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An additional lawsuit has been filed in federal court challenging the NPS's planned relocation of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. This new action was initiated to better respond to arguments made by the U.S. Government in their motion to dismiss Dare County's original lawsuit. The new lawsuit alleges that the National Park Service made its decision to relocate the lighthouse without properly studying the environmental consequences of the move as required by federal law.

In the late 1980's, the National Park Service conducted an environmental assessment studying the implications of moving the Lighthouse. The lawsuit contends that this assessment failed to consider the impact that moving the Lighthouse would have on Buxton and Highway 12. The studies that were done concluded that once the proposed move is implemented, no further maintenance of the current groins would occur. However, no studies showed the effects that the degraded or ineffective groins would have on the area now protected by the groins.

The National Park Service "plan?" to clear approximately eight acres of land at the new location. In addition, two acres will be cleared for a parking area, and the route used for moving the Lighthouse must also be cleared. Recent reports indicate that funding allocated by Congress will be insufficient to revegetate these cleared areas. The lawsuit cites the lack of habitat rehabilitation as an additional environmental consequence that must be studied further by the National Park Service. A hearing has been scheduled, however, for May 17,1999 in the case of Dare County v. North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission in the NC Office of Administrative Hearings.

The County seeks to reverse a decision made by the NC-CRC that refused to certify an amendment to the Dare County Land Use Plan. The amendment, adopted by Commissioners on August 19,1998, stated the Commissioners preference that the shoreline in front of the Lighthouse be stabilized in order to maintain it at its historic site. The CRC voted to refuse to certify the statement of preference twice, each time citing the Commission's policy opposing shoreline-hardening devices. The Commission's rules include a provision that exempts "historic sites" from the so-called "anti-hardending policy.

Hatteras Island News participated in the scheduled media tour and press conference at the Lighthouse on Jan.26. The Park Service hosted the press on an informative tour within the construction zone of the Lighthouse and what progress has been made. "Moving the Lighthouse is an eight month process, stated Skellie Hunt of International Chimney Corporation.

The steps have been removed to the boneyard where they will be reassembled at a later time. Each piece has been numbered so it will be restored to original status. The dewatering process is nearly complete. Since the water table of Hatteras Island is only three feet down, foundations are usually sitting in water.

Removing this ground water is a necessary step to prevent cave ins. The three cisterns around the quarters will start being moved this week. Starting the following week, moving of the oil house, keepers quarters and the museum will begin. The brick chimneys have been secured with wood bracing for the move. Even though these buildings' will be moved on wheels, they will travel the same route as the spiral tower which will follow on rail. 3.1 acres have been cleared on the other end to receive these structures. It was fascinating to listen to the project personnel speak about various phases of the move.

Andy Osborn of the company WJE spoke to us about the instrumentation installed in the Lighthouse to monitor its movements before and during the move. Elaborate devices are used to track the lighthouse's movements, vibrations, tilts and stress. Even the sun shining on the structure causes some tilt. A weather station has been installed atop the tower. Of course, wind and temperature causes movement as well. By developing a history of the Lighthouse's reaction to the ele- ments, the engineers will better understand the structure during its move.

One of the reporters questioned Osborn about the effect a strong wind would have on the Lighthouse while it was being moved. "No effect, "said the WJE employee. "The foundation of cribbing and steel created for the move is as good as the original foundation." Diamond chain saws and wire cutters have arrived and will be used to cut the Lighthouse from its current foundation. Steel girders, which were custom made in New York, will be bolted and wedged around the plinth on which the lighthouse rests. It will be raised up to 6' for the move. The new location of the lighthouse will be 2' higher than it is presently. During the course of the move, the lighthouse will gradually be lowered 4' before it will be eased onto its new foundation.

The spiral tower will be moved in three phases with the final 50' of the 2900' move being the slowest. The project personnel is predicting that the monumental move of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse will begin in about a month. Their confidence exudes that the move will be a success, still citing that the move plan is overdesigned in every way.

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The Hatteras Island News will be documenting each and every move the lighthouse makes, from ground level and also from the air.

The Hatteras Island News is a free By-Weekly Publication by the Hatteras Monitor. It arrives in our mailboxes twice a month.