Dugway May Increase Testing Of Biological Equipment

None by Eric Ray

De-Commissioned Lab May Be Renovated

(KCPW News) The Department of Defense wants Dugway Proving Ground to increase its testing of equipment used to detect and identify biological materials.

In order to accommodate that testing, Dugway wants to renovate Baker Lab to provide the space needed. A spokesperson for Dugway says they must conduct an Environmental Assessment of the project prior to renovations only because Baker Lab, de-commissioned in 1997, is a historical building. The Department of Defense will cover the $20 million dollar cost of the first phase of the renovation. The second phase hasn't been funded yet, but the DOD is expected to provide funding for that phase as well.

The renovation of Baker Lab isn't likely to be completed until January of 2008 at the earliest. Once re-opened, the lab will test level 2 and 3 biological agents - which include anthrax. The public is invited to provide comments and suggestions for the Environmental Assessment during a meeting at the Salt Lake City Library on March 13th at 7:00pm.

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