US Codex
Bill
Notes

H.R. 1887 — what changed

To authorize the Comptroller General of the United States to assess a study on the alternatives for the disposition of Plum Island Animal Disease Center, and for other purposes.

From Introduced in House to Reported in House. 2 sections amended and 1 added between Introduced in House and Reported in House.

Section 1 Findings

Congress finds the following:

(1)
changed The Federal Government has owned Plum Island Island, New York, since 1899.
(2)
changed Since 1954, the Plum Island Animal Disease Center on Plum Island has conducted first-rate unrivaled scientific research on a variety of infectious animal-borne diseases, including foot-and-mouth disease, resulting, most recently, in the development of a new cell line that rapidly and reliably detects this highly debilitating disease of livestock.
(3)
changed The safety record of Over 62 years, the Center is unparalleled, with no accidental releases reaching the mainland in the history has had a strong, proven record of the Center.safety.
(4)
changed $23,200,000 in Federal funds dollars have been spent on upgrades to, and the maintenance of, the Plum Island Animal Disease Center since January 2012, and significant investments in the Center in the next five years are likely.2012.
(5)
changed In addition to the Animal Disease Center, Plum Island contains cultural, historical, ecological, and natural resources of regional and national significance.
(6)
changed Plum Island is situated where the Long Island Sound and Peconic Bay meet, each being both of which are estuaries that are part of the National Estuary Program, reflecting each natural system's nationally significant environmental Program and economic values are environmentally and economically significant to the region.
(7)
changed The Federal Government has invested hundreds of millions of Federal funds dollars over the last two decades to make long-term improvements with respect to the conservation and management needs of Long Island Sound and Peconic Bay.
(8)
changed Due to cleanup costs from past Center activities and the zoning proposed by the town The Department of Southold, New York, prohibiting residental or commercial development, the Federal Government will receive very little Homeland Security has undertaken a study to no compensation from consider alternatives for the sale final disposition of Plum Island.Island, including an analysis of—
(A)
added conservation of the island’s resources;
(B)
added any remediation responsibilities;
(C)
added the need for any legislative changes;
(D)
added cost; and
(E)
added any revenues from the alternatives.

Sec. 2 Report required on study by Department of Homeland Security on clean up and alternative uses of Plum Island

(a)
added Assessment by Comptroller General—
(1)
added Assessment required— The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an assessment of the study by the Department of Homeland Security on the options for the disposition of Plum Island referred to in section 1(8). Such assessment shall include a determination of whether the methodologies used by the Department in conducting such study adequately support the Department’s findings with respect to the following:
(A)
added The possible alternative uses for Plum Island, including the transfer of ownership to another Federal agency, a State or local government, a nonprofit organization, or a combination thereof for the purpose of education, research, or conservation.
(B)
added The possible issues and implications, if any, of pursuing such alternative uses for Plum Island.
(C)
added The potential cost to be incurred for expenses related to the transition, cleanup, and hazard mitigation of Plum Island by a recipient of such property.
(2)
added Report required— Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Department of Homeland Security completes the study referred to in section 1(8), the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report containing the following:
(A)
added The results of the assessment described under paragraph (1).
(B)
added A description of the Secretary of Homeland Security’s coordination with the Administrator of General Services, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in conducting the Department of Homeland Security study referred to in section 1(8).
(b)
added Study by Comptroller General—
(1)
added Study required— If the Comptroller General of the United States determines that the methodologies referred to in subsection (a)(1) do not adequately support the Department of Homeland Security’s findings related to an issue described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of such subsection, the Comptroller General shall conduct a study on any such issue.
(2)
added Report required— If the Comptroller General of the United States conducts a study under paragraph (1), not later than one year after the date on which the Department of Homeland Security completes the study referred to in section 1(8), the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1).
(a)
removed Repeal in Public Law 110–329— Section 540 of title V of division D of the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009 (Public Law 110–329; 122 Stat. 3688) is repealed.
(b)
removed Repeal in Public Law 112–74— Section 538 of title V of division D of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012 (Public Law 112–74; 125 Stat. 976) is repealed.

Sec. 3 Suspension of action

added

added No action may be taken to carry out section 538 of title V of division D of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012 (Public Law 112–74; 125 Stat. 976) until at least 180 days after the reports required by subsection (a)(2) of section 2 and, if applicable, subsection (b)(2) of such section have been submitted to Congress.