News

‘Save Plum Island’ meeting in Orient next week

Environmental groups from both sides of Long Island Sound will host a public meeting in Orient on Monday, April 29 on protecting Plum Island’s undeveloped areas.

The Group for the East End and the Save the Sound organization from Connecticut will be joined by Congressman Tim Bishop at Poquatuck Hall on Skippers Lane for the session from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The fate of the 840-acre island off the North Fork’s eastern tip has been in question for several years as federal authorities consider the construction of a replacement animal disease research facility in Manhattan, Kan. That project, which Congress has yet to fully fund, calls for closing the Plum Island lab and selling the property.

Southold Town is drafting new zoning which would limit the island’s future use to that of a research facility.

In announcing the meeting the two environmental groups said, “We’ll be sharing information and ideas about efforts to protect this rare habitat gem.”

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