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Plum Island, only eight miles off the Connecticut shore, is one of six sites targeted by the federal government for a proposed Level 4 NBAF, the highest security designation, that would allow study of some of the deadliest biological threats to humans. Plum Island now operates as a Level 3 facility involving only animal-to-animal pathogens. Blumenthal said the federal government’s draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) is “profoundly deficient, and legally insufficient,” failing to fully consider the overwhelming risks of this facility, in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Blumenthal said Plum Island should be immediately removed from the list of considered sites. “The Draft Environmental Impact Statement is profoundly flawed -- factually deficient, and legally insufficient -- misassessing the monstrous risks of siting the proposed Level Four National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility on Plum Island,” Blumenthal said. “This facility would study and experiment with the most dangerous disease organisms, including pathogens transmitted from animals to humans, that have no known cures or vaccines. Some of these diseases do not otherwise exist in this country. “Although Plum Island has long hosted research into animal disease, the new facility would take the public health threat literally to a new level. The environmental security risks are intolerable in an area so densely populated, heavily traveled and environmentally valued. The threat of accident or attack is hardly hypothetical or speculative, as recent experience has taught to our sorrow. These dangers are real and substantial, and have not been adequately considered. “While the nation will no doubt benefit from the scientific research of the proposed NBAF, there are far safer and sounder locations than Plum Island. The danger here is unacceptable -- to health and safety as well as the environment.” Blumenthal said the DEIS grossly fails to fully consider the following: · The proximity of Plum Island to New York City, the nation’s most populous city and repeated target of terrorist attacks; · The fact that 20 million people live within 50 miles of Long Island Sound; · The proximity of Plum Island to a nuclear submarine base, a nuclear submarine construction facility, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and a major nuclear power plant; · The special security risks of protecting an island; · The extreme difficulty of providing emergency response services to an island; · The risks of disease transmission to and through wild mammals, particularly seals, that are a growing presence in Long Island Sound; · The risks to an island laboratory from a category 5 hurricane. “The DHS has a legal and ethical obligation to consider all reasonably possible alternative sites, and to select the most prudent and safe, and environmentally least damaging,” Blumenthal said. “The DHS inexcusably has neglected to study -- or even acknowledge -- the uniquely complex character of the area around Plum Island. “Basic environmental data are absent from the DEIS and necessary impact analysis is therefore inadequate. The DEIS fails to meet the minimum requirements of NEPA and cannot comply without extensive additional study. These known, humongous risks dictate that DHS should simply remove Plum Island from consideration as a site for this project.” © Copyright by NorwalkPlus.com. Some articles and pictures posted on our website, as indicated by their bylines, were submitted as press releases and do not necessarily reflect the position and opinion of NorwalkPlus.com, Norwalk Plus magazine, Canaiden LLC or any of its associated entities. Articles may have been edited for brevity and grammar. Related Articles: Appalachian Mountain Club to present the CT Film Festival award winning movie “Brave New West” in Bethel - Sep 19, 2008 - 9:09 AM Commentary: When the oil bubble is fueled by speculators - Sep 15, 2008 - 10:53 AM Attorney General says AT&T must restore jobs to address dangerous customer service failures - Sep 8, 2008 - 1:40 PM Attorney General fights proposed Plum Island lab that would study deadliest animal and human diseases - Aug 14, 2008 - 1:02 PM CURRENT HEADLINES: Top of Page
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