Spirits were high at a press conference Thursday morning at the Biosecurity Research Institute in Pat Roberts Hall, and President Jon Wefald spoke like a proud father when he announced the Department of Homeland Security's unofficial decision to relocate the National Bio and Agro Defense Facility from New York to the K-State campus.
    Present were several local and state politicians including Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Sens. Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback, Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson, Reps. Jerry Moran and Todd Tiahrt, Rep.-elect Lynn Jenkins, Manhattan Mayor Mark Hatesohl, Senate President Steve Morris, House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, state Rep. Tom Hawk, state Sen. Roger Reitz, and state Rep. Richard Carlson, along with other K-State leaders and those of the Kansas Bioscience Authority.
    According to the DHS's Preferred Alternative Selection Memorandum, K-State was chosen based on its proximity to existing biohazard research, strong community acceptance and a generous package of incentives offered by the state, such as two established national agriculture biosecurity centers. In return, Kansas officials say the facility could instigate a $3.5 billion economic infusion for the state.
    "This is probably the most single important event in KSU history," Wefald said. "K-State is the world's finest animal health facility. They could take over this building right now and start doing the research Plum Island has been doing for years now."
    Securing the NBAF has been a long-term goal for K-State, Wefald said, and will have long-term effects on the local economy and job market. Three hundred scientists will join the 160 already in 14 departments in six colleges working on animal health and biosecurity; the population of Manhattan will likely double to more than 80,000 in the next 15 years.
    "We decided in 1998 that we should have a priority for the whole university and took a calculated risk," Wefald said. "Food safety and animal health are our priority and this opens up opportunities for our scholars and scientists to do more research and commercializing. This is nothing but a plus."
    Sens. Roberts and Brownback gave the following statements in a press release Wednesday:
    "Kansas is the best place to conduct this much needed research to keep America's dinner table safe. We've been doing this for decades, and now we're ready to get to work with the Departments of Homeland Security and Agriculture to fulfill the NBAF mission," Roberts said.
    "We clearly have the expertise and assets to get results. Now I plan to continue working with my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee to ensure appropriate funding for this project because the NBAF mission is critically important," Brownback said.
    In response to concerns that an outbreak of viruses that will be studied in the facility, Wefald referenced the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Great Britain in 2001.
    "Great Britain didn't have this facility and they are still recovering today," Wefald said. "This is to make sure if an outbreak takes place we can nip it in the bud before it becomes a problem."
    Jerry Jaax, associate vice president for university compliance and university veterinarian also vouches for the safety of local residents and livestock.
    "Pathogens are transported across the country every day. There are strict standards for that and we have experts on campus, so that wouldn't start with the NBAF. It would be done in a very safe manner," Jaax said.
    "The biosafety institute we're sitting in now has the same kind of capabilities the NBAF has. It's sitting in the heart of our campus and I don't think the typical person at K-State sees any effect on campus life. The NBAF will have the same sort of lack-of-impact that people see today."
    The benefits of the NBAF will extend far beyond Manhattan's borders. Wefald referenced the 130 animal health companies in the Kansas City metropolitan area and the future K-State Olathe innovation campus.
    Beyond being the "single more important event in KSU history," Wefald quoted a Kansas City Star article in which President of the Kansas City Area Development Council Bob Marcus said, "This decision in the economic development equivalent of putting a man on the moon."   
    The full Environment Impact Statement recommendation and report will be released by the DHS Friday, rendering the decision official, and can be viewed at the DHS Web site at www.dhs.gov/nbaf. After that, the DHS has 30 days to finalize the site decision.