GSA Office of Real Property Utilization and Disposal National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act 2014 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Lighthouses play an important role in America’s cultural For More Information: history, serving as aids to navigation (ATONs) for Information about specific lights in the NHLPA program is maritime vessels since before America’s founding. As a available at the following websites: way to preserve these pieces of our national heritage, Congress passed the National Historic Lighthouse National Park Service Lighthouse Heritage: Preservation Act (NHLPA) in 2000. The NHLPA http://www.nps.gov/maritime/nhlpa/intro.htm recognizes the importance of lighthouses and light General Services Administration Property Sales: stations (collectively called “lights”) to maritime traffic www.realestatesales.gov and the historical, cultural, recreational, and educational value of these iconic properties, especially for coastal communities and nonprofit organizations that serve as stewards who are dedicated to their continued Purpose of the Report: preservation. Through the NHLPA, Federal agencies, state and local governments, and not-for-profit This report outlines: organizations (non-profits) can obtain historic lights at no 1) The history of the NHLPA program; cost through stewardship transfers. If suitable public stewards are not found for a light, GSA will sell the light 2) The roles and responsibilities of the three Federal in a public auction (i.e., a public sale). Transfer deeds partner agencies executing the program; include covenants in the conveyance document to 3) Calendar Year1 2014 highlights and historical protect the light’s historic features and/or preserve disposal trends of the program; accessibility for the public. 4) A discussion of the program’s 2015 projected transfers; and 5) A discussion about the National Maritime Heritage Grant Program available to lighthouse stewards. NHLPA Progress To Date: Since the NHLPA program’s inception in 2000, 113 lights have been transferred to eligible entities. Public bodies, including not-for-profit organizations, received 64 percent of the lights (72 lights) through stewardship transfers, while 36 percent (41 lights) were conveyed through public sales, generating over $5.6 million. In 2014: Four lights were transferred through stewardship transfers and five lights were transferred through public sales; Nine Expressions of Interest (EOIs) were submitted for ten lighthouses; and The first public sale of an offshore lighthouse in the State of Michigan was completed. 1 Unless otherwise specified, all references to year refer to the calendar year (January through December), not fiscal year. 2014 NHLPA Program Highlights Report ES-1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Report Sections Page Number Executive Summary………………………………………………………………………………………………………………ES -1 Table of Contents………………….………………………………………………………………………………………………….1 NHLPA Program History…………..………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2 NHLPA Program Roles and Responsibilities……………………………….……………………………………………………. 3 Program Overview……..………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………. 4 Program Accomplishments…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..6 2015 Program Forecasts……………….……………………………..……………………………………………………………..10 Cultural Study: NHLPA Grants - National Maritime Heritage Program..……………………………………………………... 11 Photo Credits………………………………………………....………………………………………………………………………12 Case Studies Minot’s Ledge Light., MA….…………………………………………………………………………………………………...…... 5 Baker’s Island Light, MA.…………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 6 New London Ledge Light, CT……………………………………………………………………………….…………………….. 8 Round Island Passage Light, MI.…………………………………………………………………………………………...…….. 9 Appendices Appendix A: Lights Stations Conveyed as of December 2014…………………………………………………………………13 2014 NHLPA Program Highlights Report 1 NHLPA PROGRAM HISTORY Congress passed the NHLPA in 2000 to facilitate transferring historic Figure 1: NHLPA Timeline lighthouses that are no longer mission-critical for the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to eligible public entities (including non-profit organizations) or private individuals, who will ensure that the 1966 NHPA legislation enacted lighthouses receive the necessary care and maintenance to remain cultural beacons for generations to come. Prior to the NHLPA, historic lights were transferred to state or local 1966- Historic lighthouses transferred through agencies through the National Park Service’s (NPS) Historic Surplus 2000 GSA’s Property Act disposal program, Property Program or the Federal Lands to Parks Program. GSA also NPS’s Historic Surplus Property conveyed historic lighthouses as historic monuments through the Program, or Federal Lands to Parks Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (Property Program Act). Initially, non-profit lighthouse groups were not considered in the disposal process, even if a group had spent significant time and money 2000 to rehabilitate and maintain a historic light station or had leased it from NHLPA legislation passed the Coast Guard. Congress established the NHLPA of 2000—P.L. 106-355—as an 2001 NHLPA pilot program created by amendment to the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966. Federal partner agencies The NHLPA ensured lighthouse transfers were easier by creating a specialized, formalized process that agencies could utilize to transfer lights to new stewards. Since Congress passed the NHLPA, the USCG, 2002 First lighthouse transferred under NHLPA NPS, and the General Services Administration (GSA) have built a authority—St. Augustine Light in Florida strategic and mutually beneficial alliance to preserve historic American lights in accordance with the NHLPA guidelines. These agencies fulfill unique roles and responsibilities in the NHLPA process, but work together to protect and maintain historic lights by conveying these 2005 First public sales of historic lighthouses pieces of our shared cultural history to eligible stewards. See Figure 1 under NHLPA for a timeline of the NHLPA program. Over the past few years, the NHLPA program has produced several 2011 Largest number of lights (14) transferred significant accomplishments: in a single year In 2011, the program transferred ownership of fourteen historic lights (the highest in program history) out of Federal hands to new stewards. The Graves Light, Massachusetts 2013 transfer generates largest sales proceeds In 2013, the three partner agencies oversaw the transfer of the from a public sale ($933,888) and the 100th light since passage of the NHLPA. 100th light was transferred under the NHLPA In 2014, GSA sold the first offshore lighthouse in the State of Michigan. GSA sold first offshore lighthouse in 2014 Michigan—Round Island Passage Light off Mackinac Island 2014 NHLPA Program Highlights Report 2 NHLPA PROGRAM ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES GSA, USCG, and NPS work together year-round to Parties that respond can inspect the properties during a prepare lights for transfer to new stewards through the site visit. USCG and NPS assess the applications on the NHLPA process. The partner agencies ensure that the merits of the preservation and reuse plan, financial Federal government finds the best steward for available viability, and how the applicant will manage the light. historic lights. The general NHLPA process is outlined in Figure 2 below, but many factors influence how a If there are no interested parties or suitable applicants, light is transferred. the NPS recommends the light for public sale. GSA will then schedule and hold a public auction for the light. USCG identifies lights that are no longer needed for their mission purposes. The three partner agencies then work To ensure continued care and maintenance, specific together to develop an annual list of lights that will be covenants for historic preservation are included in deeds transferred through the NHLPA program. These lights to new stewards. Stewardship transfers to public entities are announced through Notices of Availability (NOAs) on also require the transferee to allow public access to the the GSA and NPS websites. GSA’s regional staff also light. The USCG will retain rights to access the lights and reach out to potentially interested parties in local or to service ATON equipment if the light is to remain active. regional lighthouse publications and newspapers. Other covenants can be included on a light-by-light basis Interested, eligible parties submit an expression of based on the unique characteristics and circumstances interest (EOI) and NPS sends them an application to for a light. apply for ownership of the light for public use purposes. Figure 2: Federal Agency’s Roles and Responsibilities in the NHLPA Process USCG Identifies USCG Sends GSA Excess Historic GSA Issues NOA Report of Excess Lighthouses NO Public Sale (60-Days): Eligible EOIs? GSA Forwards EOIs to Site Visit with NPS, YES NPS and Gives Interested USCG & GSA Parties an Application NO Public Sale Final Applications Due Applications 90 Days after Site Visit Submitted to NPS? NPS Reviews YES Application(s) NO Public Sale DOI Recommends Suitable Applicant to GSA? GSA Conveys to YES Recommended Steward 2014 NHLPA Program Highlights Report 3 PROGRAM OVERVIEW Since Congress enacted NHLPA in 2000, GSA has Figure 3: NHLPA Stewardship Transfers and Public conveyed 113 lights to public and private owners Sales through stewardship transfers and public sales (See Figure 3). In 2014, GSA transferred four lights through stewardship transfers and five lights through