Recently, plans by biomedical company Charles River Laboratories to build a large facility in Southeast Texas have been met with resistance from locals in Brazoria County. The company, headquartered in Massachusetts, specializes in designing medicines and relies on primates to test new drugs. However, the current shortage of research monkeys has prompted the company to expand its operations to a new location.
The proposed facility, to be built on a 500-acre plot of land, has sparked concerns among neighboring landowners. They fear that diseases carried by mosquitoes and ticks from the monkeys could infect their land and property values may drop. Flood risk is also a major concern, as the area is prone to flooding and was affected during Hurricane Harvey. Some residents feel that they were not properly informed about the plans for the facility, and have turned to organizations like PETA for support in their opposition to the project.
Animal TORTURER Charles River Laboratories wants to build a MONKEY facility in ecologically fragile land in Texas. They want 43,000 monkeys—making it the largest torture facility ever! STOP THIS OBSCENITY! .@SecVilsack.@SenateDems.@POTUS.@corybooker
.@peta.@ALDF.@BetoORourke— Patricia Mitchell (@plmitchell99) January 4, 2024
Executives from Charles River Laboratories met with local officials in mid-December and were made aware of the flood risks associated with the area. As a result, they have decided to reconsider their plans and assess the concerns more thoroughly. At this time, the company has put their plans on hold.
When questioned about the decision to build in Brazoria County, the company stated that they were looking for a community with a history of working with animals and agriculture, in hopes of finding a receptive environment for their work. However, this has not been the case, as residents and local officials have expressed strong opposition to the project.
“How much racket does 43,000 monkeys make?” Texas residents were alarmed when they heard about a biomedical research company’s plan to house primates next door. https://t.co/rg1lppVnbe https://t.co/rg1lppVnbe
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) January 2, 2024
Brazoria County Commissioner David Linder and Representative Cody Vasut have both reported receiving numerous calls and messages from constituents who are against the facility. Representative Vasut even sent a letter to the company, requesting more information about their plans, while Commissioner Linder was a part of the county’s Commissioners Court that passed a resolution opposing the project.
In response to the growing opposition, the company’s chief operating officer has acknowledged that they should have reached out to local officials and the community earlier in the process. She also stated that the initial plans for the facility to house 43,000 monkeys were only a maximum estimate and that the current plan is for 8,600 monkeys.
While the reduction in the number of primates may provide some relief to concerned residents, the main issue remains that the company did not communicate its plans effectively with the community. Many residents feel that they were caught off guard and are still awaiting further information from the company, particularly regarding the flood risk assessment.
The next step in this ongoing conflict will be for the company to evaluate the flood risk for the proposed site and share their findings with local officials and the community. Despite the reassurances from Charles River Laboratories about potential job opportunities and economic benefits for the area, the majority of neighbors and officials remain opposed to the facility and are eager for further dialogue and transparency from the company.
