Final Environmental Assessment for the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate’s Undersea Cable Installation, Plum Island, New York

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), Department of Homeland Security procedures for implementing NEPA (DHS Directive 023-01 Rev 01 and Instruction 023-01-001 Rev 01), and the Council on Environmental Quality regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA). The EA evaluates the potential impacts to the human and natural environment resulting from the proposal to conduct activities relating to the abandonment in place of an existing undersea utility cable and the installation of a new undersea utility cable. The cable runs between Orient Point, New York (NY) and the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) on Plum Island, NY.

The purpose is to replace an existing degraded undersea utility cable with a new undersea cable. The new cable will supply Plum Island with mission-critical electrical and communication capabilities and prevent any adverse effects that a potential loss of electrical or communication services may have on required operations at PIADC. The Draft EA was made available for a 30-day public review and comment period, which concluded on February 24, 2024. DHS received comments on the Draft EA from Save the Sound, a regional environmental nonprofit organization. A complete list of comments received, and DHS’s responses is included in Appendix C of the Final EA. After thorough review and consideration, DHS issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and concluded the NEPA review for this action. The Final EA and signed FONSI are available for download.