Animal disease research facility in the works

The Department of Homeland Security is planning a new National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility to replace the aging Plum Island Animal Disease Center in Long Island, N.Y. The department is exploring sites for the new facility, which will be about 500,000 square feet and cover 30 acres. Plum Island Center is the only U.S. laboratory equipped for studying and diagnosing damaging animal diseases that originate in other countries. The department says the new facility will enhance and modernize these capabilities.