The economic losses as a result of such a release at Plum Island would total an estimated $2.8 billion in Suffolk County, compared with estimated losses of $4.2 billion in Riley County, Kan., the location of one of five alternative sites for the construction of a new biosafety level four lab, the first of its kind for the study of animal and zoonotic diseases in the United States.

DHS has evaluated the six sites and concluded that the construction and operation of a new National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility, wherever it is eventually located, will have "minimal" adverse environmental impacts, according to the DEIS.

A public comment period on the DEIS will run from June 27 through Aug. 25. Comments may be written, sent via mail or fax or through the DHS Web site, and can also be telephoned in to a special voice mailbox. (See box for details, page 39)

In addition, DHS has scheduled public hearings on the DEIS in each of the potential site communities, as well as in Washington, D.C. The public hearing will be held locally at Greenport School from 6 to 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 12.

If the federal government decides to build the NBAF on Plum Island, it would be constructed on approximately 24 acres adjacent to and east of the existing facility there, which has been operated on Plum Island since 1954. Plum Island's existing laboratory, a biosafety level three lab, is "nearing the end of its life cycle," according to the DEIS.

A BSL-4 rating means the lab is equipped for the study of "exotic pathogens that pose a high risk of life-threatening disease in animals and humans through the aerosol route and for which there is no known vaccine or therapy," the DEIS states. The new NBAF would focus on the Hendra and Nipah viruses, in addition to diseases and pathogens that could have devastating impact on livestock but pose little threat to humans, such as African swine fever, classical swine fever, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, foot and mouth disease, Japanese encephalitis and Rift Valley fever. The principal purpose of the NBAF would be to protect the country's $100 billion-per-year livestock industry from foreign diseases and bioterrorist attack.

While such research comes with known risks of hazards to animals and humans, the DEIS says, "these risks were shown to be mitigated by implementation of operation protocols and rigid adherence to the guidelines" issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, and the implementation of appropriate security measures, according to the DEIS.

Nevertheless, conducting animal disease research on the mainland is riskier than continuing the work on the 840-acre island located 1.5 miles off Orient Point, the DEIS concludes.

"[C]ompared to the existing [Plum Island] facility, a potential release of pathogens from a mainland facility might more readily affect commercial livestock, wildlife, and possibly human populations, depending on the alternative site's proximity to livestock producing areas and the density of human populations," the DEIS found.

Last month, the U.S. Government Accountability Office issued a report in which it concluded that DHS "lacks evidence to conclude that foot and mouth disease research can be safely conducted on the U.S. mainland."

Local and federal elected officials have voiced opposition to siting the NBAF on Plum Island.

Rep. Tim Bishop and Sen. Hillary Clinton both say DHS has assured them that the new NBAF will be built elsewhere.

"This draft report does not change the assurances that we have been given by the Department of Homeland Security and others that Plum Island is not suitable for Biosafety Level 4," Ms. Clinton said in a statement issued by her office.

Mr. Bishop, Ms. Clinton and Southold Supervisor Scott Russell all advocate upgrading and maintaining the BSL-3 lab on Plum Island for continued foot and mouth disease research. The facility employs more than 300 residents of Suffolk County and Connecticut.

"The findings of this Draft Environmental Impact Statement do not alter my position that Plum Island should remain as a Biosafety Level 3 facility and not be converted to a Biosafety Level 4 facility," Mr. Bishop said Tuesday. "With Sen. Clinton and other leaders, I have repeatedly advocated this position to the Department of Homeland Security and I will continue to hold the officials at DHS to their assurances that Plum Island will not become a Level 4 facility," the congressman said.

DHS took over operation of Plum Island from the Department of Agriculture in June 2003. A 2002 presidential directive requires the agency to develop a state-of-the-art BSL-4 facility for animal and zoonotic disease research in the United States. DHS has yet to rule out upgrading the Plum Island facility for continued BSL-3 operations, but sees this option as less cost-effective than combining the current BSL-3 lab with the new BSL-4 facility it is required to construct.

Construction of the NBAF could start in early 2010 and would take about four years to complete.

Download the DEIS from the list of PDFs listed above.

Submit your comments before Aug. 25

by postal mail to:

U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security

Science and Technology Directorate

James V. Johnson

Mail Stop #2100

245 Murray Lane, SW; Building 410

Washington DC 20528

by toll-free fax to: 1-866-508-NBAF(6223)

by toll-free voice mail to: 1-866-501-NBAF (6223)

online: www.dhs.gov/nbaf (click on Public Involvement)

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