Despite government assurances, residents of northern Oklahoma and southern Kansas continue to be concerned about a planned biosecurity drill to be held next year by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
As OK Energy Today reported in November, the department plans to release inert chemical and biological simulant materials at the former Chilocco Indian School campus just outside Newkirk.
Since then, thousands in the Newkirk area and Arkansas City, Kansas have signed petitions against the project. And the experiment has attracted the attention of the New York Times which reported on how residents are “Leery of Planned Bioterror Test.”
The focus of the release of the chemicals is to measure how much penetrates structures in the event of a bioterrorism attack. The government says the chemicals to be used are titanium dioxide which is found in sunscreens and cosmetics; fluorescent brightener found in laundry detergents; and urea, which is a compound found in urine and fertilizers.
The lead scientist in the experiment maintains the produce is widely used and is not harmful to humans or wildlife.