In the nature of a substitute.

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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