[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 188 (Wednesday, December 18, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7184-S7185]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3344. Mr. BLUMENTHAL proposed an amendment to the bill S. 5136, to 
require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of Plum 
Island; as follows:

        Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Plum Island Preservation 
     Study Act''.

     SEC. 2. PLUM ISLAND PRESERVATION STUDY.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (2) Study area.--The term ``study area'' means the 
     consolidated Federal asset commonly known as ``Plum Island'' 
     in the State of New York and all improvements on and to the 
     Federal asset, including--
       (A) the Orient Point facility; and
       (B) all real and personal property, all transportation 
     assets, and all associated infrastructure that support--
       (i) Plum Island operations; and
       (ii) access to Plum Island.
       (b) Study.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct a study to 
     determine the appropriateness of--
       (A) designating all or a portion of the study area as a 
     unit of the National Park System or a unit of the National 
     Wildlife Refuge System; or
       (B) providing protection for the resources of the study 
     area by other means.
       (2) Contents.--In conducting the study under paragraph (1), 
     the Secretary shall--
       (A) evaluate the national significance of the study area;
       (B) consult with interested Federal agencies, State or 
     local governmental entities, private and nonprofit 
     organizations, or any other interested individuals; and
       (C) identify cost estimates for any Federal acquisition, 
     development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance 
     associated with the alternatives considered.
       (3) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which 
     funds are first made available to carry out the study under 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
     Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee 
     on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report 
     that describes--
       (A) the findings and conclusions of the study; and

[[Page S7185]]

       (B) any recommendations of the Secretary.

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