Citizens Association, recommended
planning the logistics of this carefully and having
a fail-safe plan in the event of inclement weather.
He noted that those conducting the survey should receive
training and a supply of forms to record data, and be
instructed to synchronize their watches to coordinate
the time of their counts. In addition, Mr. Schofer recommended
conducting the survey on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday
because he felt people take extended weekends beginning
on Friday or ending on Monday.
Dr. Gallagher said counts would begin early, at 6 a.m.,
and continue at 15-minute intervals with the same pattern
at the back end of the day. He said the objective is
to plot a curve showing when the most foot traffic is
coming on Campus. He emphasized that the counts would
be taken from numerous points and at many times over
a period of several weeks. He noted that the results
might vary slightly in different weeks because of vacation
time. Dr. Gallagher said he plans to help design the
survey since he has conducted research surveys in the
past. He said he is most concerned that the survey be
conducted multiple times so that accurate numbers are
obtained. Dr. Gallagher said he received a copy of the
Huntington Terrace survey after the last meeting and
circulated it to a number of people.
PRESENTATIONS
Update on the Perimeter Fence Construction
by Arturo Giron, Deputy Chief Security Officer, ORS,
OD, NIH
Arturo Giron, Deputy Chief Security Officer, ORS, OD,
NIH, presented updates on security aspects of the NIH
perimeter fence construction. He said he was presenting
because Ms. Serras-Fiotes was not able to be present
at the beginning of the CLC meeting.
Vehicle Entrances
Mr. Giron noted the following vehicle entrances currently
under construction: South Drive at Old Georgetown Road,
which he estimated will be completed in July; West Drive
at Cedar Lane, and Wilson Drive at MD 355. In addition,
Mr. Giron said that Lincoln Drive at Old Georgetown
Road was being redesigned to three exit lanes, allowing
for an increase in the capacity of traffic absorbed
on Campus. He added that the emergency access at West
Drive would be open only during business hours. Mr.
Giron remarked that there was a feasibility study underway
to determine if the widening of South Drive and Convent
Drive could accommodate a better traffic flow through
the campus.
Mr. Schofer asked for the names, not acronyms, of the
architectural and engineering firms providing Campus
construction services, including LSY and IDB, mentioned
by Arturo Giron. Mr. Giron said he would supply those
names.
Fence
Mr. Giron said the installation of the post-and-picket
panel fence and the bike path on the south side of Campus
are under way.
Steve Sawicki, Edgewood Glenwood Citizens Association,
mentioned he had been unaware that boulders would be
placed in the buffer zone as part of the security plan
and said he had received complaints from his neighbors
because the boulders are positioned in the buffer zone.
He asked for clarification of how the large boulders,
particularly those on the south side of the Campus,
will be incorporated into the perimeter design. He added
that the CLC was told that stones and rocks would be
used in the design, not large boulders. Dr. Gallagher
said he had imagined something more like a large rock
and that he too was surprised by the size of the boulders.
Dr. Gallagher expressed his opinion that if this barrier
is similar to those at the West Wing of the National
Gallery of Art, it might make an attractive addition.
George Oberlander, Huntington Parkway Citizens Association,
noted that the boulders are the first line of defense
at the perimeter, and although they look big now, they
will be partially sunk into the ground. Mr. Giron said
that the boulder installation is in progress in certain
areas and that anywhere vehicles might gain speed, there
might be a cable barrier as well. In addition, he said
the electrical duct banks were being installed to run
electric and fiber cables underground.
Mr. Sawicki asked about details and the positions of
the cable fence and bike path relative to the perimeter
fence, buffer zone, proposed pond, and green space.
He noted that the green space was to be made available
to the neighbors on the south side of Campus and he
was concerned that the position of the various components
of the perimeter fence would not allow neighbors access
to this area. He also asked whether the vehicle barrier
would be placed in the location of the existing chain
link fence on the south side of the Campus. Mr. Giron
pointed out areas on the map, but said the details about
those fence elements would need to be shown on another
map.
Mr. Giron noted that the decision was made to run the
fence on the north side of campus more parallel to Cedar
Lane than originally planned, instead of going behind
the 10 to 12 homes on campus which are living quarters
for several senior NIH officials. He added that there
is a concept study under way for the commercial vehicle
inspection station in the northeast quadrant and the
design for this area will be ready to present to the
CLC in July. In addition, he indicated that another
study is ongoing about work on the interior campus loop
road. The architectural and engineering firm is preparing
a project description. Mr. Schofer asked if this would
be a new road. Mr. Giron said it would mostly be an
existing road; however, he said there is an area that
needs to be developed to allow emergency vehicles to
move more easily.
Mr. Schofer asked about the development of interior
roadways in proximity to the perimeter fence and what
the security plans are to examine and patrol the fence.
Mr. Giron said that six-wheeled all-terrain vehicles
(ATVs) would be manned by security officers on the NIH
grounds. Nancy Hoos, the new representative from the
Sonoma Citizens Association, expressed concern about
the noise from the ATVs. Mr. Giron asked if anyone had
heard them so far, because they had already been in
use for two months. No one indicated they had heard
them. Mr. Sawicki asked for clarification of whether
the security guards would patrol the perimeter from
inside or outside the fence or meander in and out. Mr.
Giron replied that areas inside and outside the fence
are NIH property and subject to NIH patrol. In follow-up,
he said that the areas now under construction in that
location are outside the fence. Mr. Sawicki asked whether
the bike path would be situated between the fence and
the pond, and Mr. Giron said it would be adjacent to
and outside the perimeter fence. Mr. Giron said there
was no change from the original design presented to
the CLC previously, although he said the Campus diagram
on view during the meeting did not depict these items
clearly. Dr. Gallagher said visuals would be provided
at the next CLC meeting. Mr. Giron said if questions
about design details were collected, answers would be
prepared and provided to CLC members.
Mr. Giron noted that on the east side of Campus there
would be both a Visitor Center and parking garage built
outside the fence. He said the design was being prepared
by the architectural and engineering firm, IDB, and
a construction contract would be awarded at the end
of May. Mr. Oberlander asked whether there had been
a feasibility study for the use of West Drive that included
the individuals, patients, and their families who stay
or travel to the Children's Inn at NIH and the new Family
Lodge. Because an emergency only vehicle entrance at
Cedar Lane is planned next to the Children's Inn, Mr.
Schofer asked about plans for access by patients and
visitors to the Clinical Center and Children's Inn after
business hours. Mr. Giron said these individuals would
enter through the Visitor Center. Mr. Schofer asked
whether there had been a projected count of the visitors
who use the Old Georgetown Road and Rockville Pike visitor
entrances. He wondered how a Visitors Center might be
designed appropriately if such projections had not been
made. Mr. Giron said there has been an ongoing study.
Dr. Gallagher said Ms. Serras-Fiotes would have more
information about the access needs of patients and visitors.
Ms. Hoos said there is traffic currently backing up
on Old Georgetown Road and asked what is planned to
alleviate this. Mr. Giron said there are road improvements
causing temporary traffic backups, but there was no
major change planned in that area. Dr. Gallagher asked
for a clarification of the position of the Center Drive
at Old Georgetown Road guard stand/gate when construction
is completed. He described the security checkpoint as
currently situated inside the Campus east of the parking
area behind the Convent and just across the roadway
from the Clinical Research Center. Mr. Giron said the
design takes into consideration a set-off and stacking
distance from Old Georgetown Road. Major Ophus Robertson
of the NIH Police commented that the South Drive employee
entrance is presently closed and this contributes to
the situation. He added that the construction vehicles
now using the Old Georgetown Road entrance would be
redirected to the commercial vehicle inspection entrance
when it is completed, and this would remedy traffic
backup on Old Georgetown Road.
Ginny Miller, CLC Co-Chair and Wyngate Citizens Association
representative, said this construction had moved the
traffic jam about one block further. Currently, she
said, traffic backs up on Old Georgetown Road because
South Drive construction is under way and this employee
entrance is temporarily closed. She asked if traffic
on Old Georgetown Road across from Suburban Hospital
could be alleviated, and how many lanes are being planned
at South Drive to accommodate cars entering the Campus.
Because vehicle exits from Cedar Lane will be closed
when the fence is completed, Randy Schools asked about
plans within the Campus interior to accommodate the
additional 200–250 cars exiting onto Rockville
Pike. Mr. Giron said there is a vehicle entrance under
study for limited access and a pedestrian entrance planned
at West Drive and Cedar Lane. Mr. Schofer remarked about
neighbors' complaints regarding the traffic disruption
on Route 355 and Cedar Lane. He recommended the NIH
and the National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) try to
coordinate the installation of their fences.
Dr. Gallagher said he and Walter Mitton of the OCL
staff would prepare a draft of the CLC members' questions
during the next couple of weeks, and these items would
be discussed at future CLC meetings. Dr. Gallagher thanked
Mr. Giron for his presentation.
Traffic Management
by Tom Hayden, DFP, ORF, OD, NIH
Tom Hayden, NIH transportation planner with the Division
of Facilities Planning, noted that based on the most
recent NIH traffic monitoring survey, peak traffic volume
is down 30 percent compared to a 1992 baseline. He said
his staff has been monitoring traffic around the Campus
to minimize impacts to local roadways. His office has
also been working with Ms. Jean Gries of the Traffic
Safety, Investigations and Planning Unit of the Montgomery
County Department of Public Works and Transportation.
His office has also been working with the traffic consultants
of Gorove/Slade Associates. He informed the group that
Ms. Gries would be asked to return to interact with
the CLC at a future meeting regarding a pedestrian crosswalk
that is being proposed for Cedar Lane at Garden Drive.
Mr. Hayden noted four issues under review regarding
pedestrian and vehicle traffic:
- Establishing a pedestrian crossing from Garden Lane
to Cedar Crest, including a crosswalk angled to meet
the proposed NIH employee pedestrian gate;
- Restricting parking by placing signs on the south
side of Cedar Lane and where cars queue while waiting
to catch the traffic signal;
- Discontinuing use of the traffic signal at West
Drive; and
- Examining (by the LSY firm) the emergency exit/entrance
at West Lane near the Children's Inn at NIH.
Ms. Miller and Mr. Schofer wanted more information
about the proposed pedestrian crossing at Cedar Crest
Drive. Mr. Schofer asked if more information is available
about NIH plans to use office space at the Boy Scouts
of America building. Mr. Schofer asked whether there
would be a signal or painted stripes. In follow-up,
Mr. Schofer asked what might be done to prevent non-residents
from cutting through nearby neighborhoods, especially
in the Maplewood area. Dr. Gallagher noted that more
crosswalks might attract more parking by non-residents
in these neighborhoods. Also, he hopes to place an item
on the next CLC agenda to cover this topic with Montgomery
County officials.
Mr. Hayden said that on April 24, 2003, a working group
had been reactivated that includes representatives from
the NNMC, NIH, and Suburban Hospital parking/transportation
offices. The group hopes to establish a dialogue with
a representative from Fairfax, Virginia to open discussions
with Virginia about the Metro "14" Smart Mover
buses originating from Tysons Corner.
Lesley Hildebrand, Huntington Terrace Citizens Association,
and Ms. Miller asked whether anything could be done
to prevent drivers who approach the Campus from the
Virginia area, from cutting illegally through the Huntington
Terrace neighborhood streets. Ms. Hildebrand pointed
out that these drivers are trying to reach NIH via Lincoln
Drive and Old Georgetown Road near Suburban Hospital
by using residential streets. She asked whether a curb
cut or something similar could be installed so drivers
could not proceed straight across Old Georgetown Road
at Lincoln Drive. Mr. Hayden said that contact with
the Bethesda Station of the Montgomery County Police
could be made to see if enforcement of posted signs
could be periodically performed. Ms. Hildebrand thought
a barrier, such as an island, would be a good second
line of defense. Mr. Oberlander said the police should
be enforcing the existing laws and monitoring this illegal
traffic. Mr. Hayden said this would be looked at more
closely. Dr. Gallagher said the issue could be revisited
when Ms. Gries is present, and he said a large part
of the next meeting would be devoted to the topic of
traffic in nearby neighborhoods.
Mr. Schofer noted that the police have helped the traffic
situation by monitoring traffic at Garden Drive. However,
he remarked there are nine police officers managing
exiting traffic at North Drive and none at Wilson Drive.
Major Robertson said there are a number of officers
being trained to direct traffic, and he would follow-up
on Mr. Schofer's query during his presentation scheduled
next on the Agenda.
Mr. Hayden said that Mr. Ronald Wilson, of the Division
of Facilities Planning, is taking the lead to organize
a Federal master planners group. This think tank will
be in operation shortly. Mr. Hayden noted efforts to
cooperate with the County in planning for the traffic
on Cedar Lane or other things that impact traffic and
promote delays. He remarked that the County's traffic
cameras are being used to monitor this, and the exchange
of information is working well. One CLC member asked
if there are long-term plans to take Cedar Lane under
Rockville Pike. Mr. Hayden said if at all, this would
take place many years beyond current planning. Marilyn
Clemens, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning
Commission (M-NCPPC), said that there are plans well
into the future to lengthen the southbound turn lane
at Wisconsin and Cedar Lane. Mr. Schofer asked for more
information. In reply, Ms. Clemens said one way considered
to alleviate traffic is to lengthen the southbound lane
to turn left onto Cedar Lane from Rockville Pike. In
addition, she said there is a Maryland study looking
at intersections between the Beltway and Jones Bridge
Road.
Traffic Management during Construction
by Major Ophus Robertson, NIH Police, assisted by
Corporal Clyde Bartz and Sergeant James Skyrm
Major Ophus Robertson noted that NIH police officers
manage the traffic of approximately 18,000 NIH employees,
6,000 visitors, and 10,000 vehicles each day. He showed
an overview of the traffic management plan related to
fence construction and referred to directives from the
Homeland Security Department. He said the department's
objective is to direct the traffic of NIH and commuters
and to prevent accidents. Major Robertson said his department
is working with the construction firm to expedite the
construction of the vehicle entrance gates. The department's
aim is to effectively manage traffic to reduce inconvenience
to the Bethesda community and to reduce construction
time and expenses. He noted that the time required for
preparing the gate area includes installing pop-up barriers
and that the construction is not simply repaving those
areas. Major Robertson said the completion of this construction
is anticipated by the end of July 2003. Gate construction
is currently under way at Wilson Drive at Rockville
Pike, Center Drive at Rockville Pike, West Drive at
Cedar Lane, and South Drive at Old Georgetown Road.
Major Robertson said while a crucial employee entrance,
Wilson Drive, is closed for construction, that North
Drive and Garden Lane are open to accommodate employee
traffic. He said North Drive is open from 6 a.m. to
9 p.m. and closed on weekends, and Garden Lane is open
24 hours for employees. He said NIH police direct traffic
from 3 to 7 p.m. on Rockville Pike at Garden Lane, Cedar
Lane, and at North Drive during the work week. Major
Robertson said officers coordinate directing traffic
with the intervals of the traffic signals during the
evening rush hour. He said there is area-wide coordination
of signals throughout the system and any attempt to
change this synchronization would affect the entire
system. To assist vehicles turning onto Rockville Pike
from Cedar Lane, Major Robertson said the police place
cones on Cedar Lane, which creates a third lane. Parking
regulation signs along the right lane on Cedar Lane
between Garden Lane and Rockville Pike have been erected.
He felt that construction activities at Center Drive
and Rockville Pike are not affecting Pike traffic. He
noted ongoing feasibility studies and refining of processes
in police efforts to manage traffic. He said his department
is coordinating efforts with NNMC and working with NNMC's
Lieutenant Munden on directing traffic according to
the sequence of traffic lights on Rockville Pike.
Dr. Gallagher asked when the construction of the gates
and fence would be completed. Mr. Giron said all facets
of the gates and construction probably would be complete
in January 2004. Mr. Oberlander asked if the shuttle
bus service would be in place in January for residents
to get to Metro. Dr. Gallagher said shuttle bus service
would be in place. Dr. Gallagher said the members' questions
would be collected and distributed to CLC members and
presenters. In addition, he reiterated that he would
invite Ms. Gries from Montgomery County to address traffic
issues on roads surrounding the Campus.
Association Boundary Map
by George Oberlander, Huntington Parkway Citizens
Association
Dr. Gallagher said since his arrival at NIH he felt
the need of a map to show areas of concern referred
to by CLC members. Mr. Oberlander had advised him that
M-NCPPC has excellent maps, and Dr. Gallagher requested
a map showing neighborhoods of homeowners associations
within a two-mile radius from the NIH Campus. He said
the OCL wanted to have the names and boundaries of each
association and the names of the president and official
representative to the CLC from each area. Dr. Gallagher
said while some boundaries already had been traced onto
a map, which is mounted securely on the wall in his
office, others needed to be added. Dr. Gallagher said
Mr. Oberlander had volunteered to assist in transferring
boundaries to this map.
Mr. Oberlander said a duplicate map to the one situated
on Dr. Gallagher's office wall was produced by the M-NCPPC.
He said it shows the official homeowners association
names; however, it does not necessarily include the
names of all current citizens associations and other
civic and neighborhood groups. He said he is hopeful
that the CLC members can provide some detail about the
names and boundaries of their neighborhood groups that
are not currently printed on the map. Mr. Oberlander
asked that each CLC member use the tracing paper provided
and draw an outline and write the name of their neighborhood.
He said he would transfer these outlines to the large
map to show a composite of the neighborhoods and to
enable viewing the location of each neighborhood graphically.
In addition, he said he would try to get a smaller map
labeled with a list of the organizations represented
on the CLC for distribution.
Dr. Gallagher said it would help him, should something
happen on Campus, to go immediately to the map and locate
the neighborhood being affected and to contact the representative
from that neighborhood.
Other Discussion Items
Mr. Sawicki raised two issues regarding Building 33
and the neighborhood. He cited Dr. Gallagher's last
two editorial columns, published in the OCL newsletter,
and said he felt the tone of these was condescending,
and that Dr. Gallagher had sugar-coated the issue of
Building 33. Mr. Sawicki asked about publishing information
in the OCL newsletter that reflects input from CLC members,
because he felt the newsletter does not represent members'
views. Suggestions from members included extrapolating
information from CLC meeting minutes, point-counterpoint,
or a pro and con series. Jack Costello, Bethesda Parkview
Citizens Association, recommended modeling articles
about the CLC meetings reported in the Gazette,
because he believes the Gazette presents an even-handed
representation of meeting activities.
Dr. Gallagher said he attempts to represent both the
NIH and the CLC and that he has tried three different
approaches in his newsletter message and each approach
has been criticized. Mort Goldman, Sc.D., Luxmanor Citizens
Association, thought that readers could get the impression
that Dr. Gallagher represents [only] the NIH. Dr. Gallagher
said he is open to new approaches. To come up with a
solution, he offered to send his newsletter message
to members of the CLC for their help for the July issue.
He added that the June 2003 newsletter had already been
written.
Ms. Clemens said that the M-NCPPC understood from the
National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) that NIH
would be submitting its plans for Bldg. 33 by June 5,
2003. She mentioned that these plans are to be presented
to the Montgomery County Planning Commission sometime
this summer before their break in August. Because of
telephone calls to the M-NCPPC about Building 33, she
said it was decided to hold a public forum prior to
the meeting of the planning board. She offered June
23, 24, or 25, 2003, as potential dates for a public
forum to be held at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase (B-CC)
Regional Services Center at 7 p.m. Mr. Oberlander supported
the idea of an open forum moderated by the M-NCPPC.
Dr. Goldman added that the risk assessment would be
an important part of this forum. Ms. Serras-Fiotes said
that the overall project concept could be summarized
for a June public meeting, including layout, environmental
issues, site, and planning for the facility. However,
she noted the design itself would not be finished until
the risk assessment is completed and said that only
first step, the hazard assessment, would be ready by
June. Ms. Serras-Fiotes said she was not sure that these
findings could be shared publicly. Rather, she thought
they would be presented in a closed session of the Risk
Assessment Steering Committee first and then possibly
to the Executive session of NCPC.
Mr. Oberlander asked Ms. Serras-Fiotes about the timetable
for the risk assessment. She said the final risk assessment
would be completed in September. Ms. Clemens thought
there would be two presentations. She said M-NCPPC first
would review the NIH preliminary project plans and report,
and then the final submission following the completion
of the design. Ms. Clemens said she thought holding
the public forum earlier would be better since NIH is
proceeding with construction. Ms. Miller asked Ms. Clemens
to consider having the forum after July 4 because many
families would be taking vacation after schools close
in June. Ms. Clemens said there probably could not be
a mandatory referral at the planning board until fall.
Ms. Serras-Fiotes suggested calling together the staffs
of the NIH, M-NCPPC, and NCPC to coordinate the process.
Ms. Clemens said NCPC wants M-NCPPC to comment on the
mandatory referral before NCPC deliberates.
[Ms. Clemens added the following explanation: Mandatory
Referral is a process dictated by the State of Maryland
whereby government agencies developing projects in Montgomery
County go through a review process. A hearing is held
before the Planning Board. There is a 1998 document
providing guidelines for the review of federal projects
called the "Federal Facilities Update Report"
which describes the role of NCPC and MNCPPC. Mandatory
Referral does not have a direct relationship to NEPA.]
Mr. Schofer asked if the M-NCPPC would host this public
forum and referred to a meeting held on the Goodwill
property on Rockville Pike. He noted that Mr. Berlage
had not allowed community representatives to speak at
this event. If this is to be a similar event, Mr. Schofer
thought members would be ill advised to attend. Ms.
Clemens said this event is a discussion that would precede
the mandatory referral hearing at the planning board.
She said this event would be held at the B-CC Regional
Services Center. Mr. Schofer noted it should be fairly
done and fairly adjudicated. Dr. Goldman countered that
it is not an adjudication, it is an event. Ms. Clemens
said the intent was to hold a fair public forum.
Dr. Gallagher said another time would be preferred
by NIH for the event, because NIH staff would not be
available that week due to activities planned on the
dates mentioned by Ms. Clemens. Ms. Clemens said the
Board goes into recess in August, and there was little
time remaining in their schedule for an hour for the
formal planning board hearing. Ms. Hildebrand asked
who from NIH would attend the forum. Dr. Gallagher said
that if Ms. Serras-Fiotes or he were not available,
he thought someone from NIAID should participate, if
they were available, but the forum would have to take
place when NIH staff could participate. Ms. Hildebrand
mentioned that no one from NIH came to the hearing that
took place last fall. Ms. Miller recommended to Ms.
Clemens that the public forum be scheduled when NIH
staff could participate. Ms. Miller supports the idea
of a public forum where those who do not have another
arena in which to express themselves may do so. Ms.
Clemens said she prefers that Ms. Serras-Fiotes and
Dr. Gallagher be present at this forum.
Ms. Clemens said she is hopeful that she can take the
issue of Building 33 to the planning board this summer.
She said available dates for this formal planning board
hearing in July are the 10th, 17th, and 24th. Ms. Clemens
reiterated that she hopes to hold the public forum before
these dates. Mr. Oberlander suggested Ms. Serras-Fiotes
and Ms. Clemens get together to work with NIH, M-NCPPC,
and NCPC on the submission schedule and to coordinate
meeting dates which will permit hearing from citizens.
He said it is imperative that NIH be present to explain
what this building is all about and this needs coordination
by the three entities.
Report on the Building 33 Risk Assessment Committee
Meeting
by Ginny Miller, CLC Co-chair and Wyngate Citizens
Association representative
Ms. Miller said the Building 33 Risk Assessment Committee
met with the consulting team NIH has engaged. She said
the representatives from the CLC to the Committee presented
all the questions they could think of as well as those
posed by CLC members. Ms. Miller said the group conceived
of situations based on these questions. For example,
what if a researcher dropped an experiment on the floor,
or the electricity went out at a crucial stage of an
experiment and the filters didn't work and contaminants
got into the water, or someone got off the subway nearby
with a bomb in a backpack? Ms. Miller said that Mr.
Schofer, Dr. Gallagher, Ms. Serras-Fiotes, and she tried
to think of every situation for the consulting team
to assess any risks, dangers, or possibilities associated
with this facility.
Dr. Gallagher said they tried to create any situation
that could possibly happen, ranging all the way to those
that were possible although highly unlikely. The group
asked the consulting team to tell the Committee what
the risk would be for each event, what the response
would be to each, and what could be done to mitigate
this risk. Ms. Serras-Fiotes said the consultants would
model the various scenarios and would meet again with
the Steering Committee in June. She said for each scenario
there were two stages: the first stage is to ask the
question of what is the potential harm for the environment
or community within a certain radius. She said this
would be discussed by the Committee and if the analysis
seemed correct, the second stage would be to estimate
the risk and what should be done to mitigate that risk.
Mr. Costello said members of his association have been
mostly concerned about the potential for harm to NIH
done by those from outside NIH. He cited current events,
such as those taking place in Jerusalem and in Saudi
Arabia, and said he needed reassurance that this sort
of attack would be addressed. Dr. Gallagher, Ms. Miller,
and Ms. Serras-Fiotes said that this type of scenario
had been posed to the group.
Ms. Hoos remarked that Building 33 would be built in
its planned location despite neighbors' concerns. Ms.
Serras-Fiotes said this was correct; there would be
a building at that location. Ms. Miller said every time
the CLC says they do not want the building there, NIH
says a risk assessment needs to be done because NIH
wants to build it there. Dr. Gallagher said he would
address the issue another way: the NIH Campus already
has existing buildings with bio-safety level (BSL)-3
laboratories. He said nothing could be researched in
this building [Building 33] that could not be researched
in these existing laboratories. Dr. Gallagher said the
reason for constructing this building is that there
is not enough laboratory space to do the research that
is required. He cited the safe operation of the existing
labs.
Ms. Hildebrand wanted to point out that this means
adding about 35,000 square feet of new BSL-3 lab space.
In reply, Ms. Serras-Fiotes said not all of the 35,000
square feet is BSL-3 space. She said the BSL-3 lab space
is about 15,000 square feet of the total facility, and
the remaining space consists of administrative offices,
support functions, and BSL-2 laboratory space. Ms. Hildebrand
said that adding considerably more space increases the
potential for accidents with more cars and traffic [close
by], and NIH is adding a lot more space. She said the
argument that there is already a lot of BSL-3 space
on Campus, and NIH is only adding more, doesn't allay
her concerns. Dr. Gallagher said there is BSL-3 space
situated throughout the United States and there has
never been a community that has been harmed by BSL-3
labs. Ms. Hildebrand said no one ever flew an airplane
into a building before. Dr. Gallagher said that is why
this risk assessment is looking into that possibility.
He followed up by saying he is uncomfortable referencing
a document that is not yet completed. He said some difficult
questions have been asked of the consulting group, and
very serious answers are expected from them, although
the answers are not available yet.
Mr. Sawicki asked Dr. Gallagher whether Building 33
is a "done deal" and noted that if it is a
done deal then this risk assessment doesn't mean very
much. First, Dr. Gallagher said, one of the purposes,
if not the main purpose of the risk assessment, is that
if a risk is determined, then a way to mitigate the
risk must be built into the design and operation of
the building. Second, Dr. Gallagher said he certainly
thinks NIH intends to put a building there. Ms. Miller
noted Building 33 is in the Master Plan, and what matters
is what they actually do inside the building. She said
at the time the Master Plan was developed, this building
was shown in the plan as a footprint. However, the Master
Plan did not specify what would take place inside, or
what work would be done there. Ms. Serras-Fiotes said
Ms. Miller is correct; however, she added, neither did
the Master Plan say what would be done in Building 40
or 50, both of which have BSL-3 labs in them and have
the potential to do the same type of research that will
be conducted in Building 33. Ms. Serras-Fiotes said
those facilities are on Campus and were built after
the approval of the Master Plan without specifying what
would be happening in those buildings.
Mr. Costello and Mr. Schofer reminded Ms. Serras-Fiotes
that this is an entirely different world. Dr. Gallagher
said one of the reasons for this building is to try
to develop diagnostics, therapeutics, and new vaccines.
Mr. Costello said he did not think anyone in the room
was objecting to the need to do this research, but the
issue is where this research is done. Further, Mr. Costello
said that Dr. Gallagher continues to come back with
assurances that NIH knows what it is doing. Mr. Costello
said Dr. Gallagher concentrates on how safe the NIH
scientists are, and he said he has no doubt they are,
while Mr. Costello is worried about outside threats.
Dr. Goldman said the fact that the world has changed
is exactly why he asked Dr. Gallagher to have a risk
assessment done, because there are new risks that certainly
weren't evaluated when NIH was considering the laboratory
buildings it has just finished, which have the same
kind of labs and the same kind of work with the same
level of danger. Dr. Goldman said this is a new world,
and there are different risks that haven't been evaluated
before. Dr. Goldman said that was precisely the reason
he felt there needed to be a risk assessment, to determine
whether the new world was much more dangerous than the
old (and if so, how much more dangerous), and to determine
what it would take to bring the level of risk to what
exists now with the existing labs. He said that was
the purpose of the exercise, and he hopes the CLC gives
NIH the chance to finish it.
Mr. Costello said he could not disagree with anything
Dr. Goldman said. Mr. Costello said it seemed that work
was progressing on Building 33—a planning and approval
process is marching forward—and we still do not
have the answers to these questions. He feels something
is wrong. He asserted that one ought to have the answers
before the planning process. Dr. Gallagher said Mr.
Costello was correct: a building design could not be
completed until the risk assessment was completed and
the risk factors addressed. Dr. Gallagher said currently
NIH is conducting site planning and early design. Mr.
Oberlander wanted to raise the issue of the timing.
Even though NIH may think that Building 33 is a done
deal, the planning process has not given approval to
the site building plans. Mr. Oberlander said NCPC provides
an advisory opinion and concerns themselves with the
potential risk that this represents. He said even though
there was work going on in existing BSL-3 labs already,
NCPC could deny this plan or conclude that this urban
area is the wrong location for this facility. Mr. Oberlander
said this is an intensification of the BSL-3 lab work,
and there is a difference since September 11th.
Ms. Serras-Fiotes noted that's why NIH is trying to
keep these processes moving forward in parallel, noting
these things cannot be done sequentially. Mr. Oberlander
said that is where he disagrees. Submitting plans to
NCPC without having completed the risk assessment, he
said, is putting the cart before the horse. Mr. Oberlander
said if these groups give locational approval, "that's
putting the camel's nose in the tent." Jeanne Goldstein,
Montgomery County Civic Federation, said that if there
is risk they will change their minds. Ms. Miller said
it is a good thing that M-NCPPC has become involved,
because she thinks it means there is enough concern
in Montgomery County and by M-NCPPC that they would
do something. She said it should be remembered that
the community has to take comments to M-NCPPC. When
the time comes that NCPC meets for a hearing, she said
the community should be present. Mr. Oberlander wanted
the members to know that NCPC is an advisory review
and even if it says no that NIH could say "thank
you very much for your advice" and go ahead anyway.
Dr. Gallagher said he believed NIH's approach is to
say is there is no research agenda or protocol, and
there is nothing that can happen in Building 33 that
couldn't happen in an existing BSL-3 lab. Therefore,
he thought the NIH would look at its lab safety records.
Mr. Costello said Dr. Gallagher was speaking about what
would happen during the normal course of research at
NIH, and he was concerned about putting a new lab on
the corner of NIH property, where everyone would know
where this lab was. He said that makes it a very different
situation than with the existing labs, which are not
so prominent. Dr. Gallagher said he asked people to
serve on the Committee who are very bright and opposed
to the lab being built, and he thought they would ask
hard questions on behalf of the CLC.
Ms. Miller said the Committee members did ask those
tough questions and about the situation Mr. Costello
had described. Mr. Oberlander asked Ms. Miller if the
Committee had asked if this location at the northeast
corner of Campus was the best location as compared to
putting it in a more central location on Campus? Ms.
Miller said they had not. Dr. Gallagher added that the
risk assessment is associated with the location at the
northeast corner of the Campus. He said if it is determined
there is a risk then there would be two other questions
posed related to Building 33 in the location at the
northeast corner. The first question would concern what
Building 33 was vulnerable to, where the vulnerability
was from, and how vulnerable the building was to outside
factors. The next question would pertain to how the
building could be made safer.
Mr. Costello said he is pleased to hear what the Building
33 Risk Assessment Committee is doing and that Ms. Miller
and Mr. Schofer are serving on the Committee, because
he feels the right questions will be asked. He said
he is looking forward to seeing the answers. Dr. Gallagher
said a formal set of answers will be given to the Committee,
although he remarked the Committee would not want a
blueprint for terrorists to know where it is vulnerable.
Ms. Miller, Mr. Schofer, and the Committee will have
a full version. However, Dr. Gallagher said what comes
to the CLC at its meeting might be somewhat cut back,
and that some of that discussion might be with Ms. Miller
or Mr. Schofer privately. Mr. Costello said this is
a public issue, and it can't be covered up. Dr. Gallagher
said he does not intend to; however, he also does not
wish to give terrorists a blueprint, or ideas they do
not already have. Ms. Miller said this does not mean
Mr. Schofer or she have to agree.
Announcements
Deborah Snead, B-CC Regional Services Center, made
an announcement on behalf of Randy Schools, NIH Recreation
& Welfare Association, about the return of the Farmers'
Market to Bethesda. She said it is the same market as
the one that had been located previously at the NIH.
She said beginning June 3, 2003, and every Tuesday thereafter
through October, the market would be open from 11:30
a.m. to 3 p.m. The location of the market is in the
Bethesda business district at Norfolk and Auburn Avenues.
Joan Kleinman, a staff person of Congressman Chris
Van Hollen, announced that a town meeting with Rep.
Van Hollen is scheduled for Thursday, May 29, 2003,
from 7-9 p.m. in the Executive Office Building Cafeteria
in Rockville, Maryland.
Next CLC Meeting
Dr. Gallagher apologized for having to move the date
of CLC meetings twice and said he does not like to move
them. Ms. Hildebrand asked him to not change meeting
dates because it is inconvenient to synchronize with
her work schedule. Dr. Gallagher said now that Mr. Mitton
is a full time member of the OCL staff, if Dr. Gallagher
could not attend for some reason, Mr. Mitton would participate
in the meeting.
The meeting was adjourned.
ACTION ITEMS
- Mr. Giron will supply the names, not acronyms, of
the architectural and engineering firms providing
Campus construction services, including LSY and IDB.
- Mr. Sawicki asked about details and the positions
of the cable fence and bike path relative to the perimeter
fence, buffer zone, proposed pond, and green space.
He also asked whether the vehicle barrier would be
placed where there is now a chain link fence on the
south side of the Campus.
- Dr. Gallagher will arrange for visuals to show details
of the location of the perimeter picket fence and
cable and boulder barrier location.
- Mr. Giron offered to answer questions collected
about design details from CLC members.
- Mr. Oberlander requested information about any feasibility
study done by NIH for use of West Drive that includes
individuals, patients, and their families who stay
or travel to the Children's Inn at NIH and the new
Family Lodge.
- Dr. Gallagher said Ms. Serras-Fiotes would be able
to provide more information about patient and visitor
access needs to answer Mr. Schofer's question about
a projection of the number of visitors who use the
Old Georgetown Road and Rockville Pike visitor entrances.
Mr. Schofer asked how this information might affect
the design of the Visitors' Center.
- Dr. Gallagher asked that Ms. Serras-Fiotes clarify
the position of the guard stand/gate at Center Drive
at Old Georgetown Road when construction is completed.
- Tom Hayden would provide a response to questions
posed by Ms. Miller:
- How traffic on Old Georgetown Road across from
Suburban Hospital could be alleviated, and
- How many lanes are being planned at South Drive
to accommodate entering cars. (Mr. Hayden will
interact with Montgomery County on perimeter traffic
issues.)
- Mr. Hayden will contact Gorove/Slade to answer Mr.
Schools's question about plans within the Campus interior
to accommodate the additional 200-250 cars exiting
onto Rockville Pike.
- Dr. Gallagher said he and Mr. Mitton would prepare
a draft of the CLC members' questions during the next
couple of weeks and these items would be discussed
at future CLC meetings.
- Mr. Hayden agreed to update the CLC in response
to questions about the pedestrian crossing at Cedar
Crest Drive to Garden Drive.
- Dr. Gallagher agreed to follow-up with Montgomery
County to answer Mr. Schofer's question about preventing
non-residents from cutting through nearby neighborhoods,
especially in the Maplewood area, and the implications
of parking on residential streets by non-residents
in these neighborhoods if a new crosswalk is installed.
- Mr. Hayden said he would interact with Montgomery
County about a question posed by Ms. Hildebrand and
Ms. Miller. They want to know about measures to prevent
drivers, who approach the Campus from the Virginia
area, from cutting illegally through the Huntington
Terrace neighborhood streets, and at Lincoln Street
to the Campus.
- Members were asked to supply a tracing of their
neighborhood boundaries and provide the name and president
of the group they represent.
ATTENDEES
CLC Members
- Lorraine Bell, Palladian Partners, Inc.
- Jeanne Billings, Wisconsin Condominium Association
- Marilyn Clemens, M-NCPPC
- Jack Costello, Bethesda Parkview Citizens Association
- Tom Gallagher, OCL, OD, NIH
- Morton Goldman, Luxmanor Citizens Association
- Jeanne Goldstein, Montgomery County Civic Federation
- Lesley Hildebrand, Huntington Terrace Citizens
Association
- Nancy Hoos, Sonoma Citizens Association
- Debra Liverpool, YMCA-Bethesda
- Ginny Miller, Wyngate Citizens Association
- Walter Mitton, OCL, OD, NIH
- George Oberlander, Huntington Parkway Citizens
Association
- Lucy Ozarin, Whitehall Condominium Association
- Sharon Robinson, OCL, OD, NIH
- Stephen Sawicki, Edgewood Glenwood Citizens Association
- Ralph Schofer, Maplewood Citizens Association
- Randy Schools, NIH Recreation & Welfare Association
- Stella Serras-Fiotes, OFP, ORS, OD, NIH
- Deborah Snead, B-CC Regional Services Center
- J. Paul Van Nevel, NIH Alumni Association
- Joseph H. Yang, Camelot Mews Citizens Association
Guests
- Clyde Bartz, NIH Police
- Catherine Dolinski, Gazette
- Arturo Giron, ORS, OD, NIH
- Tom Hayden, OFP, ORS, OD, NIH
- Joan Kleinman, Office of Representative Chris Van
Hollen
- Ophus Robertson, NIH Police
- James Skyrm, NIH Police
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