The DHS animal disease lab known as NBAF will begin construction Tuesday, May 28th, according to Kansas Senator Pat Roberts.
Senator Pat Roberts’ office says the official groundbreaking for the National Bio and Agro Defense Facility will take place next Tuesday, May 28, on the site in Manhattan. The first phase of the project is to construct a utility plant and emergency power capacity dedicated to the top security labs.
The $1.2 billion dollar facility has been stalled over funding and security issues, but the recent release of $40 million in federal funds, and a request for $714 million in the President’s FY2014 budget have breathed new life into the project. The state of Kansas has contributed more than $145 million in funding and donated land for the NBAF.
The Department of Homeland Security will operate the facility. It will have one lab built to the highest bio-containment restrictions, known as a BSL4 lab, where it will research pathogens deadly to both humans and animals.
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By Laura Ziegler
KCUR.org
May 23, 2013