The National Research Council, part of the National Academy of Sciences, found several major shortcomings in a risk assessment conducted by the Department of Homeland Security. The agency is planning to open the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, Kan.

The lab would study a variety of dangerous animal diseases, including the highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease, which can sicken cattle, pigs, deer, and other hooved animals. The lab would also study diseases that can be deadly to people when transmitted between animals and humans.

The lab would be the third “Biosafety-Level 4 Pathogen’’ facility that could work with large animals in the world. The other two are in Australia and Canada. It would replace the antiquated Plum Island Animal Disease Center, about 2 miles off Long Island. The Department of Homeland Security assessment found there is nearly a 70 percent chance that a disease would escape the lab during the 50 years it is supposed to operate, according to the new report. Such an escape could have a devastating impact on the economy, costing $9 billion to $50 billion.

The new analysis, however, concludes that the risks and costs could be significantly higher. For example, the assessment does not take into consideration the risks associated with daily cleaning of large animal rooms, and with being located close to Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine clinics, according to the report.

It also underestimates how hard it would be to contain an infection if it escaped from the lab. About 9.5 percent of all the cattle in the country are within 200 miles of the site.

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