KTKA

"I was very disappointed they picked Manhattan to have this facility," cattle farmer Paul Irvine said.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has recommended building the $450 million National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility on the Kansas State University campus.

Paul Irvine's farm is two miles from the site where NBAF will be built.

"We are worried about our own cattle, yes we are," Irvine said.

He's worried that an outbreak will harm his livestock and maybe even his livelihood.

"If there was an accidental release, it could spread very rapidly and there would be a lot of economic damage," Irvine said, "a lot more damage by that then there would be the economic benefit they say will come from this facility."

The outbreak wouldn't just affect the town of Manhattan.

"I just think that if there was an outbreak of foot and mouth disease that our exports would be ruined."

Irvine is part of a group called No NBAF in Kansas, which worries about the safety of the facility.

He says they can build a secure facility, do all the employee testing and screenings they want, but there's one thing they can't prevent

"Human error, it just happens," Irvine said.

Irvine says he would rather the facility stay on Plum Island, "because I really don't think this facility should be in the middle of cattle country."

The group plans on writing letters to president-elect Barack Obama and his administration about their concerns.