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Michaud Calls on Interior Secretary to Support Federal Funding for Wood Island and Life Saving Repairs

Press Release

Date: Sept. 5, 2014
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Environment

U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud wrote to Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell today, urging Jewell to support a Marine Heritage grant to repair the historic Wood Island Life Saving Station in Kittery. The Wood Island Life Saving Station has a long history dating back to the turn of the 20th century and was used by the U.S. Navy during World War II as part of the effort to protect the coast and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The $200,000 Marine Heritage grant would allow critical repairs across the Wood Island site and make it more accessible to the public.

"The Wood Island Life Saving Station has a place in history in Kittery for the role it played as a base of operations for both the Coast Guard and the Navy," said Michaud. "A previous Brownfields cleanup grant has allowed for the removal of hazardous materials like asbestos and lead, but there is still much work that needs to be done to get the property back into shape. I believe this grant is central to making Wood Island Life Saving Station safe for visitors once again."

In his letter to Jewell, available here, Michaud noted:

"The Wood Island Life Saving Station Association, a 501(c)(3) public charity, has been chosen by Kittery to help restore the building and together they have crafted a written agreement. Such partnerships between municipalities and not for profits are impressive and should be rewarded. After the clean-up is completed, WILSSA will undertake the repairs to the site around the structure and the building itself. This grant program from the National Park Service seems especially well-suited for this particular Station. Approving this grant request will serve to make the building and island safe for the visiting public and will certainly save this Station, one of only five remaining life saving stations in Maine."

The Environmental Protection Agency previously awarded a $200,000 Brownfields grant to Kittery for clean-up of toxic materials in the building.


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