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‘« To: Washington Field From: Washington we? Re: 279A-WF-222936-USAMRIID, 05/24/2005 powder became airborne, USAMRIID personnel should have conducted testing within a laboratory that bore an overheard containment hood.*” re ae a IVINS' DECEMBER 2001 INDEPENDENT ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEY | . IVINS' motivations for conducting an unauthorized environmental survey IVINS became concerned that the fine powder of the Daschle letter, as well as other potential anthrax letters and samples, were not contained adequately with the practices used at USAMRIID.** IV i ed with processing of the Daschle letter in Room as the BSL-2 laboratory was not adequate _to contain aerosolized B.a. powder ,?® cording to ivins,[____]Jcommented "daily" to him that | Jeuployes laboratory practices were unsafe.*° Based on conversations with IVINS became concerned about possible contamination Outside the actual laboratories where the evidence was being handled. IVINS was also apprehensive that contamination of personnel might lead amination of areas outside the ainment suites. ea irentioned to IVINS the concern that may have been exposed to powder and possibly contaminated.?* Over time, IVINS' concern extended to the office area which EE He felt that if there had been unsafe handling of evidence, tent] could have inadvertently contaminated the office. In December 2001, IVINS noted thatL____—sd entire desk in room[_ lof Building 1425, was quite dirty. IVINS described larea as covered with an enormous amount of dust, debris and other material. According to IVINS, other areas in the office, including IVINS' were not similarly dirty. Because of the condition o: desk, and because he knew tha had worked a great deal with B.a., both in his laboratory and in support of Operation Noble Eagle, IVINS wondered privately whether any of the dust and dirt on[___]desk contained B.a. spores.” According to IVINS' thinking, if a spore was to fall in a dusty area, which had not subsequently been cleaned, the spore could still be present .”* Therefore, in December of 2001, initiative to swab the office ?* IVINS specified the following reasons as to why he decided to conduct_random environmental sampling within his office around[__] desk area: his experience with the powder in the Daschle letter, [___]conment s of possibly being expo: being administered antibiotics, and information that personnel did not utilize safety precautions.> 4 |