[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 163 (Thursday, August 23, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48288-48289]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-16645]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Supplementary Risk Assessments and Site Suitability Analyses for 
the National Emerging Infectious Disease Laboratory, Boston University 
Medical Center

ACTION: Availability of Supplementary Risk Assessments and Site 
Suitability Analyses for the National Emerging Infectious Disease 
Laboratory, Boston University Medical Center; notice of hearing.

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SUMMARY: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has placed in the 
docket for public review and comment the Supplementary Risk Assessments 
and Site Suitability Analyses for the National Emerging Infectious 
Disease Laboratory, Boston University Medical Center, which address 
additional concerns of the local community regarding possible impacts 
of the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Boston 
University Medical Center. The purpose of the Supplementary Risk 
Assessments and Site Suitability Analyses for the National Emerging 
Infectious Disease Laboratory was alternative site analysis and risk 
assessment that investigated potential infectious disease threats that 
may be posed to the public should an exotic infectious agent be 
released into the community through an infected laboratory worker, 
laboratory accident, or other mishap.

DATES: Comments on the Supplementary Risk Assessments and Site 
Suitability Analyses for the National Emerging Infectious Disease 
Laboratory must be received by Monday, November 12th. A public hearing 
will be held on Thursday, September 20, 2007, from 7-9 p.m. at Faneuil 
Hall, Dock Square, Boston, MA 02109.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to Valerie Nottingham, Division of 
Environmental Protection, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville 
Pike, Building 13, Room 2S11, Bethesda, MD 20892, MSC 5746. E-mail 
comments should be sent to [email protected]. Comments sent by e-
mail must be received by 11:59

[[Page 48289]]

p.m. on the last day of the comment period, Monday, November 12, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Valerie Nottingham, Division of 
Environmental Protection, National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville 
Pike, Building 13, Room 2S11, Bethesda, MD 20892, MSC 5746, telephone 
number 301-496-7775, E-mail address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Institutes of Health awarded a 
construction grant to Boston University to partly fund the design and 
construction of one of two National Biocontainment Laboratories (NBLs). 
These advanced biomedical research laboratories are essential to the 
civilian biodefense initiative providing critically needed Biosafety 
Levels 2, 3, and 4 research space. The basic and translational research 
to be conducted in these laboratories over the next 20 years will 
result in development of new rapid diagnostic assays, vaccines and 
therapeutics for protection of the American public against intentional 
misuse or release of harmful biological agents or toxins and emerging 
and re-emerging infectious diseases such as H5N1 highly pathogenic 
avian influenza and the SARS coronavirus.
    The NIH completed and published a final Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) and published a Record of Decision as required for 
major federal actions under the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA). Construction of the National Emerging Infectious Diseases 
Laboratory (NEIDL) began at the BioSquare II Research Park on Albany 
Street, Boston, Massachusetts adjacent to the Boston University Medical 
Center (BUMC).
    During the preparation of the EIS, the NIH conducted a thorough 
review of the possible impacts of the NBL on the public and the 
environment. That review demonstrated that the construction and 
operation of the NBL was not a risk to the community in which the 
laboratory was sited or surrounding communities. In response to 
additional and lingering concerns raised by some members of the 
community, the NIH has performed additional reviews of the potential 
impacts of the NBL. These reviews included additional ``hard look'' 
alternative site analyses and risk assessments investigating potential 
infectious disease threats that may be posed to the public should an 
exotic infectious agent be released into the community through an 
infected laboratory worker, laboratory accident or other mishap. 
Additionally, the risk assessments specifically addressed an on-going 
community concern that an Environmental Justice community near the 
proposed NEIDL site in Boston would be disproportionately impacted 
should a release occur.

Availability of Copies and Electronic Access

    Copies of the Supplementary Risk Assessments and Site Suitability 
Analyses for the National Emerging Infectious Disease Laboratory, 
Boston University Medical Center may be obtained at no cost by calling 
301-496-7775, or by emailing requests to [email protected]. 
Documents are available in alternate formats upon request. Persons who 
want a publication in an alternate format should specify the type of 
format. The document will also be available on the NIH Web site  http://www.nems.nih.gov/aspects/nat_resources/programs/nepa.cfm.

    Dated: August 15, 2007.
Daniel G. Wheeland,
Director, Office of Research Facilities Development and Operations, 
NIH.
[FR Doc. E7-16645 Filed 8-22-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P