DAN'S PAPERS, May 2, 2008 Page 23 www.danshamptons.com
More Risk at Plum? As if Dutch Duck Plague & Lyme Disease Weren’t Enough By Tiffany Razzano Nazi scientists, exotic illnesses never before seen in this part of the world and a government-run island that’s been shrouded in mystery and become fodder for local folklore for more than 50 years. You know what they say — truth is stranger than fiction. Plum Island, an animal research center located in the Long Island Sound, mere miles from Orient Point, and once a federal biological warfare laboratory, has long been a source of contention for residents on the East End. After all, Plum Island’s security has been questioned over the years and it has been associated with the exposure of Lyme disease and West Nile
virus to the western world (which has been vehemently denied by our government, of course). Despite this, Plum Island, a national bio and agro defense facility that currently operates as a Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) laboratory and is dedicated to the study of foreign-born animal diseases (primarily foot and mouth disease [FMD]) is one of six locations in the country being considered to become the future site of a $500 million laboratory that will set aside 10% of its space for Biosafety Level-4 (BSL-4) research. This upgrade means Plum Island, or perhaps one of the other locations being considered — Athens, Georgia, Manhattan,
Kansas, Madison County, Mississippi, Granville County, North Carolina, San Antonio, Texas — would be classified to handle the research of animal diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans, have no known vaccine and can cause death, including Nipah and Hendra viruses. Currently, no such facility exists in the world. East End residents came out in droves to an April 15 meeting to speak out against the construction of such a facility, citing concern for their safety should a terrorist attack or natural disaster hit the island. Local officials have also banded against the idea as well, though (continued on the next page)
NEW PROPOSAL COULD KEEP NICK’S BEACH HOPPING By T.J. Clemente With the question of whether Nick’s beach in Montauk will be issued a permit by the Suffolk County Health Department to operate hanging in the balance, local officials and the Montauk Chamber of Commerce met on April 25 to devise a plan. At issue were observed violations to a New State Sanitary code pertaining to “bathing beaches and bathrooms.” With over 35 Chamber members in attendance, including President Paul Monte and Executive Director Laraine Creegan, plans were made to satisfy the requests of Health Department Bureau Marine Resources
Supervisor Mac Waters, who had given the Town of East Hampton a heads up a few weeks earlier about the issue, but had gotten no response. The Town is now hoping to present him with a proposal that will resolve the situation before June 1, the date Waters issues the Suffolk County Beach Permits. After the meeting, Creegan acknowledged that Waters was correct to insist that actions be taken. Because a permanent bathroom facility cannot be constructed to code by Memorial Day and the portable facilities used last year are unacceptable for massive public use, the board is looking to advise the Town to
contract bathroom trailers that have hot and cold running water. Creegan credited Assemblyman Jay Schneiderman, also in attendance along with Town of East Hampton Board members Julia Prince and Pete Hammerle, with actually finding a possible location for permanent bathrooms in accordance with New York State code. “Jay found a slice of Town land close enough to the beach to be within the required distance,” said Creegan. However, now the Town must act on the proposals that Waters hinted would enable Nick’s Beach to receive a permit. (continued on page 37)