This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to study Plum Island and nearby federal assets to see whether all or part of the area should be designated as a unit of the National Park System, a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System, or protected by other means. The study area includes the consolidated federal asset commonly known as Plum Island, the Orient Point facility, and associated real and personal property, transportation assets, and infrastructure that support operations and access.
The Secretary must evaluate the national significance of the area, consult with interested federal agencies, state and local governments, private and nonprofit organizations, and other individuals, and identify cost estimates for any federal acquisition, development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance for the options considered. The Secretary must submit a report with findings, conclusions, and any recommendations to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Natural Resources not later than 3 years after funds are first made available to carry out the study.
If you use or visit the area, live nearby, or work on related facilities, this bill would start a formal study that could lead to changes in how Plum Island is managed. The study might recommend making the island part of the National Park System or the National Wildlife Refuge System, or it might recommend other protections. The bill requires consultation with local and other stakeholders during the study.
The bill requires the Secretary to identify cost estimates for any federal acquisition, development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance related to the alternatives studied. The bill does not set or authorize a specific funding amount for the study or for future actions. No publicly available information on total estimated costs is provided in the bill.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.