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National Institutes of Health |
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Community
Liaison Council Meeting Minutes Draft WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: Ms. Hedetniemi welcomed members and guests. She announced that NIH staff has confirmed the presence of a fox on campus. Locations and times of the fox sightings have been reported to the county animal control officers. She cautioned neighbors to avoid contact with the animal since the county officials said it may be rabid. She passed around a schematic drawing of a structure planned by Metro to cover the Medical Center Exit to prevent reiders from being open to the elements while riding on the escalator. Construction should begin this spring.
HANDOUTS:
PRESENTATIONS: Update on the Maximum Containment Laboratory: Dr. Richard Wyatt, Executive Director, Office of Intramural Research Dr. Wyatt reported that the Maximum Containment Laboratory (MCL) had been in operation for the past two months. In that time, 24 scientists, animal care technicians, and staff have completed training in the intricacies of lab usage. Upon completion of training, they are issued proximity cards to access the facility. Dr. Wyatt explained that the sole use of the laboratory is to study multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB). Principal adjustments have been in dealing with the dry air and noise inside the required protective garments used in the lab. The noise has resulted in careful monitoring of the hearing of all working in the laboratory. Also, laboratory users take frequent skin tests for tuberculosis. Dr. McKinney pointed out that the difficulty of working in the suits has made everyone very efficient in the use of their time there. Mr. Schofer expressed concern about the threat of exposure to level 4 diseases and also wanted to know what the comparison of work in this lab to that being done on Plum Island. Dr. Wyatt explained that only multi-drug resistant tuberculosis was planned for study at NIH. All other level 4 diseases would be studied in Atlanta at the CDC or in the level 4 laboratory at Frederick, Maryland. Dr. McKinney said the studies at Plum Island were of animal diseases that posed no threat to humans. Ms. Ozarin inquired as to the objective of the Maximum Containment Laboratory studies. Dr. Wyatt responded that the objectives were to create a better vaccine and improved treatment of this type of TB. He gave a brief history of the proliferation of the disease in the past decade and of the NIH review process for clearing the lab for work on this type of TB, all of which was outlined in detail for the CLC before the laboratory was opened. Environmental Compliance: Dr. Robert McKinney, Director, Division of Safety, ORS Dr. McKinney passed out a list of the 14 permits for environmental compliance under which NIH operates. Using an overhead projection format, Dr. McKinney explained what was covered by each permit and gave a brief history of the use of each permit on the NIH campus. Some permits were in frequent use; other were more or less inactive. For example, the asbestos license is active because many older buildings being renovated contain asbestos. On the other hand, the PCB license is practically dormant, as there are minimal amounts of this substance at NIH. The NEPA environmental impact statements are prepared on an as needed basis. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission License is renewed periodically. Dr. McKinney said the permiting and licensing overview costs approximately $70,000 per year to administer. This figure covers the fees charged by agencies for conducting an inspection. Mr. Schofer asked if ethylene oxide is used at NIH and was told that small amounts of it were used occasionally and that proper precautions are employed. Ms. Hedetniemi passed on a question posed to her by an Edgewood Glenwood resident who wanted to donate a load of dirt from his yard to NIH. Dr. Kovach replied that permitting licenses require that all dirt coming to NIH must meet certain standards. Dr. McKinney was asked the size of his staff. He replied that he has a small administrative staff and others that work periodically. Since by law, all records on environmental compliance have to been kept on file permanently, a certain staffing level is required to maintain and update the records. Ms. Rice reported that her neighborhood is experiencing flash flooding as a result of disruptions from the construction on campus. Dr. McKinney said he was aware of this situation; building the stormwater management pond should correct the flooding. Dr. McKinney was asked how many notices of violations have been served on NIH. He replied that there have been four or five notices of transient PH levels and a recent issue regarding an underground storage tank which was corrected on the spot. Dr. McKinney praised his dedicated staff; Ms. Hedetniemi commended Dr. McKinney and his staff for their sterling record safeguarding the NIH environment. Medical Center Transportation Management Organization: Thomas Hayden, ORS, and Ms. Linda Provost, Montgomery County Commuter Services Mr. Hayden introduced Ms. Provost from Montgomery County Commuter Services and identified the other members of the Medical Center Transportation Management Organization as the National Naval Medical Center, the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, the North Bethesda Transportation Management Group and citizen representative, Eleanor Rice. He said the group meets to share ideas and concerns about traffic and parking management. Ms. Provost said Suburban Hospital was also actively involved in traffic and parking control. She added that initially the county contributed $50,000 to the organization, but has reduced funding to $20,000 per year. In addition, Metro provides some funding. Each institution involved in the Medical Center Transportation Management Organization has initiated programs to encourage employee's use of public transportation and to foster car and van pools. Mr. Hayden gave a complete description of the programs at NIH which include 2,300 subscribers to Transhare, 700 people in car pools, 9 van pools, one mini-van pool, and a service called Ride Find to link potential carpoolers. As an incentive, van pools, are given close-in parking spaces and van and car pool members are guaranteed a ride home, if needed. There are also designated parking places at Metro Stations from which NIH has initiated free bus shuttles. Mr. Hayden's office is preparing a new brochure on the Medical Center Metro Station and the bus routes that serve the campus. Mr. Hayden made a brief presentation on behalf of the National Naval Medical Center to describe their program which include Transhare and support for ride sharing. Ms. Rice praised the activities of this organization for encouraging and promoting ride sharing and the use of public transportation and encouraged community members to feed them suggestions and ideas. Ms. Miller asked when NIH will get more funds to subsidize Metro rides and was told that 2,300 are offered this subsidy now up from 2,000. Mr. Schofer expressed concern about violations of turn prohibitions onto Beech Drive from a parking area in his community that is rented out by Marriott. Ms. Provost said she would look into this. Ms. Rice said she has been writing her elected representatives for six years to get Federal agencies to charge employees for parking. Ms. Hedetniemi expressed concern about the impact on traffic and parking of all the recent construction in downtown Bethesda. Mr. Hayden said he believed that a County Council mandated Transit Management Development plan to address these concerns was in development. There was a brief discussion of the need for a trolley service from the Metro similar to that at White Flint. Ms. Hedetniemi explained that NIH cannot offer public transportation. Ms. Provost said that Suburban Hospital had tried it but there was not sufficient ridership. Ms. Rice said she heard such a shutte was being considered by the County OTHER BUSINESS: Ms. Barker and Ms. Riecken gave a brief description of the March 20 Community Health Forum and asked for the Council to review the list of suggested seminar topics to be presented at that event. The group reviewed the list and suggested adding the following topics: arthritis eye health Asthma CPR Training stress management and dealing with depression cholesterol control Dr. Balaban's MRI work in stroke awareness seasonal affective disorder hazards of treating potentially serious disorders like heartburn with over-the-counter drugs Ms. Miller suggested a display on sun protection and melanoma dangers rather than a talk. Ms. Hedetneimi gave everyone a copy of the first page of the revised Web Site and asked for e-mails with suggestions and comments. ACTION ITEMS: The CLC will review the Web Site at www.baseten.aa.psiweb.com/ocl2 and send comments and suggestions to Ms. Hedetniemi. NEXT MEETING: The next meeting of the Community Liaison Council will be Thursday, February 18, at 4:00 p.m., in Room D, in the Natcher Conference Center. The agenda will include a tour of the campus and construction update, opportunities to volunteer at NIH, and an update on Center Drive. Attendees: Janyce Hedetniemi, OCL, NIH |
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