[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 50 (Monday, March 15, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12164-12165]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5785]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Galveston National Laboratory for Biodefense and Emerging 
Infectious Diseases Research Facility in Galveston, TX

AGENCY: National Institutes of Health (NIH), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
for the Galveston National Laboratory for Biodefense and Emerging 
Infectious Diseases Research facility in Galveston, TX.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National 
Institutes of Health (NIH), announces its intent to prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) to evaluate a proposed new 
National Laboratory for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases 
Research facility in Galveston, TX. This EIS is being prepared and 
considered in accordance with the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, regulations of the President's

[[Page 12165]]

Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and NEPA 
Compliance Procedures of the DHHS General Administration Manual, Part 
30 (Environmental Protection) February 25, 2000.
    Cooperating Agencies: There are not cooperating agencies for this 
project.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Institute of Allergy and 
Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a component of the NIH, conducts and 
supports research on infectious diseases and the human immune system. 
Its resources and expertise have been applied to studying emerging 
infectious diseases such as SARS, West Nile virus and Lyme disease and 
organisms that might be used as agents of bioterrorism such as anthrax 
and tularemia. Knowledge of how these organisms cause disease and the 
response of the immune system to these organisms is desperately needed. 
This knowledge will be used to develop new and improved diagnostic 
tests, vaccines, and therapies to protect civilians.
    Since fall 2001, NIAID has greatly accelerated its biodefense 
research program. Achievement of its research goals requires the 
construction and certification of biological containment laboratories 
with facilities and procedures for handling potentially lethal 
infectious agents. Equally important is the need to minimize potential 
threats from infectious agents to laboratory personnel working within 
these facilities and to adjacent communities. The Federal Government 
has awarded a grant in the amount of $110 million to partially fund the 
Galveston National Laboratory for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious 
Diseases Research in Galveston, TX as a crucial element of this NIH 
initiative.
    This proposed action is the funding of the construction of the 
Galveston National Laboratory for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious 
Diseases Research facilities in Galveston, TX, a new building comprised 
of laboratories designed and constructed to Biosafety Levels -2, -3, 
and -4 standards that will allow the safe conduct of biomedical 
research concerning emerging infectious diseases including agents of 
bioterror. The proposed new facility will also contain administrative 
support offices. It will occupy approximately 1 acre on the campus of 
the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston in Galveston, TX, 
and will be owned and operated by the university in support of NIAID's 
Biodefense Research Agenda. The laboratory will also be prepared and 
available to assist national, state and local public health efforts in 
the event of a bioterrorism emergency.
    Significant issues to be analyzed in the EIS will include safety of 
laboratory operations; public health and safety; handling, collection, 
treatment, and disposal of biomedical research waste related to the 
proposal; and analysis of other risks, as well as concerns for 
pollution prevention and impacts of the proposed action on air quality, 
biological resources, cultural resources, water resources, land use, 
and socioeconomic resources. The No Action alternative under which the 
new facility would not be built will also be considered. Additional 
alternatives may be identified during the Scoping Process.
    Public Participation: The DHHS will invite full public 
participation to promote open communication and better decision-making. 
All interested persons and organizations, including minority, low 
income, disadvantaged, and Native American groups, are urged to 
participate in this NEPA environmental analysis process. Assistance 
will be provided upon request to anyone having difficulty with learning 
how to participate.
    To ensure that the full range of issues related to the proposed 
action and the scope of this EIS are addressed, oral and written 
comments are invited from all interested parties, including appropriate 
Federal, state, and local agencies and private organizations and 
citizens. Pursuant to this, a Public Scoping meeting will be held on 
Wednesday, March 31, 2004 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Mainsail Room, second 
floor conference center of the San Luis Hotel, 5222 Seawall Boulevard, 
Galveston, TX.
    This Notice of Intent initiates the scoping process that guides the 
development of the EIS. The DHHS invites written comments and 
suggestions on the proposed actions, including any issues to consider, 
as well as any concerns relevant to the analysis. Comments and 
questions should be directed to the address listed below and should be 
postmarked no later than May 15, 2004. Additional formal opportunities 
for pubic participation after the Pubic Scoping are tentatively 
scheduled as follows:
    Review and comment on Draft EIS (including a public meeting): 
Summer, 2004.
    Review of Final EIS: Fall, 2004.
    Notices of availability for the Draft EIS, Final EIS and Record of 
Decision will be provided through direct mail, the Federal Register, 
and other media. Notification also will be sent to federal, state, and 
local agencies and persons and organizations that submit comments or 
questions. Precise schedules and locations for public meetings will be 
announced in the local news media. Interested individuals and 
organizations may request to be included on the mailing list for public 
distribution of meeting announcements and associated documents.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Valerie Nottingham, Chief, 
Environmental Quality Branch, Division of Environmental Protection, 
Office of Research Facilities, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, 
B13/2W64, Bethesda, MD 20892; by telephone (301) 496-7775; fax (301) 
480-8056; or e-mail [email protected].

    Dated: March 9, 2004.
Robert Ostrowski,
Scientific Resource Manager, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 04-5785 Filed 3-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M