Local News

The Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday eliminated the former army base from a list of finalists for the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), a research center that will develop ways to protect the nation’s public health and food supply from terrorism.

McClellan had been touted as a host for the $450 million center by a coalition of business, community and college organizations led by Auburn University and backed by Gov. Bob Riley. An application for the site was sent to Washington last March after a hurried month of preparation.

Calls to the Department of Homeland Security were not returned Wednesday afternoon, and those close to the project — from the governor’s office down — said they did not know why McClellan failed to make the cut.

“We’re interested in finding out,” said Jeff Emerson, a spokesman for Riley.

Jerry Walker, a consultant to Auburn University and one of the leaders in putting the McClellan proposal together, said he was disappointed.

“I opened my e-mail 30 minutes ago and discovered we had not made the cut,” he said. “I don’t know much more than that. We have made phone calls, but don’t have more information beyond the letter.”

In a press release announcing the 18 finalists for the NBAF, Homeland Security said it evaluated applicants based on work force, research facilities, acquisition and construction abilities and community acceptance.

The center could have brought 300 to 400 jobs to the area, with another 1,000 jobs created during the construction of the facility. Supporters of the project felt the NBAF could prime the petri dish for more biotechnology in the area.

“We think we were in a no-lose situation,” said Sherri Sumners, president of the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce. “If we gained the project, it would have been a great economic catalyst, but we gained so much in process that we positioned ourselves for other proposals that will be coming down the line. This coalition is not a one-shot deal.”

The center will handle material classified at Biosafety Level 4, meaning it would do research into lethal and incurable diseases. It will be a replacement for the government’s aging animal disease center at Plum Island, N.Y. A 2003 General Accounting Office report on Plum Island said the center had inadequate security arrangements and inadequate control of areas where deadly viruses were stored.

Those criticisms of Plum Island troubled Pete Conroy, a JPA board member and Director of Jacksonville State University’s Environmental Policy and Information Center. Conroy also was concerned that the center would add to Anniston’s “toxic town” reputation and frighten business and developers.

“The NBAF is a great project, but it was a bad fit for this particular community,” Conroy said. “This gives us a terrific opportunity to take advantage of the partnership to prepare for that opportunity, running with something that’s bigger and better and completely positive.”

In March the JPA decided to “express an interest” in the lab, but stopped short of an endorsement, citing the lack of information on the health risks posed by the center. The JPA added that it would opt out if the community asked it to do so. Community support was one of the criteria used by Homeland Security in securing the project.

“We didn’t make the presentation,” JPA executive director Dan Cleckler said. “Auburn initiated it. They just came to JPA and asked us to support it. We didn’t have all the information we wanted, but anytime you get a prospect, you follow the lead all the way you can.”

McClellan’s available land and access drew the partnership to the site, Walker said.

“(Homeland Security) wanted a location that was near highways, a location near major airports, contained a work force that was experienced and wanted a location with property available,” he said. “It seemed to me all those things are very much available at the Anniston site.”

Walker and Sumners said the town’s chances of landing the center may have been hurt by the relatively short time the group had to put a proposal together. Walker said work on the application began in late February and it was filed about a month later. Sumners also believes more time would have helped, but said the process provided valuable experience for the next project.

“Locally, we got a base formed, so that will save us a step (in the future),” she said.

Sumners and Walker said they felt completely confident in the facility’s safety.

“The nature of the work and the nature of the facility was that it was to be built in a safe, safe position,” Walker said. “And if I didn’t feel that way, I wouldn’t have supported it.”