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From: baillod
Category: Shipwreck Research
Date: 07 Jul 2004
Time: 23:57:31
Remote Name: 24.196.69.62
Recent court decisions regarding the ASA suggest that the State of Wisconsin was not in a very strong position to charge Paul with a felony for the Rosinco. The State's claim on the Rosinco was far from certain when they filed charges. The after the fact NRHP filing didn't do much to legitimize the State's action's against Paul.
That said, I think it is ethically wrong to remove articles from undesignated shipwrecks and I do not support the removal of items from these kinds of wrecks. By undesignated, I mean wrecks that have not yet been evaluated for NRHP status but are also not demonstrably privately owned. Most of the historic wrecks in Wisconsin waters are still undesignated, even some of the MOST historic sites. The State likely contends that their Multiple Property NRHP Listing for Great Lakes Shipwrecks covers all potentially historic wrecks, but the ASA is quite specific about individual wrecks needing to be deemed eligible. As such, a non listed, but historically important site like the wreck of the Rouse Simmons or the Vernon could be the target of a legitimate salvage claim that could have a reasonable chance of success, if executed properly.
The ASA has unintentionally created an ambiguous situation concerning Great Lakes shipwreck ownership. The State could file NRHP nominations for all of its historic wrecks, but it hasn't done so yet due to time, manpower and budget limitations. I personally would like to see all the really important historic wrecks held in public trust by the State. However, I'd like to see a public input process put in place for deciding which wrecks get nominated. Putting a wreck under State ownership should not be a trivial matter and I believe stakeholders should have the right to give input as to whether or not a particular wreck should be nominated. As it is, the State has limited resources and I'd like to see them concentrate on protecting and documenting the most important wrecks, rather than claiming every pile of boards and spreading themselves too thin.
Thoughts?