Blumenthal: Impact statement regarding Plum Island seriously flawed
laboratory from a Category 5 hurricane.
Blumenthal does not mince his words in criticizing DHS for even considering leaving the Plim Island facility open. DHS “inexcusably has neglected to study — or even acknowledge — the uniquely complex character of the area around Plum Island. Basic environmental data is absent from the impact statement and necessary impact analysis is therefore inadequate.” he adds:
The department defies common sense and science by considering a facility for deadly and untreatable diseases within 12 miles of southeastern Connecticut and 100 miles from the heart of Manhattan. An accidental or intentional release from Plum Island poses a far greater risk to public safety than would a release at a more remote location. Simply by virtue of its charge to “research high-consequence biological threats involving zoonotic (i.e., transmissible from animals to humans) and foreign animal diseases,” the facility is very dangerous. “High-consequence” foreign animal diseases are defined as those “diseases not present in the United States that are capable of rapidly spreading and causing high numbers of deaths and/or devastating economic consequences.”
The area immediately surrounding the proposed Plum Island location is indeed densely populated. The impact statement itself notes that the estimated population for the “study area” alone for 2012 is 2,013,919. Approximately 20 million people live within 50 miles of Long Island Sound. In addition, the Navy maintains a vital nuclear submarine base at Groton, and the nearby General Dynamics Electric Boat facility is recognized as a potential target for terrorist attack. Nearby Waterford is home to the Millstone nuclear power station, which generates 2,020 megawatts of electricity.
Blumenthal concludes:
The proposed facility at Plum Island is a dangerous and unprecedented project. While the need for biomedical research on dangerous diseases may be clear, federal law mandates that the Department of Homeland Security carefully consider where such a facility should be located. The Long Island Sound area is clearly unsuited to a facility of this type. Absent complete and candid evaluation of the significant factors identified herein, the Department of Homeland Security cannot claim to have adequately studied the impact of the proposed facility as required by the National Environmental Policy Act. No adequate evaluation of the environmental impact of this project on the Long Island Sound area has occurred.
DHS must either completely redo this draft impact statement — going back to square one — or, very preferably, eliminate Plum Island from consideration as a site.
