FACACLASSIC

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DOI - 80473 - Gateway National Recreation Area Fort Hancock 21st Century Advisory Committee - Agency Authority

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	Gateway National Recreation Area Fort Hancock 21st Century Advisory Committee	Agency Name	Department of the Interior
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	80473
Original Establishment Date	8/28/2012	Committee Status	Terminated
Actual Termination Date	2/27/2025	Committee URL	https://www.nps.gov/gate/learn/management/forth...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	30
Terminated This FY	Yes	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Superintentent, Gateway National Recreation Area
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Ms.
Current Charter Date	12/12/2024	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Jennifer
Date Of Renewal Charter	12/12/2026	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name	T.
Projected Termination Date		Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Nersesian
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority	2025 Secretary Directive - Elimination of Federal Advisory Committees Within the Department of the Interior, 02 27 2025	Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(718) 354-4661
Establishment Authority*	Agency Authority	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(718) 354-4764
Specific Establishment Authority*	Section 3 of Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-2(c))	Designated Federal Officer Email*	jen_nersesian@nps.gov
Effective Date Of Authority*	8/18/1970
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Non Scientific Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Terminate
Legislation to Terminate Required	No
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The Committee was established to provide advice on the development of a specific reuse plan for historic buildings within the Fort Hancock and Sandy Hook Proving Ground National Historic Landmark, located entirely within the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area. Members share their experience and offer recommendations as the park begins to create a mixed community of residents, lodging, services and not-for-profit organizations within the Fort's historic buildings.
How is membership balanced?*	The Committee is composed of members who represent a range of interests concerned with the management of Gateway National Recreation Area's Fort Hancock. They include: elected local officials, real estate experts, representatives of the education, hospitality, environmental, finance and arts communities, among others.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	The Committee may meet up to six times a year. In FY 2025, the Committee met one time.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	Over the years, the NPS has tried numerous ways to develop a long-term preservation solution for Fort Hancock. The NPS wants to ensure that the concerns of the local community and help the park design a viable plan to conserve a valuable but deteriorating, local resource. The Committee provides a conduit between park staff and experts in several fields in the public arena. Its open meetings give concerned citizens a voice in the decision-making process in a manner consistent with FACA. Not only has the Committee helped the park develop a pilot program for leasing buildings, which began in the fall of 2014, but also helped the park move ahead to the next phase of the leasing program.
Why close or partially close meetings?	All meetings are open to the public and have helped explain and ease concerns relating to the uses of the park by for-profit entities.
Recommendation Remarks	Consistent with Executive Order 14217, Commencing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy, the Advisory Committee was terminated by Secretary Burgum on February 27, 2025. The Gateway National Recreation Area Fort Hancock 21st Century Federal Advisory Committee (Committee) advised the park regarding the adaptive reuse of historic Army buildings at Gateway's Sandy Hook Unit. In FY 2025, the Committee made 2 recommendations.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	Yes	Action Reorganize Priorities*	Yes
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	Yes
Outcome Major Policy Changes	No	Action Issued New Regulations	No
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	No	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	No	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	As of 2023 all buildings are leased, under a letter of intent, or a general agreement. This status continued in FY 2024.
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	No	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	Yes	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	Development of specific reuse strategies for approximately 30 historic buildings within Gateway National Recreation Area's Sandy Hook Unit. These deteriorating buildings can be rehabilitated to provide a new century of service to the nation and the local community.	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	Adaptive reuse of the selected buildings at Fort Hancock should save the Federal Government an undetermined amount by offsetting the costs associated with rehabilitation or dismantling historic buildings. This will also save the government money from mothballing deteriorating buildings which threaten visitor safety as they become increasingly unstable.	Grants Review Comment	Not Applicable
Number Of Recommendations*	58	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	FY 25 - 2 recommendations 1. The committee encourages the park to move forward with plans to issue a request for quotations (RFQ) that would enable additional qualified candidates to become eligible for seeking leases without inhibiting the current Agreement holder (Stillman Development) from continuing work. 2. The committee recommends advancing that partnership in concert with refinement of Stillman Development’s efforts, to move forward with action on a subset of buildings covered by their General Agreement. In addition, the committee recommends that the Sandy Hook Foundation articulate for the committee, a specific strategic plan for its financial support toward the stabilization of the build. The committee also asks that the Sandy Hook Foundation articulate its strategic vision for the adaptive re-use of the historic main post in the context of the vision adopted by the advisory committee. FY 2024 - 6 recommendations: 1. The Committee recommends the formation of a working group to explore other funding options to help address the existing funding gap. 2. The Advisory Committee greatly welcomes the Sandy Hook Foundation’s efforts to support the park’s historic structures leasing program and looks forward to receiving the SHF’s assessments and recommendations. The committee further acknowledges the potential value of SHF participation and recommends the following: That the park engage the Foundation in efforts that would facilitate such work in support of the residential use model recommended by the committee and adopted by the park As the park’s independent non-profit philanthropic partner, the Foundation may have access to community and governmental resources not available to the advisory committee or the NPS. The committee acknowledges that special access and recommends that the Foundation pursue those avenues, in consultation with the committee and park leadership. 3. The committee recommends the Park continue to explore potential avenues to close the funding shortfalls (such as reauthorization of Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA); financial opportunities arising from the Symposium; opportunities arising from the Financial Working Group; etc.) between now and the next Committee meeting (September) before revisiting the committee’s recommendation to the Park regarding its agreement with Stillman International and its proposal for 21 buildings within the Fort Hancock Historic Post. 4. At the same time, in case the partnership with Stillman proves not viable, the National Park Service should develop alternatives (a “Plan B”). This can include looking anew at interest in and proposals for individual buildings. The Park should use its best judgement in determining when viability ceases and then take the appropriate actions to move forward. 5. The Committee recommends the Park, with the assistance of private third-party experts, takes a closer look at project pro formas presented by Stillman International to better understand what is driving project costs. 6. The committee recommends the Park continue to stabilize the buildings within the leasing portfolio such as work already underway such as the roofing project on officer’s row and; Future projects such as masonry stabilization. Emergency window and door closures to keep the elements out pending future rehabilitation. Mitigate the vegetation growing inside the walls and up to the roofs Continue rehabilitating the porches on Officers Row Once the buildings have been stabilized, the Park should consider the merits of focusing Gov’t Investment on improving individual buildings one-by-one to get them online sooner and generating revenue.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	0.85%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	FY 2024 recommendations fully implemented: NPS has created a subcommittee to explore funding options. NPS has explored other funding options for the leasing program. NPS is continuing to fund stabilization projects for the historic buildings.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*		Access Publications	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment		Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	This Committee's primary method of disseminating information to the public is through its a page on Gateway's website (www.nps.gov/gate. (This website was updated in 2022 since the former website www.forthancock21.org did not conform to new federal mandates.) The park issues press releases concerning upcoming meetings and other committee-related news and information. We accept queries through email and hold in-person public meetings, which include regularly scheduled public comment periods. Due to the pandemic we have switched to virtual meetings. We still advertise these with press releases and there is an advertised comment period. People are also invited to comment at any time by emailing the park.
Agency Feedback Comment*	The Agency provides feedback during Committee meetings. NPS staff are present during the meeting to answer questions and provide comments to ensure the Committee produces recommendations in accordance with federal laws and regulations. Our last four meetings have been virtual. When possible answers are answered online by staff.	Narrative Description*	The Committee aids the National Park Service and Gateway National Recreation Area in developing a plan for the rehabilitation and preservation, through adaptive reuse, of historic structures within the Fort Hancock and Sandy Hook Proving Ground National Historic Landmark. These impressive buildings will will be home to a new, mixed use community combining residences, visitor services, lodging, offices and not-for-profit organizations.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*	$0.00	1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*	$0.00
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*	$0.00
3. Payments to Federal Staff*	$2,791.76	3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*	$0.00
4. Payments to Consultants*	$19,800.33	4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*	$0.00
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*		5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*	$0.00
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*	$0.00
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*	$0.00
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*	$0.00
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*	$0.00
11. Total Costs	$22,592.09	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	9/12/2025 10:59 AM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*	0.00
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks	"The Commission met once in FY 2025.  The additional costs were planning meetings and staff time to update the website showing the termination of the committee and reaching out to thank the committee members for their service.

Interest Areas

Category Area Land Land Management and Use National Parks, Sites, Trails, Recreational Areas Monuments

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