The Department of Homeland Security decided Tuesday that a Long Island testing facility is not going anywhere.

The Plum Island Animal Disease Center is the only facility in the nation that researches contagious animal diseases like foot-and-mouth disease. It has been in operation since the 1950s. The fate of the facility has been in question for years after security lapses, an aging facility and the secretive nature of the work drew sharp criticism from locals and lawmakers.

Homeland Security says Plum Island will not be upgraded to a bio-safety level 4 facility, which would allow for the study of more sinister diseases like West Nile virus that can make the jump to humans. However, officials plan to use $35 million over three years to upgrade and renovate the facility.