Don’t develop Plum Island

Plum Island, N.Y., is truly a unique place. An ecosystem not duplicated anywhere else in this country. It is situated off the tip of the North Fork of Long Island, visible from the coast of New London County.

The building of Lab 257 is easily seen. The lab is best known as the headquarters of the U.S. Government Animal Disease (research) Center. Said center is a restricted area unavailable to the public. This center will be closed and moved to Manhattan, Kan. Construction of the new facility is well under way and completely funded by the government.

Originally Plum Island was to be sold in order to supplement funding. This is no longer needed and yet the government is still slated to auction the island to the highest bidder.

One can easily Google Plum Island to get a total education about its wonders and history. (The space limits of a letter to the editor prohibits this description) It would be an absolute tragedy to have this pristine natural preserve auctioned to commercial development. Ironically, the restrictions imposed by the lab have allowed Mother Nature to do her thing for 60 years.

There were legislative efforts in last year’s Congress to prohibit public auction, but they were not acted on. Those efforts will be renewed this year. Please raise your voice. Dr. Charles H. Robinson Old Lyme