Issues of Growth & Development Series

Column #36 — Homeland Security

The following column was received from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC). It provides background on the new facility that will start construction in 2005 and complete in 2008.

Current Status

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is conducting an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process according to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), became law on January 1, 1970. It established a national policy to protect the environment. Federal agencies are required to integrate the NEPA process into other planning processes to ensure that planning and decisions consider environmental values.

NBACC is currently receiving public EIS comments. A public hearing was held at Frederick Community College on June 22nd and another meeting is scheduled for October 5th at Governor Thomas Johnson Middle School.

Overview

NBACC is the facility planned for the Fort Detrick National Interagency Biodefense Campus in the DHS Science and Technology Directorate’s Office of Research and Development.  The center will have two biodefense programs of the Science-based Threat Analysis and Response Program Office, Office of Research and Development, Science & Technology Directorate. The two program areas at NBACC will be Bioforensics Operations and Research and Biological Threat Characterization. 

Composition of NBACC

NBACC will include:

·         National Bioforensic Analysis Center (NBFAC). Designated in Presidential Directive “Biodefense for the 21st Century, as the lead federal agency for conducting bioforensic analysis of bio-crime evidence or terrorist attack to attain a “biological fingerprint” to determine agent and source of the attack.

·         Biological Threat Characterization Center (BTTC). Research to understand current and future biological threats.

Through these efforts, NBACC will protect U.S. citizens and serve as a national informational resource for political leaders; intelligence analysts; law enforcement; medical, veterinary and agricultural communities; scientists; and emergency responders.

Why NBACC is needed

The need for the programs that will be conducted at NBACC was established after the anthrax letters attacks of 2001 revealed gaps in the United States’ preparedness for and response to a biological attack. NBACC will provide knowledge of biological agents infectious properties, countermeasure effectiveness, decontamination procedures, and forensics analyses so policy makers and responders can develop methods to save lives.  

Current Work at NBACC

An interim capability for the NBFAC has been established in partnership with the FBI at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) at Fort Detrick.  In addition, some threat characterization research and studies are being conducted in other established private and government laboratories, including USAMRIID.

NBACC Research

Although we already have much data on some classically known biological agents, in most cases it is incomplete and often based on old studies. As we look to the future, we must ensure that we have effective protection against biological threats. 

This same type of research will need to be conducted on future threats.  Out of these efforts will come an assessment of the feasibility of bad guys developing certain agents for use in an attack against the U.S.  These studies will help guide national efforts to prevent or reduce the effects of a biological attack — e.g. detectors, drugs, vaccines, and decontamination technologies.

The mission of the Biothreat Characterization Center (BTCC) is to fill scientific knowledge gaps for high-consequence biological threat agents.  The BTCC will analyze the six high-consequence agents:  Yersinia pestis, Bacillus anthracis, Variola virus, Francisella tularensis, viral hemorrhagic fevers, and botulium toxin.   Other potential threat agents from intelligence or law enforcement analyses may also be studied. 

The National Bioforensic Analysis Center (NBFAC) will coordinate and conduct bioforensics analysis of biothreat agents and contaminated material in biological attacks.  NBFAC analyses will determine those who planned biological attacks and deter future attacks.  The Center will be the reference laboratory for evidence assessment and examination from criminal biothreat agents. 

Why a New Facility is needed 

NBACC research will be done to improve understanding and awareness of biological threats to protect the American public.  The threat validation, threat characterization, and forensics work that will be executed at NBACC require Biosafety Level 3 and 4 (BSL-3 and BSL-4) laboratories to safely conduct this research.  There are not enough existing biocontainment facilities in the United States, the Fort Detrick will add to the number. 

The NBACC Facility

Construction cost of NBACC is projected to be $128 million.  Assuming the EIS process unfolds as expected, groundbreaking would begin in 2005 and it is anticipated that the facility would be completed in 2008. It is anticipated that there will be 120 researchers and support staff jobs.

The gross space, or entire footprint, includes administration areas, air handling equipment spaces and other supporting features expected to be about 160,000 sq. ft.  The lab space will be around 70,000 sq. ft. and include BSL 2, 3 and 4 spaces, likely BSL-2 & BSL-3 labs will be about 80% of facility and the remaining 20% will be BSL-4. 

The preferred alternative is for NBACC to be located on the new National Interagency Biodefense Campus at Fort Detrick.  The other agencies sharing the Fort Detrick National Interagency Biodefense Campus are:

·         Health and Human Services’ National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

·         Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service and Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research Unit (FDWSRU).

·         Department of Defense’s U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID).

The National Interagency Biodefense Campus

The proposed NBACC facility is part of the overall DHS scientific program and will be located at the National Interagency Biodefense Campus at Fort Detrick. The Biodefense campus will have several federal laboratories and facilities, each with a component of the U.S. biodefense program. Collectively, these laboratories will collaborate to develop a comprehensive understanding of biological agent characteristics, to study the disease process (NIAID Integrated Research Facility), and develop products to reduce human health risks and agricultural productivity (USAMRIID, USDA-ARS). A Fort Detrick interagency committee will coordinate proposed activities.

The unique missions of forensics analyses and threat characterization will complement the responsibilities of the other agencies. The future is bright for the new NBACC facility at Fort Detrick to protect all of us.