Officials discuss study of Fort Detrick expansion

Source of funding remains elusive

According to Frances E. Sharples of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the cost for the study would be $250,000 to $400,000.

Sharples and academy officials met with the Frederick Board of County Commissioners Tuesday to discuss the academy’s undertaking of a study on the environmental impact of Detrick’s new National Interagency Biodefense Campus, which will test potentially dangerous pathogens. No dates have been set for the opening of the campus, and it was unclear from Tuesday’s meeting if the county or federal government would pay for the study.

Detrick’s new 200-acre campus is intended to better protect the nation against a biological attack. It will include space for the Department of Homeland Security, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Department of Agriculture.

The expansion is expected to bring 360 jobs to the base, which is the No. 1 employer in Frederick County, according to the Frederick County Office of Economic Development.

But fear from some residents for the safety and health of the county have led commissioners, in particular David P. Gray (R), to call for a review of the environmental studies done by the base on the expansion of the biological research laboratories.

‘‘From the commissioners’ point of view, what goes into that facility and what goes out of that facility is a matter of public safety,” Gray said.

Gray took on the cause last August, meeting with residents and special-interest groups not swayed by the prospect of more jobs in the county and instead, fearing for the county’s safety.

In April, the board sent a letter to Sen. Barbara Mikulski, (D) asking her to support a review of the environmental impact studies commissioned by the Army base.

Mikulski asked the National Academy of Sciences to meet with the county, according to Commissioner Jan H. Gardner (D).

The academy, a nonprofit and nonpartisan agency, was established by Congress in 1863. The academy investigates, examines, reports and advises the nation and government agencies on science, engineering and medicine.

The focus of the study and what should be looked at must be determined before the study can begin. ‘‘We would obviously have to tailor this to what you think is important,” Sharples said. ‘‘...We’ve done some homework here, but not that much homework.”

The academy is expected to meet with commissioners again with an outline of a proposed study, though no date is set.