Representative Nick LaLota of the First Congressional District has formally proposed legislation to declare Plum Island a national monument under the 1906 Antiquities Act. His bill, known as H.B. 1584, emphasizes the need for “ecological conservation, historical preservation, and the discovery and celebration of our shared cultural heritage.”
According to a release from the Preserve Plum Island Coalition, the legislation would give administrative jurisdiction to the secretary of the Interior to enter into contracts and agreements pertaining to the care and operation of the island, and sets forth a timeline for the creation of a management plan.
The ecologically significant island, owned by the federal Department of Homeland Security, is home to the Plum Island Animal Disease Center, which is being decommissioned this year, as well as Fort Terry and a lighthouse, both dating to the late 19th century. The Montaukett Indians also consider the island important to their heritage and history.
The Preserve Plum Island Coalition said this legislation “builds on growing momentum in Congress” for the island’s conservation. The efforts have the support of Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, all 18 members of the Suffolk County Legislature, and more than 1,700 other advocates and citizens.
The coalition “greatly appreciates Congressman LaLota’s commitment to protecting Plum Island, as evidenced by his introduction of legislation to designate it as a national monument,” said John Turner, a spokesman for the group. “With this newly introduced bill, the permanent protection of Plum Island now is being considered by the full suite of federal decision makers — senators, members of the House of Representatives, the White House, and the relevant agencies.”
