Rocky Mountain Laboratory (RML) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research facility located in Hamilton, MT, 40 miles south of Missoula in a densely populated residential neighborhood.   RML currently operates the only medical waste incinerator in Montana, attracting the attention of WVE in 1999. 

What's New at RML?

Currently RML is in the process of developing its 20 year Master Plan for the campus.  WVE is working with local citizens in Hamilton to ensure the public's concerns are addressed in the plan.  Specifically, WVE would like to see a pledge to become an incineration-free campus included in the 20 year vision for RML.  Numerous other issues include limiting  expansion of the campus, energy and water conservation, light and noise pollution and traffic issues. 

To see more information about the Master Plan click here.

Read the latest news about the Master Plan in the Ravalli Republic!

The Lab and its History

In February 2002, the NIH announced their proposal to build a Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) lab on the RML campus.   As part of the federal government's War on Terrorism, this new lab is intended to study highly infectious diseases, such as Ebola, anthrax, and hemorrhagic fevers which could potentially be used as bioterrorist agents.   

Almost immediately, RML staff and Hamilton community members became fully occupied with issues around the new lab.  WVE joined the efforts of concerned citizens and formed a group called Coalition for a Safe Lab. This all-volunteer, grassroots group shares our concerns about incineration and the proposed increased use of the incinerator as part of the BL-4 Lab.

In April 2004, the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the BL-4 was issued.  The EIS indicated that use of the incinerator would increase by 50-100% (from 1-2 days/week to 2-3 days/week) when the BL-4 lab was built. WVE submitted substantial comments on the two draft EIS’ emphasizing the conflict between NIH's directive for pollution prevention and the increased use of the incinerator, but were disappointed to find that NIH had not reconsidered alternatives to incineration. 

In August 2004, in collaboration with Coalition for a Safe Lab and Friends of the Bitterroot, WVE filed a lawsuit against the NIH for failing to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act regarding an inadequate EIS.  In September 2004, we were ordered into mediation with NIH.

As a result of this process, we secured a number of community safety mechanisms, including increased access to information about the lab’s activities and made tremendous gains towards closing the incinerator.  RML ceased burning all non-medical waste in October 2005 and implemented an extensive recycling program throughout the campus.

RML also commissioned a study to address non-incineration alternatives for their medical waste which was released in December 2005.  The report outlines several available non-incineration technologies which can handle the unique medical waste produced at the lab.

 Alexandra Gorman, WVE’s Director of Science and Research currently sits on the facility’s Institutional Biosafety Committee and participates in quarterly Community Liaison Group meetings held by the lab.