Lighthouses have been viewed as a national resource treasured for their
historic, cultural and scenic values. They have been called "America's Castles"
because they represent our heritage and may need protection. The lands surrounding the
lighthouses, too, merit special attention because they provide important habitats for the
hundreds of animal, bird and plant species which rely on the surrounding
ecosystems for
their survival.
Lighthouses were established by the United States Lighthouse Establishment as early as 1787 and by its successor agency, the United States Coast Guard, as recently as World War II.
Budget limitations have significantly reduced the federal government's capacity to provide long-term care and maintenance for
lighthouses and the U.S. Coast Guard has determined that it no longer requires some
of the lighthouses and the lands surrounding them to carry out its mission.
In accordance with Federal law, the Coast Guard has notified the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) of its intent to
relinquish properties which had been withdrawn for lighthouse purposes in
Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Florida.
The BLM is required to accept back into the
Public Domain any lands that have been withdrawn for other Federal purposes and which have
not been substantially changed in character. In order for these lands to be returned to
the Public Domain, the BLM must conduct suitability determinations on most of the parcels
to "determine their suitability" for return. BLM is authorized to manage
the lands suitable for return to the Public Domain or it can convey the lands to another
entity in accordance with an approved land use plan.
It
is the current goal of the BLM Eastern States Office to find entities which would be interested in long term management of the parcels and
associated structures. These entities initially identified included other Federal
Agencies, the States, local government and non-profit organizations.
Learn more about the Eastern States Lighthouse Transfer Program
around
the Great
Lakes and Florida.
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