Spring Break
Facility plans cause polarized opinions
MELISSA WEINMAN
Issue date: 2/20/08 Section: News
"From everything we read and understand, Homeland Security wants an enclosed area where they can infect large numbers of cows, pigs ... and see how long it takes to spread," Prescott said. "Then put them in a blender, dry them, soak them in Dran-o and put them in our sewer system."
Johnson said Homeland Security is studying the potential environmental impact on the site. In light of the drought, available resources will play into the final decision, he said.
The NBAF supporters say the facility will provide much-needed jobs to Athens. Johnson said Homeland Security estimates between 250 and 350 jobs will be created.
Employees from the Plum Island facility will be given the opportunity to transfer to the new lab, he said.
Grady Thrasher, co-founder of FAQ, said Athens would be "taking all the risk, all the degradation, for a few extra jobs."
Thrasher said he is concerned NBAF will be the first facility of its kind managed by Homeland Security, which the department may not have the experience to handle.
Nevertheless, Johnson said the department is qualified.
"DHS has been running Plum Island for five years," Johnson said. "This is not new to us."
"We just don't feel like Athens should be the guinea pig," Thrasher said. "(Athens) took the bait without understanding what the community interest was."
Johnson said Homeland Security is studying the potential environmental impact on the site. In light of the drought, available resources will play into the final decision, he said.
The NBAF supporters say the facility will provide much-needed jobs to Athens. Johnson said Homeland Security estimates between 250 and 350 jobs will be created.
Employees from the Plum Island facility will be given the opportunity to transfer to the new lab, he said.
Grady Thrasher, co-founder of FAQ, said Athens would be "taking all the risk, all the degradation, for a few extra jobs."
Thrasher said he is concerned NBAF will be the first facility of its kind managed by Homeland Security, which the department may not have the experience to handle.
Nevertheless, Johnson said the department is qualified.
"DHS has been running Plum Island for five years," Johnson said. "This is not new to us."
"We just don't feel like Athens should be the guinea pig," Thrasher said. "(Athens) took the bait without understanding what the community interest was."
Be the first to comment on this story