A view of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Chemistry Laboratory, right, on the UNLV campus Wednesday, April 19, 2017.
Friday, May 5, 2017 | 2 a.m.
Officials at the Environmental Protection Agency are crafting plans to move its UNLV lab out of Las Vegas, a spokesman for the agency confirmed.
The decision, which was announced to lab employees, ends efforts to build a new EPA facility at the UNLV Harry Reid Research and Technology Park. EPA plans to consolidate the lab with existing agency operations in other states after its current lease with UNLV expires in September 2020.
“Staff were informed of this decision and that the agency is developing options to move the research work to other current EPA laboratories,” said Jahan Wilcox, an EPA spokesman.
Some options might include consolidating the UNLV lab, which conducts research and supports air quality programs, with existing operations in Alabama or North Carolina.
The decision is unrelated to President Donald Trump’s proposed budget cuts to the agency. The previous administration had decided not to move forward with building a new facility in Las Vegas, Wilcox said. The Trump administration signed off and finalized that decision.
“Following a plan from the previous administration, the current EPA has decided to not pursue constructing a new laboratory in Las Vegas,” Wilcox said in a statement.
The move came as a surprise to UNLV administrators, who had been hoping that the lab would remain affiliated with the university. Former Sen. Harry Reid fought for $7.8 million in appropriations so that the EPA could design a new building.
Wilcox said those funds are now being redirected “to implement other laboratory consolidation efforts.”
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy