 North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services John Umstead Hospital 1003 12th Street, Butner, N.C.27509-1626Courier: 17-11-04 Phone: 919-575-7211 Fax: 919-575-7013 Michael F. Easley, Governor Dempsey Benton, Secretary Stephen L. Oxley, M.D. Michael S. Lancaster, M.D., and Chief Executive Officer Leza Wainwright, Directors May 20, 2008 U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate, James V. Johnson Mail stop #2100 245 Murray Lane, SW, Bldg. 410 Washington, DC20528 Dear Directorate Johnson: : The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) plans to build a new research facility, the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Research Facility,” or NBAF. The Umstead Research Farm, one of six locations on the final national list, is about two miles from JohnUmsteadHospital, a state psychiatric facility that admits over 5000 patients with severe psychiatric problems every year. Given the possible risks to the vulnerable population in the hospital, the Human Rights Committee of JohnUmsteadHospital strongly opposes the placement of the NBAF in GranvilleCounty at the Umstead Farm. Some of the reasons for our decision are: - JohnUmsteadHospital is the home of over 250 patients who are primarily involuntarily committed because they are dangerous to themselves or others. These patients range in age from 6-99 years old. Many have complicating physical limitations and are fragile. These include those who suffer from severe dementia and are unable to understand their environment.
. - There is insufficient ability or skill to evacuate or quarantine this vulnerable psychiatrically ill population should there be a release of any organisms from the facility. Furthermore, these inadequate resources would serve the other treatment and incarceration facilities in the area such as the MurdochCenter, a treatment center for the developmentally disabled for 550 residents and the Polk Youth Institution which houses over 1000 youth offenders.
- The proposed facility would store, handle and perform research on numerous organisms that the Dept. of Homeland Security acknowledges can be dangerous if they were to escape to the surrounding environment, and anticipates working with organisms that will require a higher level of containment than currently exists at the Plum Island Facility in New York.
- The proposed facility is intended to have the highest level bio-containment (“BSL-3 and BSL-4”) to accelerate and expand the study of plant, animal and zoonotic diseases. Although the facility will be designed to reduce all known risks, many of the diseases to be studied can be transmitted to people.
- The ongoing laboratory waste stream would include animal remains, laboratory equipment, paints, disinfectants, chemicals, biological waste, and radiation. Some waste would be burned, and other waste would be buried.
- The EPA has found that even state of the art, dry-tomb landfills fail, leach their contaminated contents into the environment as gases are released and as rainwater and groundwater enter and exit the landfill, carrying contaminants with them. All systems are vulnerable to human error and unforeseen events.
Given all of these factors, the John Umstead Hospital Human rights Committee urges you to oppose the placement of the NBAF in North Carolina. Sincerely, John Umstead Hospital Human Rights Committee Christine Emory, Chair Linda Alligood Jean Austin Marilyn Hicks William Moore Quinton Parker Patsy Tilley Jerry Sebastian David Smith Lynnie Smith Chotsey Winborne Claretha Woody | 
