MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) – A New York congressman has introduced legislation to halt the planned sale of Plum Island.

The island off the northeastern tip of Long Island is home to a government-run laboratory that studies infectious animal diseases.

Congress voted in 2008 to close the research site and move its work to Manhattan, Kansas where the new NBAF Lab will be built.

The federal General Services Administration is required by law to sell the island.

The Nature Conservancy recently estimated the appraised value of the island at $32.9 million.

First-term Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin said in a statement Friday that he is re-introducing legislation to rescind the 2008 vote. The bill previously was sponsored by his predecessor, Democrat Timothy Bishop.

Environmental and conservation groups want to block the sale of the island and keep it as a nature preserve.