49–010 

Calendar No. 396 

109TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 2d Session 109–234 

MICHIGAN LIGHTHOUSE AND MARITIME HERITAGE ACT 

APRIL 20, 2006.—Ordered to be printed 

Filed under authority of the order of the Senate of April 7, 2006 

Mr. DOMENICI, from the Committee on Energy and Natural 

Resources, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. 1346] 

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 

referred the bill (S. 1346) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to 

conduct a study of maritime sites in the State of Michigan, having 

considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an amendment 

and recommends that the bill, as amended, do pass. 

The amendment is as follows: 

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu thereof 

the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Michigan Lighthouse and Maritime Heritage Act’’. 

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

In this Act: 

(1) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of the Interior. 

(2) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State of Michigan. 

SEC. 3. STUDY. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation with the State, the State Historic 

Preservation Officer, and other appropriate State and local public agencies and private organizations, shall conduct a special resource study of resources related to the 

maritime heritage of the State. 

(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the study is to determine— 

(1) suitable and feasible options for the long-term protection of significant 

maritime heritage resources in the State; and 

(2) the manner in which the public can best learn about and experience the 

resources. 

(c) REQUIREMENTS.—In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Secretary 

shall— 


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(1) review Federal, State, and local maritime resource inventories and studies 

to establish the potential for interpretation and preservation of maritime heritage resources in the State; 

(2) recommend management alternatives that would be most effective for 

long-term resource protection and providing for public enjoyment of maritime 

heritage resources; 

(3) address how to assist regional, State, and local partners in increasing public awareness of and access to maritime heritage resources; 

(4) identify sources of financial and technical assistance available to communities for the preservation and interpretation of maritime heritage resources; 

and 

(5) identify opportunities for the National Park Service and the State to coordinate the activities of appropriate units of national, State, and local parks 

and historic sites in furthering the preservation and interpretation of maritime 

heritage resources. 

(d) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the 

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on 

Resources of the House of Representatives a report that describes—

(1) the results of the study; and 

(2) any findings and recommendations of the Secretary. 

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out 

this Act. 

PURPOSE OF THE MEASURE

The purpose of S. 1346 is to direct the Secretary of the Interior 

to conduct a study of maritime sites in the State of Michigan. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED

The State of Michigan has more miles of shoreline than any 

State in the Continental United States. During the past 500 years, 

fur traders, sailing ship captains, and freighter pilots have traveled 

this shoreline. Cities and towns were built along the Lake, sometimes as ports or places of commerce, and sometimes as summer 

resorts. These people and places have left Michigan with a rich 

maritime heritage. The State is home to more than 120 lighthouses, historic hotels, Coast Guard stations, and other structures 

that reflect life on the Great Lakes. 

S. 1346 would require the Secretary of the Interior, through the 

National Park Service, to work with the State of Michigan and 

local communities to study the best ways to protect Michigan’s 

maritime resources and promote them through recreation and education. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

S. 1346 was introduced by Senators Stabenow and Levin on June 

30, 2005. The Subcommittee on National Parks of the Committee 

on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing on S. 1346 on 

July 28, 2005. At its business meeting on March 8, 2006, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources ordered S. 1346 favorably 

reported as amended. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open business session on March 8, 2006, by unanimous voice vote of a 

quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 1346, if 

amended as described herein. 


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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT

During consideration of S. 1346, the Committee adopted an 

amendment in the nature of a substitute. The substitute makes the 

objectives of the study clearer and more consistent with other National Park Service study legislation. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1 entitles the bill, the ‘‘Michigan Lighthouse and Maritime Heritage Act.’’

Section 2 defines key terms. 

Section 3 describes the requirements for the content of the study 

and the process by which it should be completed and requires a report to be filed with the committee not later than 3 years after 

funds have been made available. 

Section 4 authorizes $500,000 to be appropriated to carry out 

this Act. 

COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS

The following estimate of costs of this measure has been provided 

by the Congressional Budget Office. 

S. 1346—Michigan Lighthouse and Maritime Heritage Act 

S. 1346 would direct the Department of the Interior to conduct 

a special resource study of the maritime history of the state of 

Michigan. The legislation would direct the department to determine the potential economic and tourism benefits of preserving, 

protecting, and interpreting Michigan’s maritime resources. S. 1346 

would require the department to report on its findings and recommendations within three years of receiving funding for the 

study. 

Based on information from the National Park Service, CBO estimates that it would cost about $500,000 over the next three years 

to complete the required study and report, assuming appropriation 

of the necessary amounts. Enacting S. 1346 would not affect direct 

spending or revenues. 

S. 1346 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would 

impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Matthew Pickford. 

This estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 

REGULATORY IMPACT EVALUATION

In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following evaluation 

of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in carrying out 

S. 1346. The bill is not a regulatory measure in the sense of imposing Government-established standards or significant economic responsibilities on private individuals and businesses. 

No personal information would be collected in administering the 

program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal privacy. 

Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the enactment of S. 1346, as ordered reported. 


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EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

The views of the Administration on S. 1346 were included in testimony received by the Committee at a hearing on the bill on July 

28, 2005. This testimony follows: 

STATEMENT OF STEPHEN P. MARTIN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to present 

the views of the Department of the Interior on S. 1346, a 

bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 

special resource study of the maritime heritage sites in the 

state of Michigan. 

The Department does not support S. 1346. While Michigan is rich in historic treasures linked to its Great Lakes’ heritage and the coastlines of the state are home to important resources such as wetlands, dunes, and threatened 

and endangered species and plants, we believe the best of 

these cultural and natural resources are already being conserved and interpreted for the enjoyment of the public. 

S. 1346 would authorize a study to determine the potential economic and tourism benefits of preserving, protecting, and interpreting the State’s maritime resources. It 

would recommend management alternatives for the most 

effective long-term protection and interpretation of the resources. The study also would address ways to link communities, waterways, monuments, parkways, national and 

state parks, and state historic sites on the national, regional, state and local levels into a Michigan Maritime 

Heritage Destination Network. S. 1346 would require a report to be submitted to Congress not later than 18 months 

after funds are made available that describes the results 

of the study. The bill would authorize funding of $500,000 

for the study. 

All four National Park Service (NPS) units in Michigan, 

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Keweenaw National 

Historical Park, Isle Royale National Park, and Sleeping 

Bear Dunes National Lakeshore already preserve and interpret historic maritime resources identified in the provisions of S. 1346. These parks contain historic maritime 

landscapes of a size and quality unique on the Great Lakes 

and rare elsewhere on the United States coastlines. The 

maritime heritage resources at all four NPS sites are interpreted and presented to the public in a variety of ways. 

Symbols of the maritime history of Lake Superior are preserved at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore at three 

former Coast Guard stations and the Au Sable Light Station, which is perhaps the finest example on the Great 

Lakes of late 1800’s vintage masonry lighthouses. At 

Keweenaw National Historical Park, the majority of cultural resources are related to copper mining. Some of the 

success of that industry was attributed to the waterways 

of Lake Superior and the role that copper played in building ships and boats to this day. Thus, this site adds another dimension to the maritime heritage of the area. 


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Copper mining on the island of Isle Royale and the 

growth of Lake Superior shipping led to the establishment 

of four lighthouses around Isle Royale National Park. 

These lighthouses, three of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and numerous shipwrecks of both national and state significance scattered 

throughout Isle Royale National Park give clear indication 

of the traffic and danger the waters of Lake Superior 

posed to sailing vessels throughout history. The area was 

a base for a thriving commercial fishing industry from the 

1830’s until the park’s establishment in 1931. 

The maritime resources at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore include an 1858 lighthouse, three original 

Life-Saving Service/Coast Guard stations, eight historic 

rescue boats, and hundreds of museum artifacts. Cultural 

landscapes highlight the maritime and agricultural resources of the area. The waters of Lake Michigan have 

played a key role in the settlement of the state. 

There are indoor and outside exhibits, walking tours, living history, boat tours and audio-visual programs at these 

park sites. Scores of school groups make trips to these 

sites where history comes alive to enhance their social 

science studies. During the summers, national park rangers, Volunteers-in-Park (VIPs), and various park partners 

staff museums, visitor centers, and historic structures to 

provide the general public with enthusiasm and knowledge 

of the maritime heritage resources. 

The state of Michigan also has made great efforts to preserve and protect important cultural and natural resources. Michigan has listed over one thousand sites on 

the National Register of Historic Places, which includes 

state parks, historic houses, commercial and residential 

areas, farm and factory complexes, cemeteries, monuments, as well as ships and shipwreck sites. The state has 

developed a database that includes the stories and details 

of wrecks and rescues of 1,500 shipwrecks as well as information on the 11 underwater preserves and other important historical facts. There are 120 lighthouses along the 

coastline, the oldest ones being over 180 years old. And 

Michigan established the first fresh water marine sanctuary in the Great Lakes area, the Thunder Bay National 

Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve, to maintain 

stewardship over and interpret a large collection of shipwrecks. There are numerous museums, hotels, historic 

ships and boats, locks and ports, and underwater preserves related to the maritime industry. 

The Great Lakes are a critical part of Michigan’s economy and quality of life. Millions of people use the Great 

Lakes each year to enjoy beaches, good fishing and boating. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Keweenaw National Historical Park, Isle Royale National Park, and 

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will continue to 

ensure that outstanding natural and cultural resources 

will be protected for generations to come. 


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Mr. Chairman, this concludes my prepared testimony. I 

would be pleased to answer any questions you or the committee may have. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee notes that no changes in existing law are made by the bill S. 1346, as ordered reported. 

Æ 


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