Plum Island, 1954-2026: A Requiem

By Rupert Deedes

About 20 years ago, The Leader ran a front-page picture of a mangled body of a strange dead animal swept ashore near Oyster Bay.

The story accompanying the picture suggested that more than a few residents believed the dead animal was the subject of experiments at Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC).

In all likelihood it was not, but rumors surrounding the high-security facility on the island have accompanied it since it was built more than seven decades ago.

Research at PIADC has been phased out, and will come to an end at the end of 2026, when the last of the lab activities will be transferred to the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kansas.

US Congressman Nick LaLota (R-NY1) has been a leader in researching and supporting an environmentally-sound solution to the Plum Island decommissioning.

Here we provide a brief history of the island and plans for its future, followed by a detailed timeline of all the important developments and events on the island from pre-Revolutionary days until today.

The IslandPlum Island is an 840-acre island in the Long Island Sound, just off Long Island’s North Fork (New York), a short distance from Connecticut. It has been federally owned since the 19th century and was long home to the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC), a research laboratory focused on foreign animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease.

The facility was established in 1954 and operated at Biosafety Level 3Ag, authorized to handle certain livestock pathogens. PIADC is slated to close as its functions are transferred to the National Bio and Agro‑Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kansas, a transition continuing through 2028. All research work on the island will end by the end of 2026

Beyond its scientific role, Plum Island has significant historical and ecological value:

Ecology: Over 200 bird species — nearly one-quarter of North America’s — have been observed there. Endangered species like the piping plover and important seal haul-out sites are found on the island.

History: Fort Terry (a coastal defense and research site) and the Plum Island Lighthouse, both on the National Register of Historic Places, reflect 19th- and 20th-century military and maritime heritage.

Transition, Cleanup, and Research LegacyAs PIADC winds down operations, the focus is increasingly on what comes next. The closure of a high-security research facility raises both practical and environmental questions:

Cleanup: The facility’s infrastructure — including old laboratories and support buildings — will need environmental remediation to address contamination from decades of animal disease research and laboratory operations. The 2020 law that blocked the sale of the island directed DHS to fund cleanup activities, but full environmental restoration will be a long-term task.

Reuse of infrastructure: There is ongoing planning and discussion about how to repurpose structures on the island once research ends. Ideas range from ecological research hubs to historic preservation, but no final consensus yet exists.

As the island transitions away from federal biosecurity operations, state, local, 

and advocacy stakeholders are preparing for a post-lab future — but cleanup, regulatory compliance, and environmental monitoring remain essential prerequisites before opening the island to wider public use.

Federal Legislation and Congressional ActionIn 2008, Congress passed a law requiring Plum Island to be sold at public auction to help finance the new NBAF facility in Kansas. This triggered decades of conservation opposition. In 2020, Congress amended that law to block the sale to private parties and direct the federal government to offer the island first to other federal, state, or local agencies. The law also provided $18.9 million for contamination cleanup.

Current Legislative EffortsSeveral bills introduced in the 118th and 119th Congresses (2023–2025) aim to define Plum Island’s long-term future:

A. Plum Island National Monument Act (House)Introduced by Rep. Nick LaLota and others, this bill has been reported out of committee and would direct the U.S. Department of the Interior to conduct a resource study and move toward establishing Plum Island as a national monument.

B. Plum Island Preservation Act (Senate)Sponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal, Chuck Schumer, Chris Murphy, and Kirsten Gillibrand, this bill would permanently protect the island from development and require a formal management plan developed with stakeholders. It has been introduced and considered by Senate committees but has not yet advanced to final passage.

C. Plum Island Preservation Study ActA companion measure passed, requiring a special resource study by DOI to evaluate Plum Island’s national significance and suitability for designation as a protected unit — a key step before full preservation legislation is enacted. This study bill received bipartisan support and movement in the Senate.

Status: No final, signed law yet designating Plum Island’s ultimate status, but the study requirement and ongoing proposals demonstrate strong congressional movement toward preservation rather than sale.

Positions of State and Local Governments

New York and Connecticut DelegationsLawmakers from both states have been consistent advocates for preservation. New York’s senators (Schumer and Gillibrand) and Connecticut’s (Blumenthal and Murphy) are cosponsors of preservation legislation, emphasizing ecological value, historical heritage, and regional identity.

Local GovernmentsSuffolk County (NY) officials have held discussions with federal agencies about assuming stewardship or playing a significant role in future management. Conservation groups and county leaders broadly support permanent protection.

No state governments oppose preservation; rather, the dominant local preference is toward conservation, public access, and historical tourism rather than development.

Evolving Vision for Plum Island’s FutureBased on current legislative and advocacy activity, the emerging expectations for Plum Island include:

Protected Natural AreaMost proposals envision:

●  Permanent conservation status (e.g., national monument, wildlife refuge)

●  Ecological restoration and habitat management

●  Public access for hiking, bird-watching, education, and tourism

This contrasts sharply with earlier plans to sell the island to the highest private bidder.

Integrated StewardshipDiscussions include shared stewardship models involving:

●  Federal agencies (DOI, Fish and Wildlife Service)

●  State and local governments (e.g., Suffolk County)

●  Nonprofit conservation organizations

Different groups might manage different aspects — natural resources, historic buildings, research facilities — in coordinated plans.

Preservation + InterpretationBeyond simple protection, advocates propose:

●  Visitor facilities

●  Educational interpretation of the island’s biological research history and ecological value

●  Historical preservation of Fort Terry and other landmarks

These would make the island a living laboratory of nature and history once biosecurity operations have ceased.

Remaining UncertaintiesDespite strong momentum for preservation:

●  Legislation has not yet been signed into law to establish permanent status.

●  A final management plan and timeline await completion of mandated studies and political consensus.

●  Cleanup and environmental assessments will likely shape what uses are feasible and safe.

●  Funding commitments and administrative arrangements among federal/state/local bodies remain unresolved.

In SumPlum Island’s future is moving away from decades as a high-security federal lab toward conservation and public use. Congress has blocked private sale, mandated studies, and is actively debating preservation legislation.

The New York and Connecticut delegations support protecting it as ecological and historic treasure rather than allowing development. Cleanup and environmental restoration are essential precursors to any broader use. What is emerging is a bipartisan, multi-agency effort to transform Plum Island into a managed conservation and heritage space, with ongoing legislative, administrative, and ecological work continuing into the next several years.