Agriculture

Tracking NBAF: National Bio And Agro-Defense Facility Takes Shape In Kansas

In 2005, the Department of Homeland Security announced plans to replace the old Plum Island Animal Disease Center off Long Island with a facility on the U.S. mainland to study Foot and Mouth Disease and other dangerous pathogens. Kansas won the job in 2008, with a site on the campus of Kansas State University in Manhattan.But today, more than three years later, the proposed $1.14 billion National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility faces funding obstacles, safety questions, rising costs and political fallout. For Kansas and the Midwest, the stakes couldn’t be higher.Here you’ll find coverage and updates from Harvest Public Media, KCUR and Kansas Public Media.

Possible Funding Boost For Kan. Agro-Defense Facility

KCUR | By Laura Ziegler

Published May 10, 2012 at 9:41 AM CDT

The troubled National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, Kan., got a financial shot in the arm yesterday.

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security approved language that includes $75 million for the construction of the top security biocontainment lab in its version of the FY 2013 budget.

The subcommittee also directed the Department of Homeland Security to finish a funding plan for the lab, which is currently under review by a panel of experts with the National Research Council.

Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins, whose 2^nddistrict includes Manhattan, released a statement yesterday expressing gratitude for the support.

“The House Appropriations Committee, under both Democrat and Republican leadership, have made it quite clear, time and again, that our country needs the NBAF and the best place for the NBAF is Manhattan, Kansas."

President Obama’s FY2013 budget zeroed construction funds for the facility.

Yesterday’s recommendation brings federal funding for the new lab to $165 million.

For more NBAF coverage, visit KCUR's Tracking NBAF page.