National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000
PL 106-355 (H.R.4613), enacted 10/24/2000

PUBLIC LAW i06-^55—OCT. 24, 2000 
114 STAT. 1385 
Public Law 106-355 
106th Congress 
An Act 
To amend the National Historic Preservation Act for purposes of establishing a 
national historic lighthouse preservation program. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 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 2000". 
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 concerning historic 
light stations, including historic lighthouses and associated 
structures; 
"(2) foster educational programs relating to the history, 
practice, and contribution to society of historic 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 established 
by this section regarding the conveyance of historic light sta-
tions. 
"(b) CONVEYANCE OF HISTORIC LIGHT STATIONS.— 
"(1) PROCESS AND POLICY.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary and 
the Administrator shall establish a process and policies for 
identifying, and selecting, £in eligible entity to which a historic 
light station could be conveyed for education, park, recreation, 
cultural, or historic preservation purposes, and to monitor the 
use of such light station by the eligible entity. 
"(2) APPLICATION REVIEW.—The Secretary shall review all 
applications for the conveyance of a historic light station, when 
the agency with administrative jurisdiction over the historic 
light station has determined the property to be 'excess property' 
as that term is defined in the Federal Property Administrative 
Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 472(e)), and forward to the 
Administrator a single approved application for the conveyance 
of the historic light station. When selecting an eligible entity. 
Oct. 24, 2000 
[H.R. 4613] 
National Historic 
Lighthouse 
Preservation Act 
of2000. 
16 u s e 470 note. 
16 u s e 470W-7. 
Deadline. 
u 
114 STAT. 1386 
PUBLIC LAW 106-355—OCT. 24, 2006 
the Secretary shall consult with the State Historic Preservation 
Officer of the State in which the historic light station is located. 
"(3) CONVEYANCE OF HISTORIC LIGHT STATIONS.—(A) Except 
as provided in subparagraph (B), the Administrator shall 
convey, by quitclaim deed, without consideration, all right, title, 
and interest of the United States in and to the historic light 
station, subject to the conditions set forth in subsection (c) 
after the Secretary's selection of an eligible entity. The convey-
ance of a historic light station under this section shall not 
be subject to the provisions of the Stewart B. McKinney Home-
less Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11301 et seq.) or section 416(d) 
of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1998 (Public Law 
105-383). 
"(B)(i) Historic light stations located within the exterior 
boundaries of a unit of the National Park System or a refuge 
within the National Wildlife Refuge System shall be conveyed 
or sold only with the approval of the Secretary. 
"(ii) If the Secretary approves the conveyance of a historic 
light station referenced in this paragraph, such conveyance 
shall be subject to the conditions set forth in subsection (c) 
and any other terms or conditions the Secretary considers nec-
essary to protect the resources of the park unit or wildlife 
refuge. 
"(iii) If the Secretary approves the sale of a historic light 
station referenced in this paragraph, such sale shall be subject 
to the conditions set forth in subparagraphs (A) through (D) 
and (H) of subsection (c)(1) and subsection (c)(2) and any other 
terms or conditions the Secretary considers necessary to protect 
the resources of the park unit or wildlife refuge. 
"(iv) For those historic light stations referenced in this 
paragraph, the Secretary is encouraged to enter into cooperative 
agreements with appropriate eligible entities, as provided in 
this Act, to the extent such cooperative agreements are con-
sistent with the Secretary's responsibilities to manage and 
administer the park unit or wildlife refuge, as appropriate. 
"(c) TERMS OF CONVEYANCE.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—The conveyance of a historic light station 
shall be made subject to any conditions, including the reserva-
tion of easements and other rights on behalf of the United 
States, the Administrator considers necessary to ensure that— 
"(A) the Federal aids to navigation located at the his-
toric light station in operation on the date of conveyance 
remain the personal property of the United States and 
continue to be operated and maintained by the United 
States for as long as needed for navigational purposes; 
"(B) there is reserved to the United States the right 
to remove, replace, or install any Federal aid to navigation 
located at the historic light station as may be necessary 
for navigational purposes; 
"(C) the eligible entity to which the historic light sta-
tion is conveyed under this section shall not interfere or 
allow interference in any manner with any Federal aid 
to navigation, nor hinder activities required for the oper-
ation and maintenance of any Federal aid to navigation, 
without the express written permission of the head of the 
agency responsible for maintaining the Federal aid to 
navigation; 
PUBLIC LAW 106-355—OCT. 24, 2000 
114 STAT. 1387 
"(D) the eligible entity to which the historic light sta-
tion is conveyed under this section shall, at its own cost 
and expense, use and maintain the historic light station 
in accordance with this Act, the Secretary of the Interior's 
Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, 36 
CFR part 68, and other applicable laws, and any proposed 
changes to the historic light station shall be reviewed and 
approved by the Secretary' in consultation with the State 
Historic Preservation Officer of the State in which the 
historic light station is located, for consistency with 36 
CFR part 800.5(a)(2)(vii), and the Secretary of the Interior's 
Standards for Rehabilitation, 36 CFR part 67.7; 
"(E) the eligible entity to which the historic light sta-
tion is conveyed under this section shall make the historic 
light station available for education, park, recreation, cul-
tural or historic preservation purposes for the general 
public at reasonable times and under reasonable conditions; 
"(F) the eligible entity to which the historic light sta-
tion is conveyed shall not sell, convey, assign, exchange, 
or encumber the historic light station, any part thereof, 
or any associated historic artifact conveyed to the eligible 
entity in conjunction with the historic light station convey-
ance, including but not limited to any lens or lanterns, 
unless such sale, conveyance, assignment, exchange or 
encumbrance is approved by the Secretary; 
"(G) the eligible entity to which the historic light sta-
tion is conveyed shall not conduct any commercial activities 
at the historic light station, any part thereof, or in connec-
tion with any associated historic artifact conveyed to the 
eligible entity in conjunction with the historic light station 
conveyance, in any manner, unless such commercial activi-
ties are approved by the Secretary; and 
"(H) the United States shall have the right, at any 
time, to enter the historic light station conveyed under 
this section without notice, for purposes of operating, 
maintaining, and inspecting any aid to navigation and 
for the purpose of ensuring compliance with this subsection, 
to the extent that it is not possible to provide advance 
notice. 
"(2) MAINTENANCE OF AID TO NAVIGATION.—^Any eligible 
entity to which a historic light station is conveyed under this 
section shall not be required to maintain any Federal aid to 
navigation associated with a historic light station, except any 
private aids to navigation permitted under section 83 of title 
14, United States Code, to the eligible entity. 
"(3) REVERSION.—In addition to any term or condition 
established pursuant to this subsection, the conveyance of a 
historic light station shall include a condition that the historic 
light station, or any associated historic artifact conveyed to 
the eligible entity in conjunction with the historic light station 
conveyance, including but not limited to any lens or lanterns, 
at the option of the Administrator, shall revert to the United 
States and be placed under the administrative control of the 
Administrator, if— 
"(A) the historic light station, any part thereof, or 
any associated historic artifact ceases to be available for 
114 STAT. 1388 
PUBLIC LAW 106-355—OCT. 24, 2000 
Notification. 
education, park, recreation, cultural, or historic preserva-
tion purposes for the general public at reasonable times 
and under reasonable conditions which shall be set forth 
in the eligible entity's application; 
"(B) the historic light station or any part thereof ceases 
to be maintained in a manner that ensures its present 
or future use as a site for a Federal aid to navigation; 
"(C) the historic light station, any part thereof, or 
any associated historic artifact ceases to be maintained 
in compliance with this Act, the Secretary of the Interior's 
Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, 36 
CFR part 68, and other applicable laws; 
"(D) the eligible entity to which the historic light sta-
tion is conveyed, sells, conveys, assigns, exchanges, or 
encumbers the historic light station, any part thereof, or 
any associated historic artifact, without approval of the 
Secretary; 
"(E) the eligible entity to which the historic light sta-
tion is conveyed, conducts any commercial activities at 
the historic light station, any part thereof, or in conjunction 
with any associated historic artifact, without approval of 
the Secretary; or 
"(F) at least 30 days before the reversion, the Adminis-
trator provides written notice to the owner that the historic 
light station or any part thereof is needed for national 
security purposes. 
"(d) DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY.— 
"(1) IN GENERAL.—^The Administrator shall prepare the 
legal description of any historic light station conveyed under 
this section. The Administrator, in consultation with the Com-
mandant, United States Coast Guard, and the Secretary, may 
retain all right, title, and interest of the United States in 
and to any historical artifact, including any lens or lantern, 
that is associated with the historic light station and located 
at the light station at the time of conveyance. Wherever pos-
sible, such historical artifacts should be used in interpreting 
that station. In cases where there is no method for preserving 
lenses and other artifacts and equipment in situ, priority should 
be given to preservation or museum entities most closely associ-
ated with the station, if they meet loan requirements. 
"(2) ARTIFACTS.—^Artifacts associated with, but not located 
at, the historic light station at the time of conveyance shall 
remain the personal property of the United States under the 
administrative control of the Commandant, United States Coast 
Guard. 
"(3) COVENANTS.—All conditions placed with the quitclaim 
deed of title to the historic light station shall be construed 
as covenants running with the land. 
"(4) SUBMERGED LANDS.—No submerged lands shall be con-
veyed under this section. 
"(e) DEFINITIONS.—^For purposes of this section: 
"(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—^The term Administrator' shall mean 
the Administrator of General Services. 
"(2) HISTORIC LIGHT STATION.—^The term 'historic light sta-
tion' includes the light tower, lighthouse, keepers dwelling, 
garages, storage sheds, oil house, fog signal building, boat 
house, bam, pumphouse, tramhouse support structures, piers. 
PUBLIC LAW 106-355—OCT. 24, 2000 
114 STAT. 1389 
walkways, underl3dng and appurtenant land and related real 
property and improvements associated therewith; provided that 
the liistoric light station' shall be included in or eligible for 
inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. 
"(3) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term 'eligible entity* shall 
mean: 
"(A) any department or agency of the Federal Govern-
ment; or 
"(B) any department or agency of the State in which 
the historic light station is located, the local government 
of the commimity in which the historic light station is 
located, nonprofit corporation, educational agency, or 
community development organization that— 
"(i) has agreed to comply with the conditions set 
forth in subsection (c) and to have such conditions 
recorded with the deed of title to the historic light 
station; and 
"(ii) is financially able to maintain the historic 
light station in accordance with the conditions set forth 
in subsection (c). 
"(4) FEDERAL AID TO NAVIGATION.—The term 'Federal aid 
to navigation' shall mean £iny device, operated and maintained 
by the United States, external to a vessel or aircraft, intended 
to assist a navigator to determine position or safe course, or 
to warn of dangers or obstructions to navigation, and shall 
include, but not be limited to, a light, lens, lantern, antenna, 
sound signal, camera, sensor, electronic navigation equipment, 
power source, or other associated equipment, 
"(5) SECRETARY.—The term 'Secretarj^* means the Secretary 
of the Interior.". 
SEC. 3. SALE OF HISTORIC LIGHT STATIONS. 
Title III of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 
470w, 470w-6), as amended by section 2 of this Act, is amended 
by adding at the end the following new section: 
"SEC. 309. HISTORIC LIGHT STATION SALES. 
16 USC 470w-8. 
"(a) IN GENERAL.—In the event no applicants are approved 
for the conveyance 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 and consistent with the requirements of section 308, sub-
paragraphs (A) through (D) and (H) of subsection (c)(1), and sub-
section (c)(2). Conveyance documents shall include all necessary 
covenants to protect the historical integrity of the historic light 
station and ensure that any Federal aid to navigation located at 
the historic light station is operated and maintained by the United 
States for as long as needed for that purpose. 
"(b) NET SALE PROCEEDS.—Net sale proceeds fi-om the disposal 
of a historic light station— 
"(1) located on public domain lands shall be transferred 
to the National Maritime Heritage Grant Program, established 
by the National Maritime Heritage Act of 1994 (Public Law 
103-451) within the Department of the Interior; and 
"(2) imder the administrative control of the Coast Guard 
shall be credited to the Coast Guard's Operating Expenses 
appropriation account, and shall be available for obligation 
and expenditure for the maintenance of light stations remaining 
114 STAT. 1390 
PUBLIC LAW 106-355—OCT. 24, 2000 
under the administrative control of the Coast Guard, such 
funds to remain available until expended and shall be available 
in addition to funds available in the Operating Expense appro-
priation for this purpose.". 
SEC. 4. FUNDING. 
There are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
of the Interior such sums as may be necessary to carry out this 
Act. 
Approved October 24, 2000. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 4613 (S. 2343): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 106-890 (Comm. on Resources). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 106-380 accompanying S. 2343 (Comm. on Energy and 
Natural Resotirces). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 146 (2000): 
Sept. 26, considered and passed House. 
Oct. 5, considered and passed Senate.