Emotion was high during parts of Monday night's public hearing on a proposed National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility that could come to Butner. County commissioners had asked for the input of several county officials, as well as the Environmental Affairs Board.
All entities reported to the commissioners last night, and we couldn't fit quite everything in today's story, so here are some additional highlights:
Among his comments, Public Health Director Brian Letourneau suggested commissioners might consider that a consultant look at the government's Draft Environmental Impact Statement, which the Raleigh City Council did. He didn't beat around the bush on his recommendations on the lab, overall.
"I find no reason to recommend locating this facility at Butner," Letourneau said. "The risk is high. I don't see the reward equals the risk." His comments garnered a round of applause from the audience, which comprised many folks wearing G.N.A.T. shirts, members of the Granville Non-Violent Action Team.
Jeff Batten, Durham’s director of emergency management, echoed Letourneau's concerns about how the mosquito-borne illnesses that could be studied at the site.
“My number one concern is the risk of a mosquito outbreak,” Batten said. “Our hospitals in this area cannot handle a large surge of patients. On a daily basis, they’re already at their maximum capacity.”
To read the official stances of the health and emergency management departments, see the attached documents — these are recent memos to the county manager and board of commissioners. (Please forgive the highlighting...)
