Connecticut Legislators Introduce Bills To Stop The Sale of Plum Island

A pair of bills introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on Tuesday by legislators from Connecticut and New York aim to halt the sale of Plum Island, NY, by repealing a portion of a 2008 law that requires an auction of the 843-acre island.

The bipartisan House bill, known as the “Save, Don't Sell Plum Island” bill, is sponsored by Congressman Timothy Bishop (D-NY), Congressman Michael Grimm (R-NY), and Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT). Save the Sound and other members of the Preserve Plum Island Coalition joined Congressman Bishop at a press conference in Orient, Long Island, to announce it.

The Senate bill, sponsored by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), was announced shortly thereafter.  

The bills would repeal the law requiring the General Service Administration (GSA) to set aside its traditional process for disposing of excess federal property—a process that allows the agency to transfer government land to another federal agency, state/local government, or private steward, and give due consideration to all stakeholders—and sell the island to the highest bidder.  

“The level of environmental uncertainty in allowing GSA to auction off Plum Island is unacceptable,” Blumenthal said. “Congress must repeal their short-sighted decision to sell Plum Island and provide GSA with the flexibility it needs to transfer the facility to another federal agency or other entity that has an impeccable environmental record. We must ensure that future generations can enjoy the environmental and recreational benefits of open space, and preserve extraordinary natural resources like Plum Island.”

“Plum Island shouldn’t be sold to the highest bidder,” Murphy said. “It’s not every day that we have chance to protect an entire island in the Sound, and squandering this chance would be unforgivable. Congress made a mistake in authorizing this sale, and it’s long overdue that we correct it. Potential repercussions from the sale of Plum Island to a private owner, who would likely develop the area, are frightening for Long Island Sound and Connecticut. As we work to keep the Sound clean, and maintain the rest of the area’s natural habitats, allowing potentially major and environmentally damaging developments on Plum Island just isn’t smart. This space needs to be managed by an entity that has the environmental preservation as its top priority. Anything else would be a step backwards in our goal of achieving a cleaner, healthier planet.”

“Plum Island is a unique ecological resource that should be preserved for future generations,” Courtney said. “Currently, the law prescribes only one fate for Plum Island should the site leave federal ownership: sale to a private owner.  I applaud the steps that Southhold, NY and stakeholders on both sides of the Long Island Sound have taken towards preserving the island, but it is clear that Congress must eliminate the sale requirement to allow for other options for its future – including preservation as an ecological treasure.”

In the 2006 Long Island Sound Study, Connecticut state agencies in collaboration with New York and federal agencies as well as environmental organizations recognized the ecological and recreational importance of Plum Island as a Long Island Sound Stewardship Site.  

In addition, GSA’s own Final Environmental Impact Statement concluded that any development of Plum Island could have a major impact on land use, air quality, water resources and biological resources in the area. The legislation allows GSA to transfer Plum Island to a federal agency, state/local government, or private steward that would protect the environmental integrity of the area. 

“Plum Island has been recognized by the U.S. EPA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and state agencies for the richness of the natural resources both on the island and in its surrounding waters,” said Save the Sound attorney Charles Rothenberger. “The United States spends hundreds of millions of dollars a year to purchase properties for conservation. It defies logic that the same government is planning to sell off a property it already owns—particularly an official Long Island Sound Stewardship site that possesses such a rare mix of important ecological resources and historic sites and that is located in one of the most overdeveloped regions of the country. Nevertheless, the General Services Administration has insisted on proceeding with a sale, arguing that it is required to do so by law.”

“The legislation introduced [on July 17] would eliminate that excuse. It’s a common-sense approach that will help to protect Plum Island for future generations, and we applaud the Connecticut and New York delegations for their leadership in introducing it,” Rothenberger said.