© AJ Hand

Plum Island, an 843-acre that lies less than a half mile off the coast of Orient Point, New York is up for sale. Home to the top secret National Disease Laboratory, Plum Island comprises a mix of rocky shoreline, sand beaches, wetlands, and various upland shrub, grassland and forest habitats. The Plum Island and Gull Island complex is recognized by EPA Region 1 and II, CT DEP and NY DEC as one of 33 inaugural Long Island Sound Stewardship Areas based on its rich ecological resources. New York Audubon has also recognized the area stretching from Orient Point and Plum Island to Gull Island as an Important Bird Area based the presence of Piping Plover, Common Tern, and Least Tern during the breeding season, congregations of Common and Roseate Terns during both breeding season and migration, and winter concentrations of waterfowl.

In 2009, Congress passed the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance and Continuing Appropriations Act (US Public Law 110-329) that mandates sale of the island based on a determination by the Department of Homeland Security to construct a new, up-to-date National Disease Laboratory in Manhattan, Kansas by 2018.

The General Services Administration, charged with overseeing the process, has begun the process of drafting an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Public scoping meetings were held the last week of May in Connecticut and New York. Both Audubon Connecticut and Audubon New York have provided comments calling for in-depth species and habitat surveys of the island and proposing transfer of all or at least the undeveloped portions of the island USFWS for inclusion in the National Wildlife Refuge System.

More than 90% of the island remains undeveloped and Audubon New York has documented more than 100 bird species on the island or in its adjacent waters. In 2009, seven active Osprey nests and an active Bank Swallow colony, a bird species on the decline in New York, were noted. Piping Plovers, a federally threatened species, utilize the shoreline habitat for breeding and foraging. Several dozen Roseate Terns, a federally endangered species, and several hundred Common Terns, a New York State threatened species, also use the island.

The waters surrounding Plum Island are rich in nutrients and are vital feeding and courting grounds for a large concentration of waterfowl. Plum Island may also provide critical stopover habitat for many fall migrant songbird and shorebird species, but this needs better documentation. The largest haul-out site for seals in southern New England, particularly harbor and grey seals, is situated in the southeastern section of the Island. There is a NY Natural Heritage ranked natural community (Maritime dune) and a large, high-quality freshwater wetland situated in the southeastern portion of the Island. Several rare plants occur on Plum Island including carnivorous species, orchids, and species found in beach habitats. By its very essence and nature Plum Island possesses outstanding ecological and scenic quality and recreational potential.

Plum Island Case Statement
Orient Point to Plum Island Important Bird Area Fact Sheet