For Immediate Release

LIGHTHOUSE MOVE SUBJECT TO WILD RUMORS

Wild rumors are one way to put pizzazz in an otherwise routine process, especially when it involves the highly visible Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, which has caught world attention in recent months. The fact that the lighthouse also lies close to the heart of many of the inhabitants on Hatteras Island and Dare County, North Carolina have made it an emotional issue as well.

"If I wasn’t as confident as I am of the integrity of folks on all sides of this issue, I would almost believe that a deliberate effort of misinformation was being conducted in an effort to delay or abort the saving of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse," said Bob Reynolds, Superintendent of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Most recent rumors have swirled around "Mom and Pop House Movers", the dissection of the lighthouse into three or more parts, hold-harmless contract clauses that relieve any accountability, and Park Service secret agendas to hide alarming facts. The rumors were supposedly gathered from "highly placed state and federal officials" attending a recent Coastal Resources Commission meeting.

"None of the rumors are true." stated Reynolds.

"First, the idea that the lighthouse would be sawed into three pieces is ludicrous, hardly believable, and certainly would be an action adverse to the whole purpose of this project – the long-term protection of the lighthouse. The lighthouse will be moved as a single unit, absent the external staircase that will be labeled, disassembled, transported and reassembled in the new location. The lighthouse will be separated at its base about two courses below ground level and moved to a new foundation. The old foundation remnants will be left in place for interpretation."

"The contract requires the contractor to accept full liability for the lighthouse and associated structures. The requirement that the contractor hold a catastrophic insurance policy remains in the contract and there have been no negotiations to alter that fact. Neither will there be any negotiations on this point."

"Our contractor, International Chimney Corporation (ICC), is using conventional technologies that are standard in the industry and has pulled together a team of specialists (subcontractors) who will focus on various aspects of the construction project. The design/build contract was awarded in two phases. The first was the design option that was awarded in June 1998. The second phase, exercising the construction option, was awarded in November for $8,035,000. The work to be accomplished remains essentially as proposed with subtle changes that respond to findings from geotechnical and structural examination. The accepted proposal has been and still is available at Park Headquarters for the public. A small amount of the proposal has been redacted (blacked out). Those portions represent proprietary information owned by the contractor, which addresses specific mechanical technologies to be utilized in the move of the lighthouse. While the Park Service has reviewed the information, the contractor, does not wish to make its methods public and thus available to competitors."

"There is no reason to cover-up any of the details of this project," said Reynolds. "We have been and remain ready and eager to answer questions any citizen or official might have about the project. No rumor should go unquestioned. Call us at 252-473-2111."

(11/25/1998)