European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 21, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse Wednesday september 21, 1988 the stars and stripes Page 5 army Scales Back germ warfare lab because of Public opposition in Utah b Lite washing inn Post Washington the army bowing to Puhac pressure has scaled Back its plans to build one of the world s Mast secure laboratories for scientists to test the deadliest germ warfare agents including virulent pathogens created bj1 gent tic engineering it was announced monday tin lab proposal had faced intense local opposition fur wan. A new lab to be constructed in 1991 at Dugway proving ground in Miles Southwest of Salt Lake City will instead contain less stringent Security and safety precautions allowing researchers to study bacteria and viruses that pose Only a modest risk of causing lethal disease v Hon in Fulcd the army s decision to modify the unpopular facility was announced Ai a Dugway news conference monday evening by Utah nov. Norman Banger tar a Republican who has fallen behind his democratic opponent in he fall election Campaign and by rep. James v. Hansen r Utah who represent the Dugway area. They spoke an hour before townspeople were to gather at a Public hearing to protest the army s initial plans to build tic More elaborate Laboratory which was also opposed by sen. Orrin a Hatch Rulah rep. Wayne Owen of Utah. University of Utah scientists and biotechnology critic Jeremy Rifkin. "1 appreciate the army s newfound willingness to Compromise with the people of Utah Banger tar Saij. We have come a Long Way from the Early Days of not knowing Hal lakes place at an army spokesman. Maj. Joseph Daley said the decision was based on a recent critical review of the biological defense. Work expected at Dugway within the next five he said inc amid determined the extraordinary safely precautions planned for the Laboratory were excessive because it would not he working with exotic germ warfare agents posing a High risk of deadly Dis ease including Many for which no vaccines exist. Only a few High Security government facilities Are authorized to work with such agents now including an army lab at fort Delrick md., 9fficially rated As hav ing bios Fly level 4 the maximum possible. Employees at such labs typically enter and exit through special airlocks Wear protective gear with individual oxygen supplies Shower at shirt s end and have their suits decontaminated. Fillers and incinerators eliminate pathogens in waste material and Laboratory air to Block the spread of deadly spores. The army has always said it had no plans to work with Bio warfare agents requiring bios Fly level 4 at Dugway but sought authority to build a Laboratory with that rating anyway As a contingency against unspecified future needs. The projected Cost was s5.3 million. Under the new plan the new Dugway Laboratory will i instead be Buill to meet the Roqu in Ementi of bios Fly level 3, intended for work with agents where the potential for infection by aerosol is real and the Dis ease May have serious lethal according loan army report. The lab will include new special equipment for Spray ing the viruses in aerosol form enabling the army to conduct More realistic tests of defensive equipment and clothing than possible now at fort Ditrick or Dugway s level 1 at the new facility will Wear gowns gloves and surgical masks and conduct the most dangerous experiments in special cabinets with filtered air ducts. But unlike workers in the world s most secure labs they need not use individual oxygen supplies and Shower when air in the Laboratory also need not be Fil lured before being exhausted outdoors although ducts will direct in away from occupied areas according to the army said this Laboratory is needed to test the effects on Bio warfare defences of organisms capable of causing anthrax j fever Lular Mia encephalitis and other infectious diseases and will provide ample Protection for workers and the he added that the fort Delrick lab Wilt be used to satisfy any future needs for Materiel testing Hal re quire higher. Containment although no expansion is planned there Rifkin director of the Washington based foundation on economic trends and the sponsor of several lawsuits against the army Bio warfare program said the decision was obviously a Victory. They can l work on super pathogens in the new lab that would pose both an environmental risk and a perceived Chal Lenge to a 1972 International treaty barring development production or Stooge of offensive biological weapons. Amnesty of Erna onal concert four reaches . Philadelphia at1 amnesty International opened the . Leg of its human rights concert Lour monday with a Star studded lineup of top International Rock stars Hal included Bruce Springsteen and Sling. The human highs now concert began late monday afternoon with per formers singing the Laic reggae Star Bob Marley s " Jet up. Stand up to a sub Dued crowd Al John Kennedy stadium. By the Lime Stin look the stage 2vi hours later the stadium had tilled and the crowd halt Meriu d boisterous. About 73,000 lick Els at 535 each were sold for the cd Nitro held at the same stadium where 90.0ud gathered for the 1985 live Aid concert that raised Money to fight hunger. In s very easy for Young people to feel helpless to feel impotent to feel they have no influence or control Over inc world they
