Federal Negotiations Seek Transfer of Plum Island to Suffolk County as Closure of Research Lab Nears

NEW YORK, NY – Federal officials are moving closer to deciding the future of Plum Island, the storied 840-acre island in Long Island Sound that has long fascinated the public for its secretive animal disease research facility. The U.S. government has invited Suffolk County to consider taking stewardship of the island as federal operations wind down, a shift that could determine whether the island is preserved, developed, or repurposed for public use.

Plum Island, located off the tip of Orient Point, has been home to the Plum Island Animal Disease Center since 1954. Established during the Cold War to study highly contagious livestock illnesses, the laboratory operated for decades under the U.S. Department of Agriculture before shifting to the Department of Homeland Security in 2024.

Plans are already underway to move research to a new $1.25 billion National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan, Kansas. That relocation is expected to be complete by 2026, although full decommissioning and cleanup of Plum Island may take years beyond that date.

Plum Island’s future has been debated for more than a decade. In 2008, federal legislation called for its sale to private developers, with proceeds intended to help pay for the Kansas facility. That plan sparked immediate opposition from environmentalists, historians, and local governments.

By 2020, Congress reversed course and barred a commercial sale. Instead, funds were allocated for environmental remediation, with a preference for transferring the property to another federal conservation agency. If no federal agency takes control, the law allows transfer to state or local governments – setting the stage for the current negotiations with Suffolk County.

Suffolk County officials confirmed they have been approached about assuming stewardship of Plum Island, although talks are still preliminary. Any deal would likely involve partnerships with conservation organizations and state agencies to balance ecological preservation, historic recognition, and limited public access.

Advocates including Save the Sound, the Nature Conservancy, and the Preserve Plum Island Coalition have long pushed for the island to become a preserve. They point to its diverse ecosystems – from sand dunes and tidal flats to wetlands and maritime forest – as vital habitats for migratory birds, seals, and endangered species. But there are also practical considerations: decades of military and federal laboratory use mean contamination and infrastructure cleanup would complicate any large-scale development. For many, preservation is both an ecological goal and a realistic alternative to costly, controversial redevelopment.

Lawmakers from both Connecticut and New York have introduced bills to protect Plum Island as a conservation area. The Plum Island Preservation Study Act and similar measures have been reintroduced multiple times, but they have stalled before reaching a vote in the House.

Another idea floated by preservationists is for the President to declare the island a national monument under the Antiquities Act, a faster path to permanent protection. That proposal, however, has not gained significant political traction.

Beyond its ecological value, Plum Island is rich in history. It was home to Fort Terry, a coastal artillery post during World War I, and later served as a submarine base during World War II. Decades of secrecy around the disease lab have also fueled conspiracy theories, most notably linking the island to the origins of Lyme disease, though experts dismiss these claims as unfounded.

The federal government has kept public access tightly restricted, further adding to the island’s mystique. Tours by conservation groups and researchers in recent years have given only limited glimpses of its natural and historic features.

With Suffolk County now formally engaged in discussions, the next steps will involve defining what role, if any, the county will take in managing the property once the lab closes. Officials will need to consider the cost of cleanup, long-term maintenance, and public safety alongside community hopes for preservation and access.

Recent Laboratory Incident Raises Safety Oversight Concerns

On September 2, 2025, seven employees at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center were taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center for evaluation due to eye irritation experienced during a routine operation. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the transfers were precautionary, and no serious injuries were reported. Officials said the symptoms emerged during an autoclave sterilization process. All personnel were released after observation and continue to be in good health.

This incident highlights the ongoing operational hazards at the facility, even amid its phased closure and eventual transition to the neighboring NBAF facility in Kansas. It underscores the importance of stringent safety protocols as the laboratory winds down – a process that still involves active, high-risk research.

What Comes Next

With Suffolk County now in formal discussions to assume stewardship of Plum Island, multiple paths lie ahead:

• Transfer terms: Defining the county’s role, including cleanup responsibilities and ongoing safety oversight, will be essential.
• Safety and remediation: The recent incident serves as a reminder of the facility’s biohazard risks and the need for clear protocols, even after operations cease.
• Conservation focus vs. development: Advocates remain firm that preserving the island serves both ecological and practical interests – protecting habitats and avoiding complex cleanup issues tied to redevelopment.
• Community engagement and transparency: As stewardship shifts, local governments, conservation groups, and residents will likely demand heightened transparency and clear plans for access, preservation, and oversight.

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Plum Island FAQ: Facts and Theories

What is Plum Island?
Plum Island is an 840-acre island off the tip of Long Island, New York, in Long Island Sound. Since 1954, it has been home to the Plum Island Animal Disease Center, a high-security laboratory that studies contagious livestock diseases.

Why is the lab moving?
The federal government is relocating animal disease research to the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kansas. The move, expected by 2026, is designed to modernize facilities and place them in a more central U.S. location.

Is Plum Island contaminated?
Because of decades of animal research and prior military use, there are concerns about potential contamination. Environmental remediation is expected once the lab is fully decommissioned. This reality is one reason why redevelopment would be costly and why conservation is seen as a more practical path.

What will happen to Plum Island once the lab closes?
Federal law now prohibits private commercial development. If no federal conservation agency takes it over, Suffolk County has been invited to assume stewardship, potentially in partnership with conservation groups. The likely outcome is some combination of preserve, limited public access, and historical recognition.

Why is Plum Island tied to conspiracy theories?
The island has been off-limits to the public for decades, feeding speculation. Its secretive operations during the Cold War and the nature of the diseases studied there gave rise to rumors about biological weapons, secret experiments, and links to emerging illnesses.

Is Plum Island connected to Lyme disease?
Some conspiracy theories claim Lyme disease originated from Plum Island experiments and spread to Lyme, Connecticut, across the Sound. However, scientific consensus rejects this theory. Lyme disease is known to have existed in North America long before the lab’s establishment.

What about the “Montauk Monster”?
In 2008, a mysterious, bloated carcass washed up on a Montauk beach. Its odd appearance led some to claim it escaped from Plum Island. Most experts, however, identified it as a decomposed raccoon. The body disappeared before formal analysis could be completed, leaving plenty of room for speculation and local legend.

Have there been other strange incidents?
Aside from conspiracy theories, Plum Island has had real safety incidents, including accidental disease exposures among staff in the past. Most were contained, but they added to the island’s aura of secrecy and risk. The September 2025 incident, when seven staff members were briefly hospitalized for eye irritation, is the latest reminder of the hazards of working in a high-level biosecurity lab.

Could Plum Island ever be open to the public?
If Suffolk County assumes control, parts of the island may eventually be opened for guided tours, ecological research, or historic interpretation, but broad public access will depend on cleanup costs and safety assurances.