I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2970
To amend the National Historic Preservation Act for purposes of establishing
a national historic lighthouse preservation program.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NOVEMBER 8, 1997
Mr. SOUDER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Resources
A BILL
To amend the National Historic Preservation Act for pur-
poses of establishing a national historic lighthouse pres-
ervation program.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Historic
Lighthouse Preservation Act of 1997’’.
SEC. 2. PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC LIGHT STATIONS.
Title III of the National Historic Preservation Act
(16 U.S.C. 470w–470w–6) is amended by adding at the
end the following new section:
‘‘SEC. 308. HISTORIC LIGHTHOUSE PRESERVATION.
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In order to provide a national
historic light station program, the Secretary shall—
‘‘(1) collect and disseminate information con-
cerning historic light stations, including historic
lighthouses and associated structures;
‘‘(2) foster educational programs relating to the
history, practice, and contribution to society of his-
toric light stations;
‘‘(3) sponsor or conduct research and study into
the history of light stations;
‘‘(4) maintain a listing of historic light stations;
and
‘‘(5) assess the effectiveness of the program es-
tablished by this section regarding the conveyance of
historic light stations.
‘‘(b) CONVEYANCE OF HISTORIC LIGHT STATIONS.—
‘‘(1) Within 1 year after the date of enactment
of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation
Act of 1997, the Secretary and the Administrator of
General Services (in this section referred to as the
Administrator) shall establish a process for identify-
ing, and selecting, an eligible entity to which a his-
toric light station could be conveyed for education,
park, recreation, cultural, and historic preservation
purposes.
shall maintain the property in accordance with
this Act, the Secretary’s Historic Preservation
Standards, and other applicable laws; and
‘‘(E) the United States shall have the
right, at any time, to enter property conveyed
under this section without notice for purposes
of maintaining and inspecting aids to naviga-
tion and ensuring compliance with paragraph
(C), to the extent that it is not possible to pro-
vide advance notice.
‘‘(2) The Secretary, the Administrator, and any
eligible entity to which a historic light station is con-
veyed under this section, shall not be required to
maintain any active aids to navigation associated
with a historic light station.
‘‘(3) In addition to any term or condition estab-
lished pursuant to this subsection, the conveyance of
a historic light station shall include a condition that
the property in its existing condition, at the option
of the Administrator, revert to the United States
if—
‘‘(A) the property or any part of the prop-
erty ceases to be available for education, park,
recreation, cultural, and historic preservation
purposes for the general public at reasonable
times and under reasonable conditions which
shall be set forth in the eligible entity’s applica-
tion;
‘‘(B) the property or any part of the prop-
erty ceases to be maintained in a manner that
ensures its present or future use as an aid to
navigation or compliance with this Act, the Sec-
retary’s Historic Preservation Standards, and
other applicable laws; or
‘‘(C) at least 30 days before the reversion,
the Administrator provides written notice to the
owner that the property is needed for national
security purposes.
‘‘(d) DESCRIPTION
OF PROPERTY.—The legal de-
scription of any historic light station, and any real prop-
erty and improvements associated therewith, conveyed
under this section shall be determined by the Adminis-
trator. The Administrator may retain all right, title, and
interest of the United States in and to any historical arti-
fact, including any lens or lantern, that is associated with
the historical light station whether located at the light sta-
tion or elsewhere.
‘‘(e) RESPONSIBILITIES OF CONVEYEES.—Each eligi-
ble entity to which a historic light station is conveyed
under this section shall use and maintain the light station
in accordance with this section, and have such terms and
conditions recorded with the deed of title to the light sta-
tion and any real property conveyed therewith.
‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.— For purposes of this section:
‘‘(1) HISTORIC
LIGHT
STATION.—The term
‘historic light station’ includes the light tower, light-
house, keepers dwelling, garages, storage sheds, sup-
port structures, piers, walkways, and underlying
land; provided that the light tower or lighthouse
shall be—
‘‘(A) at least 50 years old;
‘‘(B) evaluated for inclusion in the Na-
tional Register of Historic Places; and
‘‘(C) included on the Secretary’s listing of
historic light stations.
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible en-
tity’ means any department or agency of the Federal
Government, any department or agency of the State
in which the historic light station is located, the
local government of the community in which the his-
toric light station is located, nonprofit corporation,
educational agency, or community development orga-
nization that—
‘‘(A) has agreed to comply with the condi-
tions set forth in subsection (c) and to have
those conditions recorded in the conveyance
documents to the light station and any real
property and improvements that may be con-
veyed therewith;
‘‘(B) is financially able to maintain the
light station (and any real property and im-
provements conveyed therewith) in accordance
with the conditions set forth in subsection (c);
and
‘‘(C) can indemnify the Federal Govern-
ment to cover any loss in connection with the
light station and any real property and im-
provements that may be conveyed therewith, or
any expenses incurred due to reversion.’’.
SEC. 3. SALE OF SURPLUS LIGHT STATIONS.
Title III of the National Historic Preservation Act
(16 U.S.C. 470w–470w–6) is further amended by adding
at the end the following new section:
‘‘SEC. 309. HISTORIC LIGHT STATION SALES.
‘‘In the event no applicants are approved for the con-
veyance of a historic light station pursuant to section 308,
the historic light station shall be offered for sale. Terms
of such sales shall be developed by the Administrator of
General Services. Conveyance documents shall include all
necessary covenants to protect the historical integrity of
the site. Net sale proceeds shall be transferred to the Na-
tional Maritime Heritage Grant Program, established by
the National Maritime Heritage Act of 1994 (Public Law
103–451) within the Department of the Interior.’’.
SEC. 4. TRANSFER OF HISTORIC LIGHT STATIONS TO FED-
ERAL AGENCIES.
Title III of the National Historic Preservation Act
(16 U.S.C. 470–470x) is further amended by adding at
the end the following new section:
‘‘SEC. 310. TRANSFER OF HISTORIC LIGHT STATIONS TO
FEDERAL AGENCIES.
‘‘After the date of enactment of the National Historic
Lighthouse Preservation Act of 1997, any department or
agency of the Federal Government to which a historic light
station is conveyed shall maintain the historic light station
in accordance with this Act, the Secretary’s Historic Pres-
ervation Standards, and other applicable laws.’’.
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