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Characteristically, the biggest risk to Americans is not overseas. It's right here at home from our own government. If you watch nothing else this year, make sure you take the 10 minutes for this one.
Brasscheck
Opening of BU biolab to be delayed
Still, the disclosure by the federal agency of its extended timetable for finishing the environmental analysis constitutes a clear setback for BU, which first began pursuing federal grants to build the lab on its South End medical campus five years ago.
The revised NIH schedule also appears to acknowledge blistering criticism of the agency's conclusion that the lab posed no danger to the surrounding neighborhood. In November, an independent panel of scientists concluded that the federal review "was not sound and credible" and failed to adequately address the consequences of highly lethal germs escaping from the lab.
At that time, the director of the NIH, Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni, pledged to personally review the critical report from the National Research Council.
An NIH spokesman declined to comment last night on the court filing, other than to confirm April 30, 2009, as the latest date on which its final environmental assessment will be completed.
But even that report will not provide the final say on the project, which is under construction on Albany Street and more than 70 percent complete. Legal cases brought by lab opponents have yet to be resolved.
In a federal lawsuit, US District Judge Patti B. Saris had refused to immediately block construction of the project. But Saris said she would retain oversight of the Biosafety Level-4 lab, leaving open the possibility that she could prevent research with the deadliest germs, including Ebola, plague, and Marburg virus.
The new court documents were filed to address Saris's questions about the status of the environmental review.
Once the review is completed, representatives of BU, NIH, and the lab opponents must appear before Saris again, adding further time to the lab's opening date.
Link
Don't count on the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to tell the public about biological weapons accidents. CDC's refusal to divulge information about the Boston University tularemia incidents will come as cold comfort for the tens of millions in the US who live close to (proposed) biological weapons labs, according to the Sunshine Project..
"Boston University's tularemia problems have popped the balloon of bloated and distorted safety claims about the biodefense program," says Sunshine Project Director Edward Hammond, "CDC secrecy about biological weapons accidents will shake remaining confidence in laboratory safety not only in Boston; but nationwide. By rejecting disclosure, CDC is signaling intent to continue with the status quo of indifference, underreporting and secrecy. The solution is to reign in the sprawling and palpably dangerous biodefense program and to mandate reporting and prompt public disclosure of laboratory accidents.
link
See 3:55
"There are eleven labs like this in the U.S. where they are studying animal viruses that they're transforming into deadly human viruses - eleven labs like this in the United States"
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