It's ALL GOOD to have a bio-weapons lab in the neighborhood -- as long as it isn't YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, right, Globe?
"BU seeks OK to start training at biolab" by David Abel, Globe Staff | August 12, 2008
As Boston University nears completion of a laboratory to study the world's deadliest germs, administrators have requested the city's permission to use the new South End building for training exercises - but not yet for research.
Construction of the $198 million building that will house the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories is scheduled to be completed at the end of this month. But research on Ebola, plague, and other pathogens cannot begin there until a court-ordered environmental review is complete, probably next year.
University officials said they hope to start safety, health, and operations training in February that would include scientists and hundreds of government officials.
"This training period also will provide an opportunity for the community to learn more about how biosafety research in research labs is carried out and about the many safety protocols in place," said Mark Klempner, principal investigator of the laboratories.
The 192,000-square-foot facility on Albany Street has encountered opposition since the university won a national competition in 2003 to open two high-security labs, part of President Bush's defense against biological warfare. Opponents filed a federal lawsuit, and in 2006 a judge ruled that previous environmental reviews of the project were inadequate.
Before the city allows the university to occupy the seven-story building, it must pass a battery of tests of its fire alarms, elevators, and other safety mechanisms.
"If they meet all the criteria, there shouldn't be any reason they do not get an occupancy permit," said Dot Joyce, a spokeswoman for Mayor Thomas M. Menino.
Looking out for your welfare, isn't he, Bostonian?
Klare Allen, an opponent of the lab and a leader of the community group Safety Net, said she hopes the university keeps strict control over who enters the building during the exercises. "The bottom line is they have to be cognizant of who's going in and out of this building." Allen said. "We don't want anyone studying how to game this place."
Where is the opposition, Globe?
