Wendell News Outlet

From: Upper Neuse Riverkeeper Dean Naujoks (dean.nrf@worldnet.att.net)

!!ACTION ALERT!!

Please Tell Raleigh City Council the Proposed National Bio Agro
Defense Facility Does Not Belong In Our Drinking Water Supply

The Department of Homeland Security recently announced that the
Umstead Farm in Butner had made the short list of possible sites for
the proposed National Bio Agro Defense Facility (NBAF).  This would be
a $450 million state-of-the-art Biosafety Level-4 laboratory to study
the world's deadliest diseases, which would be located at the
headwaters of Knap of Reeds Creek, just above Falls Lake.  For
decades, the NBAF's predecessor, Plum Island Animal Disease Research
Center - a 50-year-old lab - was intentionally located off the tip of
Long Island, N.Y. to prevent the spread of dangerous diseases to the
American public.  For the proposed lab to handle the viruses and
disease pathogens it plans to conduct research on, Congress would have
to rewrite the law just to allow it on the mainland United States.

The NBAF site would use nearly 100,000 gallons of water per day from
already stressed water supplies.  It would discharge 80,000 gallons of
pre-treated wastewater through Granville County's problematic sewage
treatment plant, discharging the effluent into Falls Lake - a drinking
water supply for 400,000 Wake County citizens.  Probably most
disturbing is the possible risk of air-borne pathogens, which Raleigh
has expressed concerns about, but Home Land Security is not responding
to their request for information.  Possible droplets of water called
aerosols could potentially release bacteria or viruses into 5 major
drinking water supplies for more than 600,000 Triangle area residents,
all located within five miles of this proposed facility.  The risk of
accidents or even potential terrorist attacks on the NBAF makes this
an inappropriate location for this facility.

Citizens in Granville County have overwhelmingly opposed this
facility. Granville County Commissioners, the town of Creedmoor and
Stem have all withdrawn their support for this project.  If the people
of Granville County do not want this project in their community, why
would Wake County leaders want it in our drinking water supply?

Please write Mayor Charles Meeker and the Raleigh City Council and
urge them to:
1) Tell Home Land Security that Raleigh is opposed to NBAF being
located in the Falls Lake watershed before it goes any further in the
approval process.
2) Ask Home Land Security to identify more appropriate locations for
NBAF away from critical drinking water supplies and population
centers.

Mailing Address: c/o Gail Smith, P.O. Box 590, Raleigh, N.C., 27602
Phone: (919) 890-3050 - voice, 890-3058 - fax
Email:  charles.meeker@ci.raleigh.nc.us; gail.smith@ci.raleigh.nc.us

posted by Administrator  # 5:45 PM