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HANDOUTS
- Agenda, January 30, 2003;
- December 19, 2002, Community Liaison Council Meeting
Minutes;
- Community Liaison Council Member Roster (as of January
30, 2003);
- Building 33 Briefing Book, including sections on:
- NIH History,
- Laboratory Biosafety Level Criteria,
- Interview with Dr. Rall (8/16/1990),
- Map of Northeast Campus, and
- Questions and Answers—NIAID on Building
33; and
- Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories,
4th Edition, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington:
1999.
WELCOME
Dr. Thomas Gallagher, Director of the Office of Community
Liaison (OCL) and Community Liaison Council (CLC) Co-chair,
welcomed CLC members, alternates, and guests. Margot
Durkin of the Stone Ridge School and Debra Liverpool
of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase YMCA were welcomed at the
table as liaisons.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dr. Gallagher noted that the January 2003 OCL newsletter
is in circulation, with a new format and design. In
addition to publishing the newsletter, he remarked that
Palladian Partners, Inc. provides other planning and
support services to the OCL. Palladian staff assignments
include the Share the Health event, Web site, and taking
minutes at monthly CLC, Agenda Subcommittee, and working
group meetings. Dr. Gallagher noted the efforts of Terry
LaMotte, Lorraine Bell, and others from Palladian Partners,
as well as the work of OCL's staff: Kimberly Cragg,
Sharon Robinson, and Isabel Otero, who is a new intern.
He also recognized former intern, Walter Mitton, who
although on assignment to the National Institute of
Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), continues to
work as a volunteer to the OCL.
PRESENTATIONS
Proposed New Campus Construction
by Stella Serras-Fiotes, Director, Office of Facilities
Planning (OFP), Office of Research Services (ORS), NIH
Dr. Gallagher introduced Stella Serras-Fiotes to provide
information about the proposed new construction on Campus.
Ms. Serras-Fiotes noted developments, taking place
on the southwest side of the Campus, associated with
the staging for the construction of the perimeter fence.
Anthony Clifford of the NIH Division of Engineering
Services reported that a gravel staging area had been
fenced in near the northern end of the Building 41 parking
lot to provide a secure area for storing fence building
materials and housing a field office.
Questions
Ginny Miller, CLC Co-Chair and President of the Wyngate
Citizens Association, asked if this area would be permanent.
Mr. Clifford said that the dirt and crushed rock will
be removed after the fence is completed.
Stephen Sawicki, Edgewood Glenwood Citizens Association,
expressed surprise that there had been no prior notice
to the CLC that this area would be used for such a purpose.
He said this is an area where children in the adjacent
neighborhoods played and where residents walked their
pets. Richard Sipe, Camelot Mews Citizens Association,
said that he, too, was concerned that information about
this site had not been presented to the CLC. Ralph Schofer,
Maplewood Citizens Association, felt that the OCL fell
short on the coordination of information about this
project. Ms. Miller said that, while the CLC had been
operating more effectively with the neighbors on issues
of concern, this was a step backwards.
Mr. Clifford said that other sites were considered,
including the dump area that Mr. Sawicki had suggested
for this purpose. He said the NIH grounds people were
now using this site, and it was not suited for this
purpose. Dr. Gallagher noted that this staging area
would remain, on a temporary basis, for a year. He said
that the site had been selected both because it is sheltered
and is the area least visible from the neighboring homes.
Dr. Gallagher apologized and said he assumed the burden
of not providing timely notice to the Council members
and neighbors. He offered to work with Mr. Sawicki regarding
the restoration of this space after the fence is completed.
Mr. Sawicki recommended grading and nicely refurbishing
the area.
History of the Building 33 Project
by Stella Serras-Fiotes, Director, OFP, ORS, NIH
Dr. Gallagher referred the CLC members to the Building
33 notebook. He asked Ms. Serras-Fiotes to present background
information on the selection of the planned site for
Building 33, a biosafety level-3 (BSL-3) laboratory.
Ms. Serras-Fiotes noted 12 to 15 various sites on the
Campus where new research facilities are planned or
already under construction. She said that the 1995 Master
Plan had identified the site at the northeast corner
of the Campus as appropriate for a laboratory and parking
garage. The specific Building 33 and another at Fort
Detrick were included in President Bush's 2003 budget,
as part of his biodefense plan. She said she believes
the project will be funded. However, she noted that
NIH funding for 2003 remains under a continuing resolution.
Ms. Serras-Fiotes said this building includes office,
research, and support facilities. She noted that the
area's surface parking will be removed and replaced
with a multi-level parking garage.
In a preface to his introduction of Dr. Deborah Wilson,
Dr. Gallagher pointed out the Building 33 Briefing and
a book given to each member, entitled Biosafety in
Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories.
Presentation on Biosafety Laboratories
by Deborah Wilson, Dr.P.H., Chief, Occupational Safety
and Health Branch, ORS, NIH
Dr. Deborah Wilson noted that the biosafety level determinations,
from safest level one to maximum level four, are a marrying
of practices and procedures, appropriate equipment,
and facilities. She provided examples and descriptions
of these biosafety levels and noted that the NIH level-2
laboratories exceed standard safety levels by providing
additional directional air flow systems. A level-one
laboratory is similar to a high school biology laboratory.
Level two has more practice-requirements, as in a hospital
laboratory, because the organisms being studied involve
human diseases. Level-three laboratories require primary
containment cabinets, because the research undertaken
involves human disease organisms with possible public
health consequences, although, Dr. Wilson said, for
the most part there are interventions or vaccines or
therapeutics for these. She mentioned that biological
safety cabinets are required to provide environmental,
personnel, and product protection. These cabinets clean
the air; contaminated air is not recirculated within
the cabinet, and HEPA (high efficiency particulate air)
filters are used on the exhaust because some agents
used may be an aerosol pathogen. Also, there is an air
lock, where personnel pass through two doors to access
the laboratory. Level four has maximum containment—two
HEPA filters, when air is exhausted, air locked passages
with gasket-sealed doors, and independent ventilation,
because work on dangerous and exotic agents may pose
a high individual risk of aerosol-transmitted laboratory
infections and life-threatening disease. Dr. Wilson
noted that the NIH Building 33 will house BSL-3, not
BSL-4 laboratories.
Questions
CLC members asked Dr. Wilson questions about laboratory
equipment and the agents under examination. Mr. Sipe
asked what HEPA filters are and about disposal procedures.
Dr. Wilson explained that these high particulate emergency
filters remove a minimum of 99.997% of contaminants
of 0.3 microns or larger. She said HEPA filters are
used in the biological safety cabinets, often in Building
exhaust systems, and in the positive pressure suits
worn by personnel at BSL-4. These filters are tested
once a year. Dr. Wilson said disposal of wastes and
materials is contracted and monitored through her office.
Bel Ceja, NIH Alumni Association, asked about protective
gear used by the researchers in labs. Dr. Wilson said
the minimum protection is latex gloves and a paper suit,
and maximum protection is a 40-pound "space"
suit, which has its own life-support and communication
system, and gloves with two layers of protection.
Ms. Miller asked about work on tuberculosis and whether
it required a BSL-3 or BSL-4 laboratory. Dr. Wilson
said that at an earlier time tuberculosis had been studied
in BSL-4 laboratories. Dr. Wilson recalled that Ms.
Miller, who serves on the NIH Biosafety Committee, had
toured a BSL-4 laboratory. Ms. Miller said she did not
recall any BSL-4 labs located on the Bethesda NIH Campus.
Dr. Wilson noted that members of the CLC, including
Ms. Miller, had toured a BSL-3/BSL-4 facility previously
used to study mouse pox viruses and other pathogens.
When AIDS emerged as a public health issue in the '80s,
Dr. Wilson said that maximum containment facilities
were needed to house more research animals and personnel
to perform aerosol studies with multi-drug resistant
tuberculosis. A grant from the French-American AIDS
fund royalties was used to renovate Building 41A.
Randy Schools asked about the number of BSL-4 laboratories
throughout the United States. Dr. Wilson noted locations
in Frederick at Ft. Detrick; the NIH; the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Southwest Foundation,
TX; Georgia State University; Galveston Medical Branch;
and globally in South Africa; Winnipeg, Canada; Lyon,
France; and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. BSL-4
labs are under construction at the CDC in Atlanta; Rocky
Mountain, CO; and Hamilton, MT.
George Oberlander, Huntington Parkway Citizens Association,
asked about any potential adverse cumulative effect
of having these laboratories, although interspersed
across the Campus. Dr. Wilson said there is no potential
for that to occur.
Dr. Gallagher thanked Dr. Wilson for her presentation.
Presentation on Research Needs
by Karyl Barron, M.D., Deputy Director, NIAID, NIH
Dr. Gallagher reminded the members of a question previously
posed to NIAID's Dr. Thomas Kindt as to what research
was being held up due to lack of BSL-3 laboratory space.
He introduced Dr. Kindt's associate, Dr. Karyl Barron.
Dr. Barron said she was presenting because Dr. Kindt
was called away to Africa and unable to attend this
meeting. She remarked that Dr. Kindt remains willing
to answer CLC members' questions.
Dr. Barron showed a slide presentation and posed the
question, "What if a BSL-3 facility were available
today?" She explained that potential and safer
vaccines need to be tested in animals—for example,
avian influenzas, monkey pox viruses, and the anthrax
bacterium, as well as West Nile virus. Dr. Barron noted
some research can be performed in BSL-2 labs; however,
testing pathogenic mechanisms and learning about the
spread of disease from person to person and potential
side effects of vaccines would take place in a BSL-3
facility. The new facility would be used by researchers
who are already on Campus. Eleanor Rice, Locust Hill
Civic Association, commented on humanized antibodies
being developed in mice.
Questions
Mr. Sawicki asked how many NIH researchers work in BSL-3
laboratories. Dr. Barron and Dr. Wilson said that hundreds
of researchers work with vaccines and fewer than 100
are involved at this time with non-virulent anthrax,
West Nile and avian influenza viruses, and pox, which
are of immediate and imminent concern. Mr. Oberlander
wondered why this research is not done in the existing
Campus BSL-4 lab. Dr. Wilson replied there is not sufficient
Campus space available currently, and many researchers
cannot progress with this research until appropriate
space is made available. Dr. Kira Lueders, Parkwood
Residents Association, inquired about using NIAID space
in Frederick or Rocky Mountain Laboratories for this
research where buildings are being constructed. Dr.
Barron said that the BSL-3 facility in Montana will
be filled to capacity as soon as it's constructed.
Dr. Gallagher remarked that the scientific infrastructure
exists at NIH. He referred members to Section 3, page
2, of the Briefing Book, where Dr. David Rall replied
to such a question, noting the difficulty he experienced
leaving the NIH Campus and its access to a "critical
mass" of the best scientists and the "productive
research ideas" that he said were outcomes of informal
seminars and encounters. It took 20 years to rebuild
that type of resource.
Renate Bever, Bethesda Parkhill Citizens Association,
asked which agency inspects NIH and its extramural laboratories.
Dr. Wilson said her office oversees inspections in Bethesda,
and that the NIAID has grants for inspections, with
the assistance of her office. She noted that universities
have their own safety offices.
Presentation of Map of Northeast Sector of the Campus
Showing Building 33
by Stella Serras-Fiotes, Director, OFP, ORS, NIH
Mr. Schofer remarked that all entrances from Cedar
Lane appeared to be closed to traffic. Ms. Serras-Fiotes
said this was correct. There would be 1,250 parking
spaces consolidated from existing surface parking in
the new garage. Mr. Schools asked how many surface spaces
were being removed. Ms. Serras-Fiotes said that 1,300
places would be removed. Mr. Schofer asked if there
had been pollution studies associated with multi-level
parking garages. Ms. Serras-Fiotes said that emissions
had been calculated previously in association with the
establishment of fewer entrances handling traffic from
Rockville Pike. Mr. Oberlander asked about what was
being built under the "plaza." Ms. Serras-Fiotes
said that NIH is no longer building underground parking
on Campus.
Dr. Lucy Ozarin, Whitehall Condominium Association,
asked whether the new building would house both BSL-2
and BSL-3 labs. Ms. Serras-Fiotes replied that there
would be BSL-2 and BSL-3 labs as well as administrative
space in Building 33, which will have 85,000 square
feet of usable laboratory space. Council members were
referred by Ms. Serras-Fiotes to Tab 4 of the briefing
book to a map of the sector in which the lab is to be
situated. She noted the red line on the map, indicating
the perimeter fence, and the orange line, representing
the 250-foot security setback from the proposed commercial
vehicle inspection (CVI) site/station.
Mr. Schofer offered that to prevent traffic from cutting
through the Locust Hill neighborhood, the lanes should
be increased to promote movement and noted that a grade-separated
lane was planned for the intersection of Cedar Lane
and Rockville Pike.
The fence line is shown on the map to be closer to
Cedar Lane than the proposed set-back. Ms. Serras-Fiotes
said that NIH plans to install an underground water
storage facility there, which means the fence had to
go on the outside of that area.
Mr. Sawicki asked if there would be a security fence
around Building 33. Ms. Serras-Fiotes said there is
no security fence planned to encompass Building 33.
Ms. Rice asked if anyone was modeling a worst-case scenario.
Presentation on Risk Assessment
by Deborah Wilson, Dr.P.H., Chief, Occupational Safety
and Health Branch, ORS, NIH
Dr. Gallagher called on Dr. Wilson to reply to a previous
question posed by Ms. Rice. Dr. Wilson said the CLC's
recommendation for a risk assessment was reviewed by
several NIH offices, and the CLC's good idea is being
acted upon by NIH. She said funding has already been
set aside for this. Prior to this assessment there will
be determinations about hazards and the risks these
pose to those working there and the community at large.
Before this, Dr. Wilson said she wanted CLC input on
how to accomplish this, in addition to the ideas already
generated about the hazard/risk assessment. Dr. Mort
Goldman, Luxmanor Citizens Association, who previously
provided input to Dr. Wilson, had asked that the assessment
quantitate the hazards and risks. She said a contract
would be awarded to conduct the assessment, and a technical
working group would be formed to work with the contractor.
Dr. Martin Sanders, who has a background in the Army
and in biological and chemical warfare, would lead the
contract. The Building 33 Risk Assessment Steering Committee
would meet and form an approach, the technical study
will be completed, and a report will be made to NIH
and the CLC. Mr. Schofer commented that someone in operations
research should be represented on the contract. He asked
if the contract had already been awarded, and Dr. Wilson
said she had to act quickly. She had a task order in
place, a contractor identified who was available, and
the funds to cover the costs.
To get a broader perspective, Dr. Wilson said the Building
33 Risk Assessment Steering Committee is being formed
with representation of CLC members, Ms. Miller and Dr.
Lueders, Maryland Senator Jennie M. Forehand, who also
serves on the NIH Biosafety Committee, and Dr. Kindt,
NIAID, Dr. Wilson, Dr. Gallagher, Ms. Serras-Fiotes,
and Arturo Giron, Security Chief, all from the NIH.
Ms. Miller noted that Sen. Forehand has already shown
support for this building, as reported in the newspaper,
and objected to her serving because she is a politician.
Dr. Gallagher said he had not attempted to balance the
Committee by ascertaining their positions, rather he
felt this would be a good group based on their interest
and scientific background. Ms. Miller noted that this
process should be open and transparent. Dr. Gallagher
asked those who had suggestions about the Committee's
makeup approach him directly.
Ms. Rice and Mr. Oberlander asked about the building
being in progress during the time of the assessment,
and whether the results would be completed in time to
be useful. Dr. Wilson said that the risk assessment,
expected to take 4 to 6 months' time, would be in concert
with the design of the building. Ms. Rice wanted to
know what would happen if it is determined by the risk
assessment that this building cannot be built safely.
Dr. Wilson said then that is the answer that will be
brought back to the Committee. Mr. Oberlander asked
if an environmental assessment was completed. Ms. Serras-Fiotes
said that an environmental assessment had not been completed.
Mr. Oberlander felt the risk assessment should be done
before the environmental documentation.
Other Items of Concern
presented by CLC members
Landscaping at Southwest Corner
Mr. Sipe noted that the southwest corner of the Campus
is one of the prettiest areas, and found a problem with
the fact that the parking lot is visible. He said he
had sent e-mails remarking on the gaps, which allow
the garage to be seen, despite the 14 sizable evergreens
planted to screen it. He said he hopes the perimeter
fence will soften that area. Dr. Gallagher did not recall
receiving the email and invited Mr. Sipe to visit him
to discuss this further.
Container Removal in Pet Area
Dr. Ozarin noted that boxes and bags provided for collecting
pet residue had been removed. Dr. Gallagher said he
had removed them. He had received a number of communications
asking why these were on the NIH grounds, remarking
about the smell, and in general that the dog stations
detracted from the NIH. He added that there is a law
against walking pets on federal property, although NIH
is not inclined to enforce it. Dr. Gallagher said it
may work out that the buffer zone can be used to accommodate
neighbors with pets. He added that he had recently discussed
possibilities for a solution with Dr. Harvey Eisen,
Edgewood Glenwood Citizens Association.
Scan Cards for Resident Access/Egress on Campus
Mr. Sawicki said he had proposed a system priced at
$25,000 as an alternative to NIH's quote of $600,000
to design a secure system, thus allowing a few hundred
residents to enter the Campus through the proposed pedestrian
fence entrances to reach the Medical Center Metro Station.
Recently he read in the paper that Steve Ficca, Associate
Director for Research Services, ORS, NIH, said because
NIH had proposed a bus shuttle service, this issue was
closed. Lesley Hildebrand, Huntington Terrace Citizens
Association, agreed with Mr. Sawicki that the shuttle
bus had been put forth in a CLC meeting as the affordable
solution to a scan system. Dr. Gallagher said the primary
intent was not to find an inexpensive way to resolve
this issue, rather the intent was to protect the security
of the NIH, while not inconveniencing the neighbors.
Mr. Schofer remarked that operating the shuttle bus
would be more costly than a $600,000 access system.
Dr. Gallagher said the bus shuttle system meets two
important objectives: a plan for full security for the
NIH and alleviating inconvenience to neighbors by providing
a means of access to Metro. He said the intent always
has been to maintain the full security of the NIH.
Storm Water Pond
Ms. Rice wondered about the removal and replanting of
beautiful trees in the area where the Storm Water Pond
is to be constructed by Montgomery County. Ms. Serras-Fiotes
said if there is any way to relocate these trees, it
will be done. She said that the County will be presenting
its 65% design to the CLC at the February meeting and
said that no schedule had been announced for pond construction
to begin.
Heightened Security
Dr. Gallagher announced a heightened security status
on Campus for Monday, February 3, and said he would
notify the Agenda Subcommittee if their meeting needs
to be postponed.
The meeting was adjourned at 6 p.m.
NEXT MEETING
The next CLC meeting will take place on February 20,
2003.
ATTENDEES
CLC Members
- Tom Gallagher, Ph.D., Director, OCL, OD, NIH
- Lorraine Bell, Palladian Partners, Inc.
- Jeanne Billings, Ph.D., Wisconsin Avenue Condominium
Association
- Bel Ceja, NIH Alumni Association
- Anthony Clifford, DES, ORS, NIH
- Jana S. Coe, Chevy Chase View Association
- Kimberly Cragg, OCL, OD, NIH
- Jule Crider, Chevy Chase View Association
- Harvey Eisen, Ph.D., Edgewood Glenwood Citizens
Association
- Morton Goldman, Sc.D., Luxmanor Citizens Association
- Lesley Hildebrand, Huntington Terrace Citizens
Association
- Kira K. Lueders, Ph.D., Parkwood Residents Association
- Marilyn Mazuzan, Town of Oakmont
- Ginny Miller, Wyngate Citizens Association
- Kristin O'Conner, Maryland-National Capital Park
and Planning Commission
- George Oberlander, Huntington Parkway Citizens
Association
- Lucy Ozarin, M.D., Whitehall Condominium Association
- Eleanor Rice, Locust Hill Civic Association
- Sharon Robinson, OCL, OD, NIH
- Stephen Sawicki, Edgewood Glenwood Citizens Association
- Ralph Schofer, Maplewood Citizens Association
- Randy Schools, Recreation & Welfare Association,
NIH
- Stephanie Sechrist, National Capital Planning Commission
- Stella Serras-Fiotes, OFP, ORS, NIH
- Andrea Sincoff, Bethesda Chevy Chase Services Center
- Richard Sipe, Camelot Mews Citizens Association
Alternate CLC Members
- Renate Bever, Bethesda Parkhill Citizens Association
Guests
- Karyl Barron, M.D., NIAID, NIH
- Marilyn Clements, Maryland-National Capital Park
and Planning Commission
- C.R. Creveling, NIH Alumni Association
- Catherine Dolinski, Gazette
- Margot Durkin, Stone Ridge School
- Arturo Giron, ORS, NIH
- James Hadley, NIAID, NIH
- Lynn Hellinger, NIAID, NIH
- Joan Kleinman of Representative to Congress, Chris
Van Hollen
- Debra Liverpool, Bethesda-Chevy Chase YMCA
- Martin Marino, NIAID, NIH
- Walter Mitton, NIAID, NIH
- Robert Ostrowski, DS, NIH
- Isabel Otero, OCL, OD, NIH
- Deborah Wilson, Dr.P.H., DS, ORS, NIH
- Rodney Winchel, OD, NIH
- Ron Wilson, OFP, ORS, NIH
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