On September 2, 2005 the State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation officially dedicated the Environmental Health Laboratory, a state-of-the-art 20,000 square foot facility dedicated exclusively to food safety and animal health.
After successfully serving the public for over 30 years in Palmer, the State Legislature determined in 2002 that the public would be best served by upgrading to a modern 21st century facility. New technologies and new threats to public health drove the decision to move. A site directly adjacent to the State’s new Public Health Laboratory was chosen to maximize efficiency and allow for collaboration between scientists in both organizations.
Ground breaking for the new facility took place in the spring of 2004. After nearly 18 months of construction the new facility was ready and the first group of scientists began the process of relocating from Palmer to their new home in Anchorage.
In addition to housing the laboratory staff the new facility is the new home of the Office of the State Veterinarian. The new laboratory incorporates an advanced necropsy facility that enables the State Veterinarian to perform detailed examinations of animals in a controlled environment. With immediate access to advanced testing equipment and laboratory scientists the State Veterinarian is able to provide a higher than ever level of customer service.
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