Kansas site expected to be top recommendation for NBAF site
Originally published 10:18 a.m., December 3, 2008
Updated 01:18 p.m., December 3, 2008
Washington — Congressional lawmakers and staff say the federal government will recommend a site in Kansas for a new $450 million laboratory to study biological threats like anthrax and foot-and-mouth disease.
The Department of Homeland Security’s choice of Manhattan, KS, beat out intense competition from other sites in Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina and Texas.
Agency officials revealed their choice to lawmakers late Tuesday.
Lawmakers and staff familiar with the decision spoke only on condition of anonymity because a formal announcement won’t be made until later this week, when the agency releases an environmental impact statement.
The choice won’t be made final until sometime after a 30-day window for comments on the decision, which could face legal challenges from losing states.
The new lab would replace an aging facility on Plum Island, N.Y.
From Senator Pat Roberts
U.S. Senator Pat Roberts celebrated the recommendation of Manhattan, Kansas and Kansas State University to be the site of the new National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) culminating an effort he began in 2005 to bring this exciting scientific and economic development opportunity to Kansas. "Manhattan, Kansas State University and the State of Kansas have proven that we are the nation’s leaders in plant and animal research and industry, and I am proud of the role Kansas will continue to play in agriculture security and innovation. This NBAF will protect and build the state’s agriculture economy for decades to come and further expand our national leadership in the biosciences."
The executive summary of the NBAF Final Environmental Impact Statement said, "Based on the numerous strengths that were evident when evaluating against the evaluation criteria, the steering committee found that the Manhattan Campus Site best met the purpose and need to site, construct and operate the NBAF...Finally taking into consideration the ‘in-kind’ contributions offered by the consortia, the Manhattan Campus Site was among the least expensive to construct and had among the lowest planned operation costs of all the Site Alternatives."
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