The group Frederick Citizens for Biolab Safety had asked in March that the Army fund the study of the planned lab.

In a letter dated June 16, the command's chief of staff, William Thresher, wrote that the Army wouldn't support funding such a study. He says the concerns raised by the citizens were already addressed in an Environmental Impact Statement.

The critics say the statement discounted their safety concerns.

The new building would contain expanded areas where researchers study agents that pose a high risk of causing life-threatening disease for which no vaccine or therapy is available.