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Boston University Biolab Delayed. Project Bioshield Controversy. Project BioShield. On July 21, 2004 President Bush signed into effdct Provides new tools to improve medical countermeasures protecting Americans against a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) attack.
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Boston University Biolab Delayed • Project Bioshield Controversy
Project BioShield • On July 21, 2004 President Bush signed into effdct • Provides new tools to improve medical countermeasures protecting Americans against a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) attack.
...Project Bioshield • Boston University applied • Awarded funding from the National Institute of Health (via the Department of Defense) to build a Level 4 Bioterrorism Lab
What is a BSL4? • There are four levels, level four is the highest • Most deadly pathogens (i.e. tularemia, ebola, anthrax)
Problem- Supposed Location • Boston’s South End/Roxbury neighborhood • densely populated
Which one does not belong? • http://www.ace-ej.org/BiolabWeb/Biolabdocs/WhichOneDoesNotBelong3-12-04.pdf
BU claims... • will create jobs- temporary and permanent • More than 1,300 construction jobs will be generated. An anticipated 660 permanent jobs -- at all levels including: environmental services, lab technicians, scientists and administrative staff-- will be created to operate the facility. The laboratory will contribute $1.9 million in job training and housing linkage payments to the City of Boston. • lab is safe • Lab Specifications • http://www.biosquare.org/bldgspecs/bldgspecs.html • http://www.biosquare.org/siteplan/siteplan.html
Community Doesn’t Buy It • BU has a bad track record • lab doesn’t belong in the area • worried about safety • environmental injustice • residents have filed lawsuits (BRA, BU, BMC) for violating MEPA
Recent Development • State is reevaluating the lab • National Research Council of the National Academies deemed federal analysis conducted by the NIH a failure • http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/29/AR2007112902133.html
Article: Opening of BU biolab delayed • lab was to be open this fall, 70% complete • still undergoing environmental analysis • legal cases have yet to be resolved • may not be open until August 2009