White House budget deals a blow to planned $650 million biosecurity lab in Kansas

Manhattan, Kan. - The White House delivered a major blow to a highly-anticipated biosecurity lab in Kansas.

President Obama’s budget, unveiled Monday, recommends no additional funding for construction of the controversial $650 million facility. Obama also asked the Department of Homeland Security to reevaluate the project, leaving its future in the Heartland a huge question mark.

The planned site for the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) is just off the campus of Kansas State University in Manhattan. The lab was expected to replace the aging facility in Plum Island, N.Y.

In 2010, a 41 Action News investigation looked at some of the safety concerns surrounding NBAF. At the facility, scientists would study the deadliest animal diseases, including the highly-contagious foot-and-mouth disease.

Critics of the facility have said an accidental release in cattle country could devastate economy. Estimates put damage to the livestock industry at $50 billion.

A National Academy of Science study on the feasibility of placing the lab in Kansas identified a 70 percent chance that a release of foot-and-mouth disease could occur at the facility during its 50-year lifespan.

Gov. Sam Brownback and Kansas’ Congressional Delegation issued a response to the budget news.

“A needless effort to reassess the importance of protecting our nation’s food supply is a waste of taxpayer dollars,” the release said. “Kansas has won every competition, met every standard and proven its commitment to this project, and we’ll do whatever it takes to fulfill this critical national security need.”

Officials had hoped to have NBAF operational in Kansas by 2018. Supporters argued it would bring more than 300 high-paying jobs.

Ryan Kath can be reached by email at ryan.kath@kshb.com. You can also follow him on Twitter or connect with him on Facebook .