Q&A
What is the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF)?The NBAF is a new national biological and agricultural research facility proposed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that will provide space to conduct research to protect human health and agriculture from infectious diseases, whether they occur naturally or are deliberately released. The planned 500,000 square-foot facility will include the highest levels of biosafety laboratories for research on foreign animal and zoonotic diseases (diseases that pass from animals to humans). These facilities are designed to protect the health of researchers and the surrounding community. In response to a DHS solicitation, Georgia submitted proposals for two sites located in Athens on University of Georgia property in March 2006. The South Milledge Avenue site was selected for a short list announced in July 2007. A final site selection is anticipated in 2008.
Who are the partners in this proposal?The proposal to attract the NBAF to Athens was developed by the Georgia Consortium for Health and Agro-Security, a statewide collaboration led by Governor Sonny Perdue. The Consortium members share a common desire to bring the NBAF to Athens, Georgia. They will provide critical support to NBAF in the form of interactions and collaborations, access to expertise, technologies and facilities, recruitment and training of NBAF scientists and appropriate faculty appointments for senior NBAF investigators. The partners are:
What are the strengths of Georgia’s proposal?Broad Support One of the strength’s of Georgia’s NBAF proposal is its broad, statewide support, which will provide the NBAF with critical interactions and collaborations, access to expertise, technologies and facilities, assistance in recruitment and training of NBAF scientists and support staff, and appropriate faculty appointments for senior NBAF investigators. A History of Collaboration Georgia’s NBAF partners – including its universities, government agencies and industry – have a rich history of interaction that is crucial for ongoing research and collaboration, rapid mobilization and sharing of resources. UGA researchers collaborate with scientists from USDA, Emory University, Merial Ltd., the CDC and the other NBAF partners. The Georgia Research Alliance (GRA), a unique state resource and national model, has been instrumental in creating this history of collaboration among Georgia’s public and private universities, federal institutions and industry on long-term projects. Wealth of Experience The partners in the Georgia Consortium for Health and Agro-Security have critical, diverse experience with research and development for high-consequence emerging infectious diseases. The expertise of UGA’s top-tier College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences melds with its nationally recognized expertise in biomedical and health sciences to make it a leader in the study of animal and zoonotic pathogens. UGA is already conducting research similar to what will be done in the NBAF at its Animal Health Research Center, a state-of-the-art, high-level biosafety facility that enables study of pathogens in natural animal hosts. Location The Consortium originally proposed two sites: College Station Road [view map Community
Athens is the cultural, educational, medical and services center of northeast Georgia. Considered a highly desirable place for young professionals as well as retirees, it is a dynamic small college town with an active arts and music scene. Surrounded by bucolic farmland, it is within easy reach of the Appalachian Trail, the Georgia coast and the numerous amenities of Atlanta. With relatively low taxes and cost of living, especially housing, it is an attractive place to live, work and recruit to. It offers diverse school options and a variety of entertainment, recreation and lifestyle choices. Its climate is mild year-round. For business, it offers a diverse collection of manufacturing and business concerns, with high productivity and relatively low labor rates. Comprehensive healthcare is available through two major regional hospitals. Transportation
Athens lies equidistant between Interstates 20 and 85, major east/west and north/south routes. It is connected via excellent highways to surrounding communities and Atlanta, just an hour away. The distance from the proposed sites to CDC or Emory University in Atlanta is 67 miles, an approximately 75-minute drive. Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, just 75 miles from the proposed sites, is the nation’s busiest passenger airport. It is served by virtually every domestic and international carrier, with frequent, regular flights to major American cities and international cities. The Atlanta airport makes this region among the most accessible places in the world. Local Construction Expertise Georgia has experience with building major high containment laboratories over the last 15 years, including BSL-3 and BSL-4 facilities at CDC, and the Animal Health Research Center at UGA (BSL-3 and BSL-3 AG). A facility built in Athens would benefit from a competitive construction market, experience with high-level containment facilities and multiple general contractors that have completed similar facilities. Workforce and Training
The University System of Georgia, the nation’s fourth largest and home to several top-ranked schools, awarded over 12,250 bioscience-related degrees from 2002 to 2004. In 2006, biology was the most popular major at UGA, with 323 bachelor’s degrees conferred. Emory, Morehouse, Mercer and Clark Atlanta universities graduate additional high quality students. Georgia’s Intellectual Capital Partnership Program (ICAPP) provides seamless access to expedited educational programs and USG graduates. Georgia’s Technical College System, which includes Athens Technical College, provides technical training that prepares staff for work in biotechnology manufacturing. In addition,Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health and Center for Public Health Preparedness offer a rigorous training program in BSL-3/BSL-4 safety practices. UGA’s Office of Biosafety is implementing a new safety program to provide required training for UGA’s BSL-3 AG facility. Support for the NBAF in Georgia is broad and robust. Georgia’s proposal includes letters of support from state and local government officials, Georgia’s congressional delegation, leaders of all major universities and the Georgia Research Alliance, Georgia bio-/business and agriculture industries, and workforce and training leaders.
What are zoonotic diseases?
Many infectious diseases are zoonotic – they can be transmitted from animals to humans. Effective prevention and response to these new and emerging threats requires research on the host animals as well as humans. Examples of familiar zoonotic diseases include West Nile virus, anthrax, BSE or mad cow disease, avian influenza, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). To ensure the safety of researchers and the community, research on zoonotic diseases must be conducted in biosafety level (BSL) 3 or 3-AG laboratories, or BSL-4 laboratories, depending on the pathogen.
How will the NBAF benefit UGA?By adding to the region’s already impressive assets of research infrastructure and talent, the NBAF will help the University to attract more top-notch researchers and grants and build on its reputation as a leader in research that improves animal and human health. The NBAF will provide opportunities for collaborations between NBAF researchers, UGA faculty and students, and researchers at other agencies, institutions and laboratories that conduct research on foreign animal and zoonotic diseases.
How will the NBAF benefit Athens-Clarke County and the surrounding counties?The NBAF would create an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 construction jobs over three years. It would employ an estimated 250 or more scientists and staff. In addition, an estimated 400 jobs will be created in the community as a result of the facility. A study by the UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government (CVIOG) estimates the NBAF's impact in Georgia at $500 million in wages/salaries and $1.5 billion total overall economic output over 20 years.* The NBAF would also help establish GA Highway 316 as the state’s biotechnology corridor, helping to attract private industry in fields such as vaccine research and development and helping to make the region the Silicon Valley of infectious disease research. It would help the University to attract more top-notch researchers and grants and build on its reputation as a leader in research that improves and protects animal and human health. *Revised CVIOG estimate 9/07.
Who will operate the NBAF?
Decisions have not yet been made about who will operate the NBAF (DHS, or a private entity).
Who will do research at the NBAF?NBAF is owned by the Department of Homeland Security. Primary partners are the Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Research Service (USDA-ARS) and Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services (USDA-APHIS-VS). These same agencies are currently working in the Plum Island facility. The Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies may also have space in the facility. More information on the roles of the partners http://www.dhs.gov/xres/labs/gc_1181073261627.shtm
What kinds of research and development activities will be conducted at the NBAF?The NBAF will provide facilities for research on emerging infectious diseases, especially those that pass from animals to humans (zoonotic diseases). Researchers will focus on developing tests to detect the diseases and countermeasures to prevent the disease. In some cases, they will be studying the disease itself to determine:
By knowing what type of cell the disease affects they are able to develop a test to more accurately and quickly determine if the animal is suffering from that specific disease.
What kinds of diseases will be studied at NBAF?The following diseases have been defined by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Agriculture as possibilities for study at the NBAF.
This list may change based upon continued threat assessments and risk assessments.
Is this research being conducted anywhere else?
This type of science is not new. The Plum Island Animal Disease Center in New York has served for 50 years as the federal facility where research is conducted to protect our nation against bio- and agro-terrorism. According to DHS, it lacks the containment, security, equipment and infrastructure necessary to meet the nation’s needs. BSL-3 laboratories are located at universities, in healthcare settings, and in industry in almost every state in the nation. In Athens, BSL-3 facilities are located at the USDA-Agricultural Research Service, UGA’s Animal Health Research Center, and the College of Veterinary Medicine. A new infectious disease and nanoscience center planned for UGA’s River Bend South complex will include a BSL-3 facility. There are currently four BSL-4 laboratories in the U.S., all equipped to handle agents that produce life-threatening diseases for which no treatments are available. They are located at the CDC in Atlanta; the U.S. Army Research Institute on Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) in Frederick, MD; the Southwest Institute for Biomedical Research in San Antonio, TX. A small BSL-4 facility is located at Georgia State University in Atlanta.
How safe is this research?
Biosafety laboratories are designed for maximum safety of the scientists who work there and of the surrounding community. Redundant physical systems and procedures that ensure safety include sophisticated interior and exterior security systems, state-of-the-art air cleansing systems, negative pressure systems to ensure no pathogens escape, biocontainment cabinets that ensure pathogens are never free, special clothing and equipment for work with the most dangerous agents and sophisticated systems for decontamination. Researchers are thoroughly trained on how to safely work with these agents and others. In summary, these facilities are designed with safety in mind. Similar research is already being conducted in Athens at the University of Georgia and USDA facilities, as well as at other high-level biosafety facilities in the state. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, there are no recorded incidents involving community contamination from any of the BSL-3 and BSL-4 facilities existing in the United States.
How is the NBAF different from the Animal Health Research Center (AHRC) at UGA?The NBAF and the AHRC are both facilities designed to protect human and animal health. The AHRC has biosafety level-3 (BSL-3) labs, which are designed to study infectious agents that can cause serious illness and are transmissible through air. When fully operational, the AHRC also will have BSL-3 AG labs, which means they are specially designed to accommodate research with infectious diseases on large animals. The NBAF will include BSL-3 and BSL-4 labs. BSL-4 labs have the highest degree of safety and security and are designed to allow researchers to safely work with infectious diseases for which there are no treatments. Having two specialized, state-of-the-art facilities such as the AHRC and the NBAF near each other creates tremendous opportunities for complementary and collaborative research.
Will the NBAF be involved in defense research?The purpose of the NBAF is to address the federal government’s need for research and development space to meet threats from emerging disease pandemic and bio- and agro-terrorism. The NBAF will not conduct bioweapons research; this type of research is prohibited by the International Biological Weapons Convention, which the United States signed in 1975.
Where would NBAF be located?
Georgia has proposed locating the NBAF on UGA-owned property on South Milledge Avenue near Whitehall Road, on the southern end of campus used as an extended animal farm for the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. The site is only minutes from the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine, the Animal Health Research Center, USDA facilities, Merial Ltd., and Athens Technical College, as well as the Athens bypass and connecting highway network. The semi-rural 66-acre parcel is contained within approximately 1,200 acres of UGA-owned land. Nearby facilities are all owned by UGA and include the Livestock Instructional Arena, Library Depository and feed lots. The UGA land is bordered by UGA property and South Milledge Ave., Whitehall/Simonton Bridge Road and the Oconee River. Critical expertise, technologies and facilities are located within a 70-mile radius of Athens. They include the CDC, Emory University, Medical College of Georgia, Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia State University and Georgia Institute of Technology.
Will the public be allowed to comment on the NBAF?Yes. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, DHS is seeking input from local communities under consideration for the NBAF. In Athens, a public scoping meeting was held on September 20 to inform stakeholders about the proposed action to build the NBAF and solicit inut on the issues to be considered in the environmental impact statement (EIS). Members of the public were invited to submit written comments through September 28. Oral and written comments were given equal consideration. DHS will produce a draft EIS. The public will have an opportunity to review and comment on the draft in spring 2008. The final NBAF EIS will be issued in fall 2008, and then DHS will make a final decision on the NBAF site. Find out more about public involvement regarding the NBAF EIS process: http://www.dhs.gov/xres/labs/editorial_0803.shtm
How can people find out more about the NBAF?UGA officials will communicate in a variety of ways to let the local community and others know about the NBAF. Information can be obtained through:
What is the timetable for NBAF?January 2006: DHS issued a notice of request for proposals March 2006: The Georgia Consortium submitted two proposals to DHS: College Station Road and South Milledge Avenue. Each 87-page "Proposal to locate The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Athens, Georgia" included 61 letters of support from lawmakers, business leaders and Georgia colleges and universities. August 2006: DHS reduced the list of candidates to 18 sites in 11 states. Both of Georgia's sites, on College Station Road and South Milledge Avenue, are included in the list. February 2007: Additional information due to DHS. March 2007: DHS conducted reviews for sites submitting information. March - May 2007: DHS conducted site visits and made final recommendations. June 2007: DHS issued Notice of Intent (NOI) announcing sites for evaluation in the EIS. July 2007: DHS began EIS. September 2007: DHS held EIS scoping meeting in Athens. Spring 2008: DHS issues draft EIS for public comment. August 2008: DHS holds meetings for public comment on Draft EIS Fall 2008: DHS issues Final Environmental Impact Statement December 2008: DHS announces Record of Decision (site selection) FY 2010: DHS begins construction 2013 - 2014: Facility operational See DHS' Next Steps and Public Involvement
Will the NBAF do bioweapons research?Absolutely not. This type of research is prohibited by the International Biological Weapons Convention, which the United States signed in 1975.
Will the NBAF work on human diseases?No. The NBAF will work on animal diseases, including zoonotic diseases.
Will the NBAF do “classified” research?There will be no classified work at the NBAF.
Will there be armed guards at the NBAF?The NBAF will have the level of security typical of federal facilities working on potentially hazardous agents, including the level 4 biocontainment buildings at the CDC. DHS has estimated that the NBAF will have 50 armed guards.
Who will manage the NBAF?Decisions have not yet been made about who will manage the NBAF (DHS, or a private entity).
What is the role of USDA at the NBAF?USDA will be the primary tenant at the NBAF, as it is at Plum Island.
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