Pallone Calls on Park Service to Take Steps to Protect Fort Hancock Buildings from the Elements

Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) today called on the National Park Service to take necessary steps to protect the existing structures at Fort Hancock from continued weather-related damage. Pallone made the formal request in a letter to Acting Superintendent of Sandy Hook Richard Wells.

"One of my staff members recently toured Fort Hancock and did a visual inspection of a number of the buildings, finding many of them in a state of serious disrepair and with only minimal protections from further damage," Pallone wrote in the letter to Wells. "Since historic preservation is a primary duty of the Park Service's stewardship of Fort Hancock and the driving force behind the lease you signed with Sandy Hook Partners, you need to take immediate action to provide further protection for the buildings."

In the letter, the New Jersey congressman expressed concern that with hurricane season in full swing and winter approaching, the buildings would be vulnerable to weather damage. He warned that if steps are not taken to protect the more vulnerable buildings, any efforts to preserve their historic qualities could be severely hampered.

"I recognize that the National Park Service does not currently have the financial resources to engage with contractors who could perform comprehensive work to seal the buildings," Pallone wrote. "It is obvious, however, that the buildings would be well served if your existing staff were to immediately install protective wood coverings and other simple measures that could help keep the elements at bay."

In a separate letter to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, Pallone today urged the council to conduct public hearings to assess the impact the lease agreement between the National Park Service and Sandy Hook Partners will have on the historic preservation of Fort Hancock. The Advisory Council, a federal agency created by the National Historic Preservation Act, can become involved when a historic preservation issue is controversial or precedent setting.

"It is important to emphasize the need for additional opportunities to allow the public to comment on the Fort Hancock proposal," Pallone wrote in the letter to Council President John L. Nau. "Hearings conducted by your agency would give area residents a much-needed opportunity to comment on and learn more about potential impacts that the development agreement would have on historic preservation at Fort Hancock."

Pallone's letter to the Council follows a similar request from NJ Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bradley Campbell last week.

The text of the letters to Wells and Nua follow.

August 23, 2004

Richard E. Wells

Acting Superintendent

National Park Service

Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook Unit

P.O. Box 530

Fort Hancock, NJ 07732

Dear Superintendent Wells:

I am writing to ask that you take necessary steps to protect the existing structures at Fort Hancock from continued weather-related damage. If the most vulnerable buildings, including the Officers' Club, are not sealed off, any efforts to preserve their historic qualities will be severely hampered.

One of my staff members recently toured Fort Hancock and did a visual inspection of a number of the buildings, finding many of them in a state of serious disrepair and with only minimal protections from further damage. Since historic preservation is a primary duty of the Park Service's stewardship of Fort Hancock and the driving force behind the lease you signed with Sandy Hook Partners, you need to take immediate action to provide further protection for the buildings.

I recognize that the National Park Service does not currently have the financial resources to engage with contractors who could perform comprehensive work to seal the buildings. It is obvious, however, that the buildings would be well served if your existing staff were to immediately install protective wood coverings and other simple measures that could help keep the elements at bay. With hurricane season in full swing and the beginning of winter only a few months away, now is the time to take these steps.

I appreciate your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Frank Pallone, Jr.

Member of Congress

August 23, 2004

John L. Nau, III

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

1100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

Suite 809

Washington, DC 20004

Dear Chairman Nau:

As you know, the National Park Service recently signed a lease agreement with Sandy Hook Partners to redevelop historic structures at Fort Hancock, part of the Gateway National Recreation Area. This agreement has caused considerable controversy among my constituents, and I ask that you conduct public hearings to assess its impact on historic preservation of the Fort Hancock and Sandy Hook Proving Ground Historic District, which is a National Historic Landmark.

Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, your agency engages in historic preservation issues when there is a "controversial or precedent-setting situation," according to your website. The Fort Hancock redevelopment proposal is certainly controversial -- in fact, the New Jersey State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) recently requested that your agency act on the proposal. I echo the SHPO's request and ask that you conduct public hearings and assess the agreement's impact on Fort Hancock's historic structures.

It is important to emphasize the need for additional opportunities to allow the public to comment on the Fort Hancock proposal. Hearings conducted by your agency would give area residents a much-needed opportunity to comment on and learn more about potential impacts that the development agreement would have on historic preservation at Fort Hancock.

I appreciate your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Frank Pallone, Jr.

Member of Congress