Plum Island one step closer to protection

A bill to prevent the federal sale of Plum Island in Long Island Sound unanimously passed the House of Representatives last month. Now it goes to the Senate.

The 840-acre island, which was the site of the federal government’s high-security animal disease laboratory, is premier wildlife habitat. In 2008, Congress directed that Plum Island be sold to the highest bidder to offset construction costs of a new $1.25 billion Animal Disease Center lab in Kansas. Conservationists and environmental groups had another vision for the Island and slowly convinced Long Island legislators to fight to block the sale.

Comparable proposals to protect Plum Island from being sold passed the U.S. House last year but stalled in the Senate.

Action needed

Please reach out to Senators Gillibrand 518-431-0120 and Schumer 518-431-4070 and let them know you support the protection of Plum Island.

Submit this easy form thanking your Senators and Congressmen for all of their work so far, and ask them to continue pushing for a solution.

To find out more about Plum Island and the coalition of organizations, including Parks & Trails New York, that have joined together to preserve it visit www.preserveplumisland.org.