Plum Island (U.S. Germs Lab) gets new director

PLUM ISLAND (U.S. government's bacteriological research laboratory) gets new director:

Here is a news item regarding PLUM ISLAND, the U.S. government's often controversial (some people even describe it as "secretive" and "mysterious") bacteriological research laboratory located near Long Island:

from the LONG ISLAND PRESS - May 24, 2007:

New Director At Plum Island

by Jeff Buchman 05/24/2007 1:58 pm

Plum Island Laboratory interim director Dr. Lawrence Barrett will now permanently run the federal animal disease-testing center. Barrett, a veterinarian, was named to the two-year terms on Wednesday.

A year ago the Department of Homeland Security said the lab was going to be rebuilt and relocated as a new and improved national agricultural defense research center. This new lab will work with killing dangerous germs like anthrax and botulism. Last year the government invested 35 million dollars to increase its security. Many states have shown interest in building this research center.

Four years ago Congress drew attention to the aging facility and it was the subject of a thorough report by federal investigators. The lab came under scrutiny after reports of dead owls and cases of Lyme disease had raised safety concerns. These cases were a driving force in Congress's investigation as well as the plans to eventually rebuild the new national agricultural defense research center: