In 1996 SUNY Stoney Brook had been considering joint experiments with Plum Island, using the biolevel 4 lab at Plum Island. March 1999 and also. Some background on Plum is needed. March 1999, Plum island installed an undersea fiberoptic cable. During the finalization of the cable, by STV Inc.
Plum Island needs power to maintain biocontainment.
Plum Island has had a horrific safety violation record and has been cited by the EPA as late as Spring 1999. A new Director, Dr. LeeAnn Thomas, took over in July of 1999. Some of the attached links prove that Plum is not a biolevel 3, but it is a biolevel 5 faciliity, one of only a few worldwide. I do not have that answer. It is theorized that Plum island needs funds just to maintain its present biocontainment.