Outer Light's Future Uncertain in Old Saybrook, Connecticut

OLD SAYBROOK - The Saybrook Breakwater Lighthouse, also known as the Outer Light, has been a constant for boaters since 1886 but its future ownership is uncertain.

The Outer Light has recently been placed on a list of lighthouses deemed as excess property by the Coast Guard that will be divested under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000.

Brian Farber, spokesman for Congressman Joe Courtney (D-2), confirmed that while a recent meeting brought together municipal and federal officials was productive, no specific timeline on the lighthouse's divesture was set.

The Jan. 30 meeting, which was facilitated by Courtney, allowed Old Saybrook First Selectman Michael Pace to voice his concerns face-to-face with the U.S. Coast Guard and the General Services Administration about the divesture of the lighthouse.

Farber stated that the two federal agencies told Pace of success stories with lighthouse divestures.

Such success stories include the New London Harbor Light which is now owned by the New London Maritime Society and the Conimicut Shoal Light now owned by the City of Warwick, R.I.,

Pace was concerned about the high cost for any entity to maintain the Outer Light.

The act allows municipal governments, non-profit organizations, and community development organizations to apply to have the deed to a lighthouse at no charge.

The application requires such entities to provide a detailed preservation and maintenance plan, use plan, financial plan, management plan, and conduct an environmental analysis.

If no such eligible entity can be found, the lighthouse can be sold at auction, which is what happened with the Hog Island Shoal Light in Rhode Island.

No matter whom the future owner is to the Outer Light, access must be given to the Coast Guard so they can continue to maintain the automated flashing green light.

Pace has stated that his main concerns regarding the divesture of the Outer Light revolve around navigational safety, emergency management, and public access.

If the proposed Broadwater Liquefied Natural Gas facility is built, Pace claims boats would be forced to steer closer to the lighthouse because of the new security perimeter.

He is particularly concerned since the town would act as the lighthouse's primary first responders in an emergency.

While the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act was meant to increase public access to lighthouses, Pace indicated this would be problematic since the lighthouse is only accessible by boat and a half-mile jetty which requires going through private property in the Borough of Fenwick.

According to a letter written by Courtney, the "GSA has not yet issued a notice of availability to date due to concerns of limited accessibility of the site."