The structure has sat vacant since AMI workers relocated following the death of an employee from contact with anthrax spores last October. AMI is currently leasing alternative space in Delray Beach. While the US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry would like to use the five-acre property for research purposes, AMI seeks to turnover the building to the government in return for its cleanup of the contaminated facility. The building has a 2001 assessed value of nearly $4.7 million.

AMI has sought assistance in decontaminating the building, but has come up empty-handed, thus the eagerness to do a trade with the government. The Environmental Protection Agency refused the company's request for financial assistance for the cleanup, and because there was no sweeping destruction of lives in the anthrax incident, the Federal Emergency Management Agency cannot offer funds for the job.

The Bioterrorism Preparedness Act of 2001 was sent to the president last week and defines as its goal, "to improve the ability of the United States to prevent, prepare for, and respond to bioterrorism and other public health emergencies. " However, the legislation makes no provisions for financial assistance for post-attack decontamination on private property.