HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlum Island infoFISHERS I I ,NI CI GG- ASSOCIATION
P. O. Box 46,.~sh~~ York 06390 516-788-7029
November 2, 1999
To our membership:
The Civic Association Board of Directors
wishes to express our sincere appreciation for your
generous financial and membership support this
year. Our membership is at an all-time high, and
your financial support has allowed us to purchase
some much needed office equipment,
We are mailing the minutes of our October
meeting and our Annual meeting to you at this time.
Our new Secretary, Terry Crupi, will be monitoring
our telephone and fax line (631-788-7029). Please
do not hesitate to contact us.
I am also sharing with you a recent article
printed in the Southold paper.
Again, our most sincere thanks,
Nancy Hunt, President
Fishers Island Civic Association
Town Board, snarls
over Plum Isle news
By Gwendolen Groocock
SOUTHOLD--"Plum Island is a
parl of Somhold Town, and we should
bc informed and educated about what
goes on there."
TOWN Supervisor Jean
Cochran said at
HALL thelast regular
Town Board meet-
NOTES ing."Ir anyone has
an car lo tile U.S.
Department of Agriculture, let them
know we're nol happy campers."
in light of tile news that $140 mil-
lion may go toward upgrading die fed-
eral research facility to deal wid~ some
passed a resolution slrongly protest-
ing H~e proposal until tile following
f-tow might the upgrade affect lite
heahh and safety of town residents?
What would the environmental
impact be? How are these violent
substances to be transported to Plum
Island -- right down Route 48 in win-
,cry and pumpkin traffic?
And how is everyone to be warned
and evacuated from the East End'~n
the event of ah outbreak?
According to thc' supervisor,
Congressman Mike Forbes (D-
Ouogue) promised last week that
before any action is taken by the fed-
eral government, public hearings will
take place in Southold.
FIpS. oH. Eo RS
To the Membership:
We were delighted to learn that, for now, the Plum Island research-
upgrade ($24 million) has not been included in the current Federal budget
proposal. However, while the funding is "off the table" for the current
year, it will be reconsidered at a future time, and consequently, should be
monitored by us on an ongoing basis. (See Newspaper clippings)
Phil Knauth has requested that FICA remind everyone about the Ferry
dock construction work being done on the F.I. side. He asks that everyone
be aware that they will encounter two-way traffic the moment that they
drive off the ferry. Please drive and walk defensively.
At the request of the Membership, we are endeavoring to put
together a Community Calendar of Summer Events. If you have an event
that you wish to list, please leave a message on the FICA office telephone.
Please put the following dates on your calendar:
Sat. April 29 p.m. - Drinks and Daffodils at the Armstrongs
Sat. May 6 a.m. - Island Clean-Up Day
Please pick up your garbage bags and assignments at the Post Office
between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. If you are unable to work on that
date, but wish to participate and work on another date, please
telephone Mike Imbriglio or Charlie Stepanek for information.
Fri. May 12 at 4:45 p.m. - Harbor Committee Meeting - F.I. Utility Office
Sat. May 27 at 4:00 p.m. - FICA Quarterly Meeting - F.I. School
Wed. July 12 to Sat. July 15 - OP Sail 2000 in New London
The parade of tall ships into New London Harbor will be on the 12th.
All public transportation in and out of the Harbor will be affected
by this event. To date, there are 40 tall ships signed up. There are
9 ships that are 250 feet or longer. The largest ship is the 37'1 foot
Esmerelda from Chile. The Amistad, launched on March 25 at
Mystic Seaport, will be part of the fleet. Fireworks are scheduled
for Sat. 'Or~ h¢ 15.
Best Regards,
Just Plum Nervous
There's nothing usual about a visit to the animal disease research center
By PAUL CHOINIERE
Day Staff Writer
Plum IM~ld, N.Y.
D ATIONAL ~ASONING TOLD
I~ me there was nothing to ~.'
J~ '~-about my visit a week ago to the
animal disease research facility located on
this 800-acre island. Scientists at the center
study the world's most deadly and
contagious viruses that threaten farm
animals.
Every day researchers and support staff
board a passenger ferry in Old Saybrook
for the 40-minute trip to the island, located
just off the east coast of Long Island where
about 180 people are employed. In summer
it is a pleasant journey, but in winter it can
be a stomach-turning challenge to keep
breakfast in its place as the beat rises and
dives through heavy swells.
As I rode on the ferry a bumpy ride,
not as pleasant as a summer trip nor as
mean as a win}er journey -- I felt assured ~
JACK SAUER/Ihe Day
· Ad~ninistration building at the Plum
Z~land Animal Disease Research Center
by the "regulars" around me. Many were
scientists, far more educated than I, who
felt quite secure with the precautions used
to protect their safety and the public's from
the vh'ulent organisms within the center's
laboratories. And, after all, no virus was
deadly to humans, though some could
make a person quite sick.
Yet that emotional, irrational part of the
mind, ti~e part that stimulates unease no
matter how many times you get on an
airplane, kept me wondering ff something
could go wrong.
A release form I was required to sign
bolstered that irrational voice. I had to
agree that "in the event of an emergency" I
could be detained on Plum Island "pending
accomplishment of necessary biological
safety precautionary procedures." And for
five days after leaving, I could not have
contact with cattle, sheep, goats, deer, pigs,
pet birds or domestic poultry for fear of
infecting them.
So with conflicting emotions, I
journeyed to the island with a group of
other journalists to learn more about what
goes oil at the PI(un Island Animal Disease
Center: I also wanted to learn why the U.S.
Department of Agriculture feels it is
necessary to begin studying even more
See VISITORS page C2
Visitors to Plum Island research center can feel like strangers in a strange land
dangerous viruses there ones that can
kill animals and humans, a change that
would require even greater security:
fill
Visiting the center was a unique ex
perience. I have had to wear radiation
detection devices while visiting nu-
clear plants and taken special steriliza-
tion precautions in a lab where human
tissue was being grown, but nothing
matched the precautions I found on
Plum Island.
Everyone is required to strip naked
before entering the "biocontainment"
area. I can't speak for the women, but
the men's access point had all the priva-
cy of a boy's high school locker room.
Ail jewelry must also be removed.
Once in the containment section indi-
viduals are given underwear, socks,
sneakers and heavy.gauge paper jump
suits to wear.
Before leaving containment, all those
clothes are removed, the sneakers and
underwear to be disiufected and the
suits to be burned. Eyeglasses have to
be dipped into a liquid disinfectant to
make sure no organisms escape, as do
cameras, meaning only waterproof
· cameras could be used. Reporters had
40 leave their notebooks and pens be-
_hind to be burned, but not before the
· notes were faxed to the non-cantain-
Before exiting containment we all
· had to hack and spit, then blow our
-noses, to remove any viral agents that
r
may have taken up residence in our
mouths and noses. Hands were washed
:-as if preparhig for surgery, including
: scraping under f'mgernails, and a show-
. er with at least a three-minute rinse
-was mandated.
Michael Kfley, an animal research
safety officer, said such extraordinary
iprecantious are needed because the es-
cape of a virus could potentially devas-
tate livestock and cause an agricultural
economic crisis.
The center studies diseases that
_have long plagued farm animals and
the people who care for them -- such as
No sick animals are
brought to Plum Island.
They are only infected
during the research work
there. No animal leaves the
Plum Island research center
alive.
foot and mouth disease, eradicated in
this country since 1929, and African
swine fevm: They also study "emerg-
ing'' diseases such as vesicular stomati-
tis, known to kill cattle, horses and oth-
er hoofed animals, and which shows up
periodically in the southwestern Unit-
ed States.
Vaccines are tested at the cente~: Vet-
erinarians from this and other coun-
tries are trained there to identify dis-
eases. Products are developed to help
test for diseases in animals imported
into this country In the pursuit of this
research, animals, largely pigs, are put
posely infected and studied to deter
mine how the diseases run their course
and are spread from one animal to am
other. About 250 animals are destroyed
annually, mostly pigs but also cattle
and sheep, according to acting director
Lee Ann Thomas.
No sick animals are brought to Plum
Island. They are only infected during
the research work there. No animal
leaves the Plum Island research center
alive. Carcasses are incinerated.
Only once has a virus been known to
have escaped outside containment. In
1978 two steers penned outside the facil-
ity were diagnosed with foot and mouth
disease. Inadequate maintenance and
individuals moving about the center
without taking the necessary precau-
tions were cited as the source of viral
escape. The incident resulted in several
firings and changes in security,
Thomas said.
III
With its stringent procedures and
largely obscure work, Plum Island has
long been the subject of rumors, chiefly
that it is the site of biological warfare
research· The reports always are de-
nied by the agricultural department,
which has operated the facility for 45
years. Thomas Sawicki, chief safety of-
ricer at the center; cited factors that per-
petuate the rumors: Tbe island was pre-
viously a military outpost, it is strictly
off limits to the general public and it
largely avoids publicity
He recalled the visit several years
ago of a team of Russian scientists who
were validating the nation's compli-
ance with treaties prohibiting biologi
cal weapons and research. Sawicki said
the Russian visitors kept asking about
secret underground bunkers. There are
none. Sawicki said.
Those who work on the island are
well aware of its reputation and some-
times joke about it. Carlos Santoyo, the
assistant director, kidded with re-
porters about the "alien research" con-
ducted at the centex; a reference to
some of the more outrageous rumors
surrounding the work there.
The comment resulted in a goodma-
tured elbow to his ribs from the actb~g
directm; Thomas, who told him "we're
trying to stop those rnn~ors."
In more serious moments the re-
searchers said they were quite proud of
the work they do and its importance,
and are upset by speculation that some-
thing sinister goes on there.
In his laboratory Luis Rodriguez, a
microbiologist, is trying to understand
why vesicular stomatitis, a disease sim-
ilar to foot and mouth,seems to show
up in Culorado, New Mexico and Ari-
zona on a roughly 10-year cycle. While
it has not caused widespread animal
deaths, its emergence does cause eco-
nomic losses in the millions when
farmers are unable to sell cattle and
horse shows have to be cancelled until
the threat passes.
The disease is more prevalent in
Mexico and Central America, and one
theory is that the black flies and sand
flies that transmit it are sometimes car-
tied north by the wind patterns that ac-
compauy the periodic appearance of E1
Nine in the Pacific Ocean, Rodriguez
said. E1 Nine refers to abnormally high
water temperatures that create major
changes in weather patterns.
Work on organisms such as vesicular
stomatitis requires strict protocol. To
prevent any viral organisms from es-
caping, the research area is kept at neg-
ative pressure, with pressure becoming
gradually lower as you move toward
the most contaminated section where
the infected animals are kept. This
means air is always flowing inward
away from the outside world.
Laboratory material is nmved from
one place to another only in stainless
steel boxes that are air- and water-tight
and can be sterilized after each use.
searchers like Rodriguez work at
"biosafety cabinets." These cabinets
have curtains of air that prevent any
organisms from escaping into the re-
search lab and instead captures them
in highly sensitive filters. Airlock
doors separate the labs from the corri-
dors.
Plum Island's 40 animal rooms have
never had a cross-infection, meaning a
virus escapes from one room to anoth
er. All animal experiments follow a pro-
tocol approved by the Institutional Ani-
mal Care and Use Commiifee, which
has members both from the Deal com-
munity and scientific personnel. The
committee approves use of animals for
research only when computer models
or cell cultures cannot be used· Ani-
mals are killed by either lethal injec-
tion or by firing a belt into the brain, a
method of instant death commonly
used in the livestock industry, said Jeff
Babcock, animal care supervisor.
· No items can be released from the re-
search facility without being complete-
ly sanitized. Fumigation with
formaldehyde, bleaching, subjecting
materials to extremely high tempera-
tures and bombardment with high radi-
ation are all methods to make sure no
microorganism can survive, Sawicki
said. Some of the procedures take 16
hours for an item to be released, he
said· Items ranging from electric gener-
ators to fluorescent bulbs must be treat-
ed.
Dn Alfonso Torres, deputy adminis
trator fei' the USDA's Animal and Plant
Health and Information Service, said
even greater precautions will be needed
if Plum Island researchers are to take
on a new threat, the growth of so-called
"zoonotic" viral agents that can kill
both animals aml humans· Scientists
have observed a growing number of
such viruses. This year the Nipah
Virus was discovered in Malaysia
where it spread from pigs to farm work-
ers. About i00 hnman deaths were at-
tributed to tile outbreak that devastat
ed that coantry's pig industry
Plum lshmd would need the highest
levelof security Biosecurity Level4
-- to handle viruses that are deadly to
humans· Currently no animal research
laboratory in the country has that des-
ignation and there is only one in the
world, located in Australia. Torres esti-
mated the cost of constructien at $75
million. Reseurchers would have to be
outfitted with "space suits" when deal-
ing with these deadly viruses and im-
proved animal containment facilities
would be required, Torres said. With-
out improved research facilities, the
country cannot protect itself from
these new threats, and respond ade-
quately to them ff they happen, he said.
Whether and where to create such a
faciilty is now under discussion witbiu
the department, and Plum Island is a
leading candidate, Torres said.
Wllda Martinez, director for the
Agricultural Research Service in the
Northeast region, said the department
has no choice but to discuss the need
for a Level 4 facility
"Increased trade, increased interna-
tional travel, and the recurring source
of foreign diseases from natural reser-
voirs in Africa, Asia and the Middle
East, these are changes that are out ma
neuvering our defensive line and leav-
ing us vulnerable," Martinez said.
Adding to the nation's vulnerability
is the threat of biological terrorism.
she said.
Perhaps that little voice warning us
about the risks of the work being done
at Plum Island and what might happen
if the research there becomes more
dangeroas shoald really be warning us
what might happen ff it does not.
excnm~ge tor an aamlsslon oI gujg, t, Mr. l(usn is rolling me thee ,-3~. ~
and hoping that his day in co3~rf will go his way. It's a high- .
stakes game for the defe$~dgnt, but in the long mn, the citizeds
of Southampton Tow3-4'ill have a better chance of hearing all
the evidence and, yr'6~ghing for themselves the'real merits of the
case. In that rog/ard, it is they who are the winners.
Float Away
The U.S. Department of Agriculture still plans to keep its
date in Southampton on Sunday afternoon, even though the t~
subject of the meeting the proposed "upgrade" of the P1.LI_I_I_I_I_I_I_I~_m
Island Animal Disease Center to a Bio-Safety Level 4 fa~ility--
ap'~ars {o be a moot point, at least until next year. Or perhaps
for longer.
This week, U.S. Representative Michael P. Forbes was
successful in his bid to eliminate $24 million in funding .from
g~
the 2001 federal budget. That money was slated to pay for the
upgrade and allow the center to begin research involving some - tc
of the deadliest diseases affecting humans and animals. In part, . c
the research would be designed to prepare a defense agalngt rr
bio-terrorists by developing vaccines for deadly diseases, w
At Level 3, Plum Island has been a quiet neighbor--we have. o:
an idea what goes on across the water, but as long ns they are
able to keep it to themselves, live and let live. Hannibal Letter
might have been wary about swimming in the surf there in
"Silence 6f the Lambs," but folks on the East End generally
find "Anthrax Island," as he scornfully (and inaccurately)
-labeled it, a neutral presence.
· Dut at Level 4, the neighbors' activiti? go from dlsconcert-
L}ing to downright terrifying. So close~ to such a huge popula-
tion, a facility where supplies of toxins are held -substances
targeted by terrorists exactly because they are terrifyingly lethal
and contagions4efies common sense. And the'Department of
-Agriculture's silly musings about prevailing winds are no com-
fort: if there is a problem, most of the time it will blow out to .
seais that really supposed to make us feel safer.'?
Calls to completely shut down Plum Island are simple
overreaction: there is no evidence that the work they are
currently doing is a threat to either the North or South Forks, as
nearly a half-century of operation attests. But while the Bio-
safety Level 4 work on vaccines needs to be done, it should be
done elsewhere. The upgrade of Plum Island is ill-conceived,
and federal officials should let this Level 4 nonsense float out
to sea on the prevailing winds.
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THE SOUTHAMPTON PRESS /FEBRUARY 10, 2000
Suffolk Closeup
By Karl Grossman
"Bio-torrerism" is the main reason,
the U.S. Department of Agriculture
,says, for why it wants to have its Plum
Island Animal Disease Center work on
what Thc New York Times, which
broke the story, described as ~some of
the most dangerous diseases known to
man or beast."
If the Department of Agriculture
gets its way, super-lethal diseases--all
of which, D~ Lee Ann Thomas, diroc-
tot of the Phim Island Animal Disease
Center, acknowledged at a peblie
meeting last week, have "no earas or
vaeeines"--wouid be experimented
with on an island a mile and a quarter
off Long Island.
If terrorism is the maha issue, Pldm
Island is a thoroughly ridieuions place
to proceed with such research.
When the crash program to build
atomic bombs, the Manhattan Pro-
jeer, began at the start of World War
II, U.S. officials arranged for all its
fanillties to be placed inland spocifi-
eally because of concern over coastal
attark. Thus, its laboratories and
plants were located in New Mexino
(Los Alamas), Illinois (then at what
was called the Metallurgical Labora-
tory, now A~gorme), 'Tennessee (then
called Clinton Laboratory, now Oak
Ridge) and eastern Washington State
(Hanfard).
But the Department of Agriculture
would have "the most dangerous dis-
eases known to man or beast" re-
searched on a little island right off the
U.S. coast, which is thoroughly ex-
posed.
Long Islanders who take the Cross~
Sound Ferry to Connecticut need not
be reminded about how exposed Plum
Island--and its laborstaries--are. The
ferries, indeed all watoreraft heading
up or down Plum Gut, the channel be-
twoen the North Fork and Plum Is-
land, travel along Plum Island's coast
and the laboratories that sit on its
shores.
The labs are right there--virtually
in your face.
If Plum Island becomes the site for
research with super-lethal pathogens,
a feared "bio-terrorist" would need
not have to concoct a deadly biologi--
col potion overseas. All a terrorist
would have to do is head to Plum Is-
land on a day or night when the wind
is blowing from the east--as it does
regularly several months of the year--
and from the water do damage to a
Plum Island laboratory. A landing
would be easy. The U.S. mainland
could be devastated,
A terrorist attack on Plum Island is
A Sitting Duck
already a concern for the Department
of Agriculture. The department's
Emergency Preparedness Operational
Plan for its Plum Island Animal Dis-
ease Center includes a section on "Act
of Sabotage, Taking of Hostages or
Other Covert Act."
The plan has provision for 'the Suf-
folk County Puliee Department to ini-
tiate response teams of peliee forces
to be transported to Plum Island, ei-
ther by the aviation section [which
Ions--why the Department of Agricul-
ture wants the research done on Plum
Island is boeause, federal offietais say,
if there's an outbreak in Ames, it
could spread aeruss the nation, while
the prevailing wind in this area is
'from the west and would blow the
deadly disease pathogens over the At-
lantic. Yes, that's the situation much
of the year--but not this month and
next, for example, when the winds
routinely blow from the east off the
If terrorism is an issue, plum Island
is a ridiculous Choice.
has all of three small helicopters] or
coordinate movement via Plum Island
Animal Disease Center marine equip-
ment [two small ferries that dock in
Orient]."
If the research the Department of
Agriculture wants to do on super-
lethal pathogens has, in fact, to bo
done, it should be conducted in a phys-
ically unexposed area of tho nation: at
the Department of Agriculture's other
disease laboratory, in Ames, hiwa--in
the middle of Iowa and 'the United
States.
That's what Congressman Michael
Forbes is' urging. Congressman
Forbes was able this week So get re-
moved from the 2001 federal budget
the Department of Agriculture's re-
quest for $24 million for the first stage
in what the Department of Agricul-
ture calls an "upgrade" of its Plum Is-
land facility to a Bio-Safety Level 4
category so it could do research on
the highly lethal pathogens.
The ,Department of Agriculture is
making it clear, however, that it wili;
bo back next year to get the money in
the federal budget and go ahead with
its plans. Ge Plum Island battle is far
Another reasons-equally ridicu-
ocean over Long Island and toward
New York and the rest of the pepula-
· lion center of the United States.
Also, the location of John F.
Kennedy International Airport on
Long Island is cited by the depart-
ment. Most of the pathogens would be
flown to the United States on foreign
carriers. The nearest major airport to
Ames is in Des Moines. Yes, path-
ogens eon be simply flown to Kennedy
from overseas, but then how do.they
get to Plum Island? On a vehicle hav-
ing to traverse 100 miles of Long Is-
land roads.
Mr. Forbes, along with East End ac-
tivists, especially Shelter island-based
FIsh Unlimited and its' exeeulive di-
rector, Bill Smith, have been keys in,
for now, stopping the Plum Island
scheme. Now we eon expect, as Mr.
Forbes faces reelection, those with
vested interests involving Plum Island
joining those scientists at Breokhaven
National Laboratary--stoaming bo-
cause of Mr. Forbes's role in foreing
the permanent sliutdown of what had
been the largest nuclear reactor on
Long Island, BNL's high flux beam re-
actor--seeking to wrgak political re-
venge on Mr. Forbes.
The struggle eonthiuas.
Plum Island upgrade shelved
The U.S. Department of
Agriculture's plans to expand Plum
Island (N.Y.) research to include dis-
eases deadly to humans has appar-
ently been immunized for the time
being by President Clinton's budget
proposal as released on Feb. 7.
The president's $1.8 trillion bud-
get did not include funds for the
research, upgrade, a $24 million
USDA plan, which immediately drew
a lot of concern and criticism from
Connecticut's residents and its con-
gressional representation. The island,
which has been used for animal dis-
ease research since the 1950s, is locat-
ed within eight miles of the
Connecticut shoreline.
The next time such proposals
could be considered is October 2001,
when the fiscal 2002 budget is pre-
pared.
Isle
Safety stressed, restressed tn tour for officials & media
By Gwendolen Groocock
A rough ferry trip to Plum Island, a
short ride in a government-owned
bus, and the terra-cotta-pink U.S.
Department of Agriculture's Plum
Island Animal Disease Center came
into view. No strange miasma swirled
darkly about its doors, and the flock of
wild Canada geese on the lawn all ap-
peared, at a glance, to have one head
apiece.
In the wide entrance hall, pho-
tographs of livestock and notables
hang on the walls. Acting Director
Lee Ann Thomas, scientists and other
specialists greeted the large media
group that would overrun the
research facility for the whole day
Tuesday. Many commented that this
sort of thing really should be done
more often.
"Top security doesn't mean top
secret," said Wilda Maftinez, area
director for the Agricultural Research
Service (ARS), a branch of the
USDA. Many news articles about the
research center have been inaccurate,
she said, especially now that the
USDA is thinking of upgrading the
center's capability to Biosecurity
Level 4 (BSL-4).
It's been years, though, since the
island played host, and the silence has
fed rumors about biological warfare
research, strange fish in Plum Gut and
secret government bases/UFO
hangars in subterranean caverns.
Recently, some towns have passed res-
olutions demanding to be more
informed, and Southold and
Greenport officials took the tour on
Monday.
Before entering the labs, though,
everyone was told to strip naked and
proceed down a short hallway to sep-
See Plum, page 34
The Suffolk Tirnes-~ November 18;. 1999,
· ,~From page 1
arate men's and women's facilities
and some friendly instruction, with
the option of a towel wrap.
Socks, underwear, crinkly white zip
coveralls and neon-colored protective
glasses were supplied, and for the next
four hours, scientists and specialists
showed off the extensive security
measures used in the BSL-3 area.
HEPA filters remove particles from
the air day and night, and, as the pres-
ence of viruses increases, from the
labs to the animal pens, air pressure is
lowered so a constant inward flow is
maintained. Waste is incinerated,
sprayed with disinfectant, and fu-
migated with formaldehyde, com-
pliments of Tom Sawicki, the island's
safety officer.
Precautions stricter now
About 20 years ago, an outbreak of
foot and mouth disease reached ani-
mals penned out-
~l Call ,gO side. But back
home at l, hen,said Dr.
Keith Murray,
night and director of the
hug my country's largest
kids. I research facility,
the National
know Animal Disease
they're Center in Ames,
safe.~ Iowa, basic pre-
cautions like wear-
--Dr. Luis ing rubber gloves
Rodriguez were often not
strictly implement-
ed, in part because there was less
understanding of how dangerous
these diseases can be.
In the labs, Dr. Luis Rodriguez
showed how the bugs were handled in
little plastic vials inside plastic con-
tainers inside plastic jars, all in big
biosafety cabinets.
"It's not as though we're sloshing
viruses around the place," he said. "It's
like an onion, there are layers of safety
procedures that are done out of habit."
It's in the staff's own best interest to
handle the infectious agents correctly
and not let them escape, he explained.
"1 can go home at night and hug my
kids," he said. "1 know they're safe."
Scientists at Plum Island study dis-
eases like Foot and Mouth, African
swine fever, and West Nile fever,
which are categorized as BSL-3 as
they usually cause only mild illness in
healthy humans, or an effective vac-
cine exists. They are highly deadly to
Plum Island, looking east to west. The gap Is Plum Gut and beyond it, Orient
Point.
animals, though, and an outbreak
could occur in our country at any time
-- the recent Jamesport outbreak of
West Nile is the first in the Western
Hemisphere.
Testament to success
"We're trying to prevent these in-
fections being introduced into the U.S.
in the first place," said Dr. Murray.
"The record here is so successful that
most Americans don't understand
that there are potentially devastating
diseases not far from our shores."
In 1997 Foot and Mouth destroyed
the swine industry in Taiwan, causing
a $6 billion loss. The repercussion?
American corn farmers now sell $1.5
billion a year less feed to Taiwan.
Agriculture is the U.S.'s largest indus-
try, generating $198 billion a year, with
25 million people farming and raising
about 785 million cows, poultry, pigs,
sheep and horses.
Plum Island maintains banks of
Foot and Mouth vaccines for Ameri-
can livestock, and reseamh continues.
Rinderpest, swine cholera, hog
cholera, menangle, the Hanta virus,
African horse sickness and scrapie are
all still problems somewhere in the
world, and studied at the center. But
only animal diseases that sometimes
affect humans are studied -- no AIDS
or ebola, or genetically-engineered
mutant human-killers there, according
to the scientists.
This year in Malaysia, hundreds of
thousands of pigs and 250 people were
killed by the never-before-seen Nipah
virus, considered a huge threat to the
American swine industry. In Australia,
an outbreak of the new Hendra virus
killed horses and people, but was con-
tained because Australia has a new
BSL-4 lab and figured out how to stop
it, said Dr. Murray.
The main difference between BSL-3
and -4 is that in level 4 researchers
around the infecfed animals wear
"space suits" with separate air sup-
plies. All BSL-3 precautions are also
present, Dr. Murray explained.
So why does the U.S. need BSL-4
capabilities?
How bugs may travel
Both Nipah and Hendra are level 4
bugs, and could arrive in the U.S.
tomorrow, said the scientists. A travel-
er could be infected, or a terrorist
could attack the U.S. agricultural
industry and cause more loss of life
and damage than blowing up the
World Trade Center. And currently,
the U.S. can't study Nipah, Hendra, or
any of the other 13 level 4 viruses be-
cause it has no BSL-4 facilities to con-
tain them. The military and the Center
for Disease Control in Atlanta, Ga.,
can deal with BSL-4 viruses in small
animals and humans, but not in a cow,
horse, sheep or pig.
"Bioterrorism would not be the
most likely, but, yes, it's a possibility,"
said Dr. Mike Kiley, the ARS safety
officer on Pluai Island. "We don't
know what the capability is out there,
but we've
learned a
lot from the
Russian
defectors
about what
they were
working
Most of
the time, the scientists have no idea
why a virus appears where it does.
"If you asked me last year, I would
never have chosen West Nile as one of
the top 10 to study," said research sci-
entist Juan Lubroth. "It shows how
unpredictable outbreaks are."
Plum Island is studying three horses
infected with West Nile fever. The dis-
ease also infects birds and mosquitoes,
but is rarely fatal in humans. Plum
Island at BSL-4 would also study
Nipah and Hendra and whatever else
comes along.
"No one is sure why, but we're
encountering more and more of these
new diseases," said Dr. Murray.
"Believe me, it's absolutely essential
that we figure out how these viruses
are spreading."
Nice tour; no go
Plum Island visit
doesn't convince
environmentalists
B~v Gwendolen Groocock
Very impressive, said environ-
mentalists who toured the Plum Is-
land Animal Disease Center located
just off Orient Point on Tuesday, but
we still don't want you here.
Fish Unlimited, a Sag Harbor group
(CONPOSH) and the North Fork
Environmental Council were
unswayed in their unanimous opinion
that an upgrade to Biosafety Level-4
to research
even nastier
bugs at the
high-security
facility, should-
n't be allowed
as it's too close
to millions of
Long Islanders.
"It was fasci-
nating; I was
surprised they
were so open with us," said Fish
Unlimited's Bill Smith. "but I'm still
not convinced that Plum Island is the
place for a Biosafety Level-4 lab. I
understand that kind of research
probably needs to be done, hut mis-
takes happen, and it's just the wrong
place."
Debbie O'Kane, speaking for the
NFEC, agreed.
"I'm glad I took the tour, and I was
impressed with what goes on there,"
she said. "I was comfortable with their
safety procedures, and how they han-
dled things under normal circum-
stances. But if there was an outbreak,
we can't be evacuated, and I can't
imagine what it would be like if the
East End were qu~trantined.'
The U.S. Department of Agricul-
· ture, which runs Plum Island, is con-
sidering upgrading it from a BSL-3
lab, dealing with zoonotic animal dis-
eases that are only mildly infectious to
humans or can be prevented by vac-
cine, to BSL-4, allowing research, on
animal diseases that pose a greater
threat to humans. Officials stress that
Plum Island would not; as has been re-
ported elsewhere, be dealing with
human diseases like Ebola. Those are
dealt with in other locations around
the country, including at the Centers
for Disease Control in Atlanta, Ga.
Weather consequences
"I understand that what they would
put in place to upgrade to level four
would protect the technicians and sci-
entists, with the space suits and the air
supply," said NFEC board member
and Orient resident Thor Hansen.
"But that wouldn't change much for
the neighbors."
In light of Plum Island being in the
path of hurricanes, Mr. Hansen said he
was uncomfortable that no one
seemed to know what wind speeds the
water tower, which supplies water
pressure, and the backup generator's
See Plum, page 27
m.-From page 25
stacks could handle. Could PIm
Island lose water and electric in aba
storm, and what would happen I
their safety systems then, he wants ~
know.
On the environmental front, bo~
Fish Unlimited and the NFEC wou
like more information on what oth,
spills and contamination problen
there might be. Some lined wast
water lagoons on the island are knov
to contain carcinogenic PCBs, and
remediation program is under wt
But the liner looks in bad shape, sa
Mr. Smith, and he's heard there m
be PCBs in the area where the fez
boats dock.
On a separate issue, the facili
wants to increase its heated wasl
water discharge levels from 60,000
85,000 gallons a day, and Mr. Smith
concerned for the ecosystem of t
Peconic Bay.
JACK SAUER / The Day
These pigs in the animal containment area i, Building 101 on Plum lshmd n'ill he used./bt disease research.
the 3mall oue abore to rooms that can at'rolnlnod~llc 24 cou,s.
[iPlum Island lead candidate for upgrade
I to
more dangerous research on diseases
doned as a military facility
The public will get an opportunity
to question the pt~actices on Plum Is-
land and the plans for its future
;when the USDA hosts an informa-
~tional meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday at
~the OsWegatchie Elementary School
~ Waterford. The federally owned is-
~hnd is located only a few miles from
· the Connecticut coast and less than a
,mdc from Long Island.
.~, While it has not made a formal re-
,~luest to Congress, the Agmculture
· 'Department is discussing the need
;t'or a Level 4 facility for animal re-
iearch, officials said. Because ani-
mal research is done there, Plum Is-
· ~and is the lead carididate for such a
~.'a~ility, said Dr. Alfonso Torres, the
':deputy adminislrator of the Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service
at the USDA. He estimated construc-
· ,tion costs at about $75 million.
· 1 Level 4 research is conducted at
the U.S. Centers for Disease Control
in Atlanta, Ga;; but that work focuses
~n fatal contagiq/us illnesses that
[hreaten hilmap/g! q~h~re is no such
facilitY' dedicated to Imimal research~
i~laid Murray,, Unt~ recently, Murray
~r{red ag dtrectot- of the only such
I~acility in the world~ located in Gee-
.~fong, Australia. It opohed in 1986.
;~ Murray said recent history shows
· fhe need for a Level 4 animal re-
,$earch facility: ·
· in 1971 there was a large epidem-
: of Venezuelan equine encephalitis
leross much of' the southern U.S.
~lormally circulated in wild birds
ind mosquitoes, the illness in 1971
i~piiled over into humans. Thousands
f people were infected and about $0
ted. Spraying and the use of vac-
ines halted the spread.
· In the early 1990s, a new disease,
lendra virus, was discovered in Aus-
ofralia and Was found to be lethal in
· ]}oth horses and humans. The virus
· ,Fas quiek!y controlled before it
.]spread.
· Recently, West Nile Virus was
found in New York and Connecticut.
Again, a virus common in birds and
mosquitoes affected humans and oth-
er animals. Eight human deaths
were linked to the outbreak, said Lee
Ann Thomas, acting director the re-
'search centeE
· This year a new virus the Ni-
pah Virus -- was discovered in
Malaysia where it spread from pigs
to farm workers. About 100 deaths
were attributed to the outbreak, and
JACK KAUER / The Day
· D~: Michael Kiley, animal
research safety officer at Plum
Island, explains to reporters on
Tuesday the bnportance of hav#lg
a large-anhnal "Biosecurity Level
4"facility in the United States.
the country's pig industry was seri-
ously damaged.
Murray said scientists have no ex-
planation why such outbreaks are
becoming more common. Without a
proper research facility to investi-
gate them, the country is vulnerable,
he said.
"Nipah Virus is a very serious po-
tential threat to the U.S. swine indus-
trlg Its introduction would devastate
the industry More importantly ... in-
fected swine would be a dangerous
source of infection for the general
public as well as those workiug in the
swine industry," Murray said. "Yet
despite the dangers posed by Nipah
and Hendra virus ... the USDA can-
not do research on these viruses. We
have no programs to develop diag-
nostic tests ... to ensure that these
viruses are not accidentally bronght
into the U.S."
Murray said the iucrease to Level
4 would not be to protect the pablic,
but provide greater protection for
workers. Scientists wouhl bare to
wear "space suits" when dealing
with these deadly viruses. Better fa-
cilities would be needed to handle
large animals purposely infected for
research purposes.
During the mast current fiscal
year, euding Sept. 30, about 250 pigs
were destroyed during Phun Island
research, as well as several cattle and
sheep, Thomas said. All animals
used in research on tim island are de-
stroyed and tbeir carcasses inciner-
ated.
Reporters taken on a tour Tuesday
were showu the extensive measures
already taken to ensure no virus es-
capes fronl the re~earcb laboratories.
Research facilities are kept under
negative pressure, with tbe lowest
pressure kmlld ill the area of higbest
contamination the 40 ani~nal con-
tainment rooms. They range from
tbe size of a large cio§et to a 1,000-
square4oot room capable of han-
dling two dozen cattle, said Jeff Bab-
cock, animal care supervisor
The negative pressure feature
means no microorganism can flow
out of the room, but instead is
sucked inward to remain in contain-
ment. Highly sensitive filters are
used to capture any particles that are
vented to or from the building.
Items are only released from the
research center after being sanitized
and tested to make sure no living or-
ganism remains, said Thomas Sawic-
ti, safety officer for the facilltg Viral
samples shipped to and from the fa-
cility are packed in highdmpact ship-
ping crates and packed with an or-
ganism that would kill the virus
should there be a breach in the con-
tainen
All visitors to the high-security ar-
eas must remove all jewelry, com-
pletely strip and don underwear,
jumpsuits and' sneakers provided by
operators. Upon[l~aving. the jump-
suits and clothing are discarded; the
suits to be burneB and the clothing
disinfected. All visitors must shower
extensively before leaving, making
sure to scrape under their nails, blow
their noses and spit to make sure
they carry no microorganisms out
with them, Eyeglasses must be
dipped in disinfectant before exiting
containment.
Despite these precautions, visitors
also agree to avoid for five days any
contact with cattle, sheep, goats,
ilee~; pigs, pet birds, domestic poultry
and i:annot visit during that time
farals, zoos and pet stores.
Each year a hunt is conducted to
kill auy deer that have managed to
swim to the island and breed there.
Last year about a dozen were found
and killed, Sawicki said.
Disease center upgrades focus of public meeting
· IN BRIEF: A public meeting about island currently study diseases that are potentially entists working with more dangerous pathogens would
the scientific activities of the Plum Island
Animal Disease Center will take place
Thursday, Nov. 18, from 7 to 9 p.m. at
the Oswegatchie Elementary School
located at 470 Boston Post Road in
Waterford.
By Steven Scarpa
Staff Writer
In an effort to quell the concerns of the residents of
the New York and the Connecticut shoreline, govern-
ment officials have scheduled public meetings in both
locations to discuss any potential upgrade to the test-
ing facilities on Plum Island.
The Connecticut meeting will take place Thursday,
Nov. 18, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Oswegatchie
Elementary School located at 470 Boston Post Road in
Waterford.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is
considering asking for $75 million this year and $140
million over the next two years to study even more
dangerous diseases on the island that is located less
than 10 miles from New Londom Scientists on the
lethal to animals. An upgrade would mean scientists
would begin studying animal diseases that can be
lethal to humans. The increased expenditure is a result
of increased concern about biological terrorism to
American food supplies.
U.S. Rep. Sam Gejdenson (D-2) and U.S. Senators
Christopher Dodd and Joseph Lieberman wrote a let-
ter to the Secretary of the USDA Dan Glickman
regarding the proposal to increase the level of biohaz-
ards being studied on Plum Island. The letter asked
that more information be provided so that the lawmak-
ers could determine the threat, if any, to their con-
stituents.
Currently, the facility, located off Orient Point at the
end of the north fork of Long Island, is graded agri-
cultural Biosafety Level Three. This means the con-
tainment areas, which hold viruses dangerous to ani-
mals, have filtered air, sealed doors and negative air
pressure to prevent germs from leaking. Level Three
security is geared to prevent the escape of microor-
ganisms into the environment. Scientists on Plum
Island currently study screw worms, foot-and-mouth
disease and African swine fever Although Plum Island
officials say them has never been any serious leak of
pathogens into the air, in 1978 there was an outbreak
of foot-and-mouth disease on the island.
An increase to Biosafety Level Four means that sci-
wear decontmninated suits and breathe only purified
air Measures are taken to prevent, not only outside
contamination, but also contact between microorgan-
isms and lab personnel. Level Four means the diseases
studied are potentially lethal to humans.
Sandy Miller Hays, director of information for the
Agricultural Research Service, had this to say about
recent articles on Plum Island - "some are accurate and
some are not." The Nov. 18 meeting, she said, will be
an effort to remedy that.
'°There has been a lot of press lately about Plum
Island about what goes on there and what the plans are
for the future. This (the meeting) is primarily to
answer people's questions," said Miller Hays.
There will be presentations from USDA scientisks
as well as outside experts. Ongoing programs at the
island and safety procedures will be among the sub-
jects discussed.
Miller Hays confirmed renovations to the facility
are an "ongoing program" but said that any upgrade in
Biosafety Level is a "great big, fat if." She said that if
upgrades were made, Plum Island is just one of many
facilities throughout the nation that could potentially
be under consideration.
"(The proposed upgrade) is all very speculative.
The USDA is a long, long way from making any kind
of decision,': said M~iller Hays. ~ : .; ~ ,i ~
Of PILOTs
& Plum Island
Should USDA center supply $$$
in lieu of $1.6M in property taxes?
By Gwendolen Groocock Thc supc[~isor said she go{ tlw idea
Plum Island could be become
Southold Town's golden goose, ii'
town officials get their way.
The 840-acre research island, just
nff the tip of Orient Point, is run by
the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
According to Town Assessor Scott
Russell, it has a fair market value of
$109 million, and if not for its federal
tax-exempt status, the island would
generate over $1.6 million in proper-
ty taxes each year.
Now Southold is figuring out if it
can get its hands on some of that
money. If it's successful, the town
could rake in annually as much as
$439,587, the solid waste district
$35.770 and the county just under
582~000. The Orient fire. park and
musquito districts could receive just
over $209,0(10, with the lire disnict
getting the lion's share, about
$178.368.
Thc biggest nest egg, however, as
much as $773,450, could go to thc
Oysterponds School District.
"Eight hundred acres is a lot pro-
portionally for Southold," said Sn-
pervisor Jean Cochran, who, after
running the idea by Congressman
Mike Forbes (D-Quoguc), sent let-
ters to President Bill Clinton, Secre
tary nl Agriculture Dan Glickman
and Floyd Horn, director of agricul-
tural research. ~'ll's only fair that we
he colupcnsalcd,"
that the USDA can bu conxinccd to
lily such shiny eggs upon leaguing
that thc 'lown of Brnokha~cn no~
gets PILOT menu) Item thc
Departmcnl of Encrg5 [u~
Brookhaven National Lab. PILOT, or
payment in lieu of taxes, compensates
for property nol on the lax rolls.
State and federal agencies that o~n
huge chunks of land, but don't ha~e
to pay regular prnpcrty taxes,
these to top up the depleted
of municipalities that inight other
wise dry up and blow awa5.
In September, Frank Crcsccnzo.
manager of BNL's on-site DOE et-
rice, handed Brookhaven To~n a
check for $890,000. Such payments
have been possible since the late
1940s, when tt~c DOE passed thc
Atomic Energy Act. In thc ]vt>i)b thc
DOE buught ahont ~.n00 ac~cs
land next to BNL., i.20t~ oI which
now generating ibc PILOt'
~e payment is discrctionars, though,
said Mr. Crcscenzo, and will onl5
given to Brookhaven qk)~n
if Congress appropriates it.
Furthermore. the value of propc:
is negotiated, he explained, so ~'~
unlikely that a texan's lair
value figure would bc thc one used
n basis for PILOT.
Southold's rcquc>i tt~ thc
announced pt>-~ibic upgrade plans
for thc research facility, which han-
dles infectious agents from around
thc ~odd Thc upgrade would allow
cla>sificd as -biolcvel 4." Town offi-
cials have passed resolutions object-
~n¢.~o thc plan. cnmplaining that
Stfuthold is complctcl} left out of the
decision-making loop. The supervisor
~aid thc PILOT request isn't connect-
cd tu objecuons to the upgrade.
If Southold can transform Plum
Island into the aforementioned
goose, it will be a first for the USDA.
"I'herc arc over a dozen depart-
taunts within the USDA, and some
payments are made by the Forest
Sc~vtcc on vast properties in the Pa-
cific Northwest," said Mike Young of
the USDA's budget office in Wash-
ingtnn. "Beyond lhat, I'm not aware
of any compensations made by any
otl~cr USI)A agency."
'lite NEVV Yt)lql( 'I IMI~,% [~-'~[~0 FNII)A Y, NOVF_MIH.t~' 19, 199~
R EG 10~4
Plan to Import New Viruses Draws Concern
Research Center Off Long Island WouM Study Emerging Strains
RIVERHEAD, NY., Nov. 18
Stressing safety and trying to de-
bunk a cloak-andelagger image they
said was undeserved, officials of the
Plum Island Animal Disease Center
turned to the public Wednesday night
to seek support [or an expansion that
would allow top-security research on
viruses that are deadly to animals
and humans.
But the reaction was mixed at the
public meeting in Greenport, a com-
munity on the North Fork of Long
Island that is about 10 miles from the
offshore center, and where many of
the center's 180 employees live.
About 200 residents, including lab
employees, attended the meeting, the
first of several to be held in coming
months, including one scheduled for
Thursday night in Waterford, Conn.,
about 10 miles north of Plum Island.
The proposed addition would re-
quire Congressional approval and, if
approved, might not be in place fqr
several years.
At Wednesday's meeting, in an
Americam Legion hall, a question-
and-answer period continued beyond
the time laboratory officials had al-
lotted, as some residents and local
officials questioned the wisdom of
imporung lethal and highly coma-
g~ous animal viruses to an island one
mile off the eastern tip of densely
populated Long Island and less than
100 miles east of Manhattan
"If one of these things ge~ out, it
wdI make West Nile virus seem like
child's play," said Anne Kristiansen,
a residen{ of Hunting~on
Stale Assemblywoman Pallicia L.
Plum Island is one mile from the
eastern tip of Long Island.
for us to bo prepared to combat
bioterrorism The central issue here
is whether Plum Island is the appro-
priate location to handle some of the
most dangerous germs that are
known to man."
But David E Kapell, the mayor of
Greenport, said a tour of the labora-
tory that he and other officials took
on Monday had reassured him. "I
can undersland people's fear, but on
the other hand, Plum Island has been
there 50 years and there have been
no incidents," he said
those needed at the higher classifica-
tion.
The change would allow the center
to study foreign viruses, including
newly emerging and previously
known strains, that could pose a po-
tentially catastrophic threat to hu-
mans and animals if they were intro-
duced into domestic animal stocks.
The Clinton administration has ex
pressed fears about a growing threat
of biological terrorism, which could
introduce into animals viruses for
which there is no known cure; the
viruses could then pass on to hu-
mans. But members of a panel of
high-ranking laboratory and agricul-
tural department officials at the
hearing played down the threat of
bioterrorism, saying the BL4 lab
would be used primarily to 4nhamce
the lab's mission of protecting the
country's $90 billion livestock indus-
try against foreign viruses.
Those officials said there had been
no final decision where to put the
BL4 lab, but they left no question that
Plum Island was in the lead.
"Ti~ere really is no short list of
Officials in the agriculture department played down threats of blote~r orism
when discussing changes at the research cente~ on Plum Island recently.
at Kennedy International Airport m
small vials within larger vials, pack-
aged in plastic-lin¢<i cardboard con-
tainers that, Dr. Kiley said, could
withstand an airline crash Couriers
transport the packages by (m on the
Long Island Expressway and other
roads to O~ient Point, where {hey are
laken by boat to the island
Sandy M Hays, lhedbetlm of ihe
Agricullmal Research Service mfor~
manding lhat the Suffolk County
Health Services Department be al-
Island ha~calledonthefederalgov-
a potential site for the BL4 lab
Thomas W Sparkman, lhe Firsl
alternatives," said Wilda Martinez,
the area director for the Agricultural
Research Service
The officials said that the island
had advantages over other possible
sites because it already had a BL3
center and the scientific staff to
study foreign amimal diseases.
"You have to take into account
where the good scientists are," said
D~ Michael Kiley, the Animal Re~
search Service safety offJce~ al
Plum Island
Di Kiley said ~m upgIading of the
Plum Is.
dot com
B~y Gwendolen Groocock
Once cloaked in mystery, Plum
Island has stepped into the virtual
light with a new website, launched on
Monday at www. ars.usda.gov/plum.
"The Agricultural Research Service
posted the website so the public can
learn more about Plum Island's
Animal Disease Center," said Sean
Adams, spokesperson for the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, which
oprates the island research facility a
mile off Orient Point. "It's the kind of
facility that really lends itself well to a
virtual tour, because it's not easy to
visit. The website is pretty unique in
that it's very detailed, but at the
[Agricultural Research Service] site,
we also have information on other
research locations, an image gallery,
news, and stuff for kids."
The Plum Island site contains pages
with information on the island's mili-
tary and research history, and the cen-
ter's research mission and scientific
accomplishments. It also explains the
safety measures practiced at the
biocontainment labs in which virulent
animal diseases from all over the
world are studied.
Plum Island's labs specialize in deal-
ing with diseases of large animals, with
an eye to protecting the nation's $90
billion livestock
industries
against foreign
diseases like
African Swine
Fever.
In the past year,
the USDA has
stepped up
efforts to get
federal funding to upgrade the
research labs to biosafety level 4, but
failed to get $24 million specifically
for the upgrade in this year's federal
budget.
Revamped for about $60 million in
the early 1990s, the labs now deal with
biosafety level 3 viruses. These are
deadly to animals, but are not consid-
ered a signficiant threat to humans, or
for which human vaccines are effective.
Level 4 bugs also can be lethal to man,
with no vaccines yet formulated.
If Plum Island is to become the
country's first level 4 animal lab, more
stringent biosafety measures must be
installed, such as separate air supply
"space suits" for scientists.
Once criticized for fostering a se-
cretive and unwelcoming air, which
has given rise to all manner of specu-
lation and rumors, Plum Island has
taken steps to "open its doors" in
recent months. First there was a
round of tours for public officials and
the media, and now the website.
Plum Island's new director, Dr.
David Huxsoll, head of pathobiology
at Louisiana State University, is await-
ing confirmation.
Some critics, like the North Fork
Environmental Council and some for-
mer Plum Island employees, say that
the recent public relations effort is all
very well, but serious safety concerns
still exist on the island at level 3, and
should be addressed before any
upgrade to level 4 is contemplated.
Plum Island upgrade shelved
The U.S. Department of
Agriculture's plans to expand Plum
Island (N.Y.) research to include dis-
eases deadly to humans has appar-
ently been immunized for the time
being by President Clinton's budget
proposal as released on Feb. 7.
The president's $1.8 trillion bud-
get did not include funds for the
research-upgrade, a $24 million
USDA plan, which immediately drew
a lot of concern and criticism from
Connecticut's residents and its con-
gressional representation. The island,
which has been used for animal dis-
ease research since the 1950s, is locat-
ed within eight miles of the
Connecticut shoreline.
The next time such proposals
could be considered is October 2001,
when the fiscal 2002 budget is pre-
pared.
r FRIDAY~ NOVEMBER 19, lg99, NEW LONDO~
Plum Island
is'safe, local
residents told
Biological warfare
research not part of
program, officials say
By GEORGINA GUSTIN
Day Staff Writer
Waterford -- Dozens of worried
residents attended a meeting Thurs-
day night as officials fi.om the U.S. De-
partment of Agriculture gathered to
explain the mission of the Plum Is-
land Animal Disease Center and as-
suage any safety concerns that resi-
dents of southeastern Connecticut
may have about the 45-yeur-old cente~
The center, one of the pre-eminent
facilities of its kind in the world and
the only one in the country that con-
ducts research on animal diseases
that originated in foreign countries, is
being considered by the USDA as a
candidate for an increased biosafety
level· The increase from the center's
current biosafety level 3 to a biosafety
level 4 would mean that even more
dangerous animal bacteria and virus-
es could b~ studied at the center,
which is located several miles off the
shoreline in Long Island Sound.
The center has long been the sub-
ject of myth and speculation, includ-
ing the idea that Lyme disease was
generated by its engineers and that
the Department of Defense conducts,
research on biological weapons there.
Many residbnts feel officials from the
USDA and Plum Island have been reti-
cent about the facility's operations
and object!yes.
But officials from the center and
the UsDA .told the approximately 60
people a~: the Oswegatchie School that
the facility:is strictly devoted to re-
seai:chirig animal viruse~ that could
severely:impact the coUntry's agricul-
tural econo .mg. iThey emphasized that
no ~tolOgi~.a~ ~warfare research has
beerf ~nducted on thb island.
· According to th~ USDA, agricul-
~ See PLUM ISLAND page AB
Plum Island doing research only on animal viruses, residents told at hearing
ture is the country's largest industry,
producing $198 billion in cash re-
ceipts, $93.4 billion from the animal
sector. If a virus were to affect live-
stock, it could have a potentially cat-
astrophic effect on the national and
global economies.
"Most of you are aware of the flur-
ry of articles about Plum Island be-
ginning with the Sept. 22 New York
Times article suggesting that the
Agriculture Department was seek-
lng to turn Plum Island into a 'top se-
curity laboratory,' "said Wilda Mar-
tinez, the area director for the Agri-
cultural Research Service, a division
of the agriculture department. "Top
security does not mean 'top secret.'
"Yes, we are discussing the need
for Biosecurity level 4 facilities,"
Martinez added. "We can't afford not
to. For there are new, emerging dis-
eases like Nipah viruses that affect
both animal and man. To adequately
evaluate the impact of these diseases
on U.S. animal populations, to devise
rapid detection procedures and to de-
velop means of control, we must
have (biosafety level 4) facilities.
There are no Caiosafety level 4) facili-
ties in the U.S. capable of conducting
the required large animal studies.
With such capability we can ensure
the security of the animal industry
and public health."
R Keith Murray, director of the
USDA's National Animal Disease
Center in Ames, Iowa, a facility that
researches animal diseases that are
native to the United States, empha-
sized the excellent safety record of
Plum Island and the collective exper-
tise of the scientists who conduct re-
search there.
"It is one of the most important
(biosafety level 3) facilities in the
world," said Murraz "There has
been very substantial investment to
upgrade facilities, support services
and safety features over the past
decade. There is an autstanding safe-
ty record. And there is a cadre of sci-
entific staff that is unrivaled inter
nationally in foreign animal disease
research. No other site in the U.S. du-
plicates Plum."
Several residents in attendance,
however, were skeptical about Plum
Island's safety record and asked
where they could locate documenta-
tion that supported it. Officials
quickly noted that all of the records
are on file and can be accessed by
any member of the public.
Other residents expressed concern
about the center's ability to prevent
leaks of deadly viruses.
"No matter what precautions are
taken, accidents happen." said David
Keppel of Essex. a member of a
group called the Council for Respon-
sible Genetics based in Cambridge,
Mass.
Keppel. and others, also expressed
their concern that the center could
be interpreted by other countrms as
a biological wart'are research center
and could "stimulate an ~nternation
al biological arms race.'
To this, Roger Breeze. the ~iirector
of Plum Island from 1987 t3 1995.
said. "The U.S. does not have a bio-
logical wurthre program. Period."
LETTERS TO THE DAY
Viruses have little loyalty
To the Editor of The Day:
As one who attended the Nov. 18 hearing by the Unit-
ed States Department of Agriculture on possible plans
to make Plum Island a highest-hazard BSL-4 germ re
search facility, I found the USDA's reassurances far
from reassuring (The Da>; No,z 19).
The USDA officials glossed oven but did not truly an-
swer, very serious safety issues for this community
The Day's headline reads "Plum Island doing research
only on animal viruses.' But, as even Dn Keith Murray
USDA's top safety expert admitted, the reason for the
upgraded facility is to allow work with diseases that
are deadly to both animals and humans.By definition,
these diseases are dangerous to us.
Can maximum security measures make such a facili-
ty safe when it is only a few miles from our shore? Even
multiple barriers in the quest to build a "Mag[not Line"
may be futile. In August 1994, a researcher at Yale Uni-
versity's distinguished Arborvirus Research Unit be-
came seriously ill with infectious sa[ua virus after a lab-
oratory accident. But he failed to reco~,mize the danger
for several days afterthe incident and went to Boston
for the weekend, where he exposed others.
This community knows from Millstone that the best-
laid safety plans often go wrong: mechanical error, hu-
man error and sometimes cover-up sooner or later de-
feat the barriers.
Nor was I convinced that the facility is unrelated to
biological warfare. Dn Murray admitted that Plum Is-
land had worked with the Defense Department in the
past. If Plum Island becomes, as proposed, the o~ily BSb
4 facility in North America for human-animal diseases,
it is hard to think the military will be uninterested. In-
deed, a citizen might be excused for thinking that USDA
management of Plarn Island was, in part, cover.
You quote Dn Roger Breeze, former director of Plum
Island, as saying "The United States does not have a bio-
logical warfare program. Period." If not, it is puzzling
why the Biological Defense Research Progran~ had to is-
sue a three-inch thick environmental impact statement
or why President Clinton plans to spend $2.8 billion on
the subject.
I heard Dn Breeze say "The United States does not
have an offensive biological weapons program." There's
the catch. To a lay person "merely defensive" sounds
reasonable and reassuring. But germs are not llke famil-
iar weapons that take years to build. They breed fast. ff
we collect extremely rare strains of exotic disease or
create new strains through genetic engineering -- and
develop vaccines for them, it is potentially offensive, a
sword shield pair.
Other nations will not be soothed by our pure words
or thoughts, and may take it as a license to develop pro-
grams of their own. (A key issue here is secrecy Again,
the legalistic wording of comments at the hearing was
far less "open" than your report indicates.)
Area officials may wish to take the guided tour, with
milk and cookies, which the 12SDA kindly offered. But
soothing words and guided tours cannot erase hard
questions for this community and the nation.
David Keppel
Essex
Among
friends
Mayor finds gaggle
of Greenporters in
tour of Plum Island
By Tim Wacker
GREENPORT--With ail the press
Plum Island is getting lately, Mayor
Dave Kapell decided to weigh in on
the matter after taking a tour of the
facility recently.
The federal animal disease research
lab on the island could use a few more
friends on the
VILLAGE
HALL
NOTES
North Fork, so
managers have
opened the doors
for tours the past
;-" few days. What
Mr. Kapell found is that the federal
facility is run by down-home people,
and that's as strong an argument as he
needed to lend his unqualified support.
"I've got to say that in my path
through the lab I had to stop every
few minutes and say hello to someone
who comes from Greenport," Mayor
Kapell said at last Thursday's Village
Board work session. "They're all our
neighbors who run the place."
Plum Island has been of particular
interest lately with the announcement
of plans to upgrade it to handle the
most infectious of diseases, But that
doesn't concern the workers there,
said Mr. Kapell, who added that was
reassuring to him.
"They would be the first to be af-
fected,'' said the mayor. "This type of
economic opportunity is vital. What
more can you ask for than a high-tech
lab on Plum Island that you won't
ever see except by boat."
7Pium Island considering a higher level of research,,
JACK SAUER/The Oay
· Luis Rodriguez, a microbiologist at the Plum Island
Animal Disease Center, uses a powerful microscope to
view a virus specimen.
Officials say country
ill-prepared to deal
with new diseases
By PAUL C}IOINIERE
Day Staff Wri er
Plum Island, N.Y. -- After years of
saying little about what they do, offi-
cials at the animal disease research fa-
cility on this tiny island are on a cam*
palgu to reassure the public of its safe-
ty and make the argument about the
need for even more dangerous research
there.
Scientists are becoming increasingly sponse to pul
aware of viruses that are a threat to partment of
both animals and people, yet the coun- ares the rese
try is ill-equipped to study this new becomings"
public health danger, said E Keith Mur* ty The highe
ray, director the National Animal Dis- low highly ct
ease Center in Ames, Iowa. To properly be deadly to
evaluate these new diseases will re- mats, to be in
quire an animal-research facility with Animal illnc
a higher level of security, Murray said. are not the s
Murray made his comments Tues- Shrouded
day to a group of journalists invited to the public, tl
tour the Plum Island Animal Disease been rumorc
Canter The visits came one day after cai warfare
the research center hosted local gov- strongly de~
ernment officials,from towns in south- Animal rese
eastern Connecrleut and Long Island. there since
The sudden openness has come in re- :