Seacoast Online has published a current list of the non-profit groups interested in Whaleback Ledge Lighthouse, which includes American Light Foundation (Bedminster, NJ), American Lighthouse Foundation (Rockland, ME), Beacon Preservation, Inc. (Ansonia, CT) and Lifewise Community Projects (Hampton, NH) and of course People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Lifewise, which runs a program for safe drinking water (Future Water Guardians of New Hampshire) and a dropout prevention program (Wildcat Youth Mentors) is interested in partnering with the American Lighthouse Foundation to use the lighthouse as a symbol for its new initiative, Yankee Coastal Rangers. This program will focus on public education and outreach regarding the New Hampshire Seacoast and estuaries.

Beacon Preservation, Inc. is a non-profit group formed by Casey Jordon of Ansonia, Connecticut. It purchased Goose Rocks Lighthouse at an online auction for $27,000 after the application by Historically Significant Structures of Philadelphia was rejected by the General Services Administration.

The American Lighthouse Foundation of course is the premier preserver of lighthouses, and is currently the lessee of Whaleback Ledge for caretaking purposes. But since they rely on donations and grants, it might be a good thing if they lend their expertise in a partnership with Lifewise. Lighthouse News advocates for unconventional (but appropriate) uses of lighthouses as a way to preserve these important structures of our maritime heritage.

Information about the other interested party, American Light Foundation, is sketchy at this time. An online search turned up nothing about this organization.

PETA, which is sending letters of interest to the GSA on every excessed lighthouse, would be an unlikely owner for Whaleback Ledge. Their planned usage of the light for their fish empathy project would be in direct violation of the rules promulgated by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands. Lighthouse News wonders if PETA ever reads the information in the Notice of Availability, which informs the reader that submerged lands are not included in the quit claim deed, and that licenses need to be obtained (in this case) from the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.

The State of Maine defines publicly owned submerged lands as:

• Coastal region (including islands): All land from the mean low-water mark to the three mile territorial limit. Where intertidal flats are extensive, the shoreward boundary begins 1,650 feet seaward from the mean high-water mark.
• Tidal Rivers: All land below the mean low-water mark of tidal rivers upstream to the farthest natural reaches of the tides.
• Great Ponds: All land below the natural low-water mark of ponds that are 10 or more acres in size in their natural state.
• Boundary Rivers: Land lying between the banks of rivers that form Maine’s border with Canada.

Whaleback Ledge is within the three mile mark for the coastal region. Why won’t they be able to use the lighthouse as planned? Look at these rules:

To qualify for a lease or easement, the proposed use cannot have adverse impacts on access to or over the waters of the State; public trust rights - fishing, waterfowl hunting, navigation, and recreation; and/or services and facilities for commercial marine activities.

The Bureau will usually not approve leases or easements for filling submerged land or for activities that could take place on the upland such as offices, parking space, restaurants, or residences.

The Bureau may place special conditions on the terms of a lease or easement when traditional and customary public uses are diminished. Projects may be required to include public walkways or boatramps; navigational improvements; publicly accessible space for fishing, sight-seeing, waterfowl hunting, or recreation; and/or protection of important commercial fishing and water dependent activities.

Taken directly from the Submerged Lands Rules Maine, it gets even more specific.

For consideration of impacts upon commercial fishing industries or infrastructure, the following guidelines shall apply:

1. The use will not result in the loss or unreasonable diminishment of opportunity to economically pursue commercial fishing for the operators of any commercial fishing vessels that will be displaced.
2. The use will not result in a loss of access or unreasonable diminishment of access to existing commercial fishing grounds.
3. The use will not result in a loss or unreasonable reduction of repair and maintenance services essential for commercial fishing operations.
4. The use will not result in a loss of fish buying, processing, or handling facilities that are in operation at the time of the application.
5. The use will not result in a loss or unreasonable diminishment of access to existing commercial fishing facilities.

With PETA’s record of confrontation and support of animal terrorist groups, do you think they’d be able to abide by these restrictions? Lighthouse News doesn’t think so. What do you think?

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