Science and Technology Directorate; Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility

Resumo

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announces the availability of its National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility Final Environmental Impact Statement (NBAF Final EIS). This announcement is pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and its implementing regulations at 40 CFR parts 1500-1508. The Proposed Action to site, construct, and operate the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) would allow researchers to develop tests to detect foreign animal diseases and zoonotic diseases (transmitted from animals to humans) and develop vaccines (or other countermeasures such as antiviral therapies) to protect agriculture and food systems in the United States. The NBAF would enhance U.S. biodefense capabilities with modern and integrated high-security (biosafety levels 3 and 4) facilities that would ensure U.S. vulnerabilities and risks from agro-terrorism are safely addressed. DHS anticipates that the proposed NBAF would focus biosafety level 3 agricultural (BSL-3Ag) research on African swine fever, classical swine fever, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, foot and mouth disease, Japanese encephalitis, and Rift Valley fever; BSL-4 research wo