Abstract
Biocontainment facilities for animals are complex structures which must comply with numerous, sometimes conflicting, federal, state and local regulations. Agencies responsible for funding the construction of or permitting of such facilities must address the environmental impacts of the operation including the treatment and disposal of regulated medical waste.
Our experience illustrates the complex nature of the biocontainment facility permitting process. Furthermore, these experiences have taught us to seek public input early in the planning process and incorporate the public's concerns during the environmental quality review process. Finally, the recent decision in New York to regulate ABSL-3 facilities as regulated medical waste treatment facilities has added significant new requirements and resulted in a cost escalation that threatens the entire project.