THE
NPG NEWS
The Newsletter of the Nike Preservation Group
Volume 3, Issue 3 MAY
2000
Nike Preservation Group, Inc., 475 Maple Street, West Lafayette,
Indiana 47906
Editors:
Don and Susan Peterson Phone: (765) 743
- 9333 E-mail: dspeterson@musa.org
NPG President and
founder Robert T. Peterson passed away Monday afternoon (5/1/00). He was 77 years old. His passing came as a great surprise to
those who knew him. Surviving him
is his wife of 52 years Pauline Peterson, as well as his seven children and
fourteen grandchildren. Robert
owned Peterson Brothers Trucking, and later KRC Transit, both of
Valparaiso, Indiana. Robert was a WWII
Army Air Corps Veteran and former POW.
He was a life member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign
Wars and the Nike Preservation Group.
His interest in the preservation of the C47 Launcher Area was
generated not from being a Nike Veteran but from raising seven children
through the years of the Cold War.
Many of those years where in the communities which C47 protected. Robert and his son, Don Peterson, began
efforts to save the Launcher Area in 1997 when they learned of the
governments plans to demolish the site.
After years of battling with the General Services Administration,
Nike Battery C47 was listed on the National Register of Historic Sites on
Jan. 21, 2000. Although Robert
Peterson was instrumental in the formation of the Nike Preservation Group
and the push to get C47 listed on the National Register, the work of the
NPG will not stop with his passing.
NPG Mourns Passing of President and Founder
Robert T. Peterson, London 1945
There is still work
to be done to ensure that the ownership of the C47 site passes to an
organization that will work toward the preservation and restoration of the
site. Hopefully, that organization will be the NPG. Whether as a
grandfather, father, uncle or just friend, those who knew him will greatly
miss him.
Johnathan Robert Peterson Robert Thor Peterson Samuel
Thor Peterson
Robert and his grandchildren, Don
and Susan’s boys, March 2000
NPG GETS GSA RESPONSE THROUGH SENATOR
RICHARD LUGAR
____________________________
U.S. General Services
Administration
New England Region
Thomas P. O’Neill, Jr. Federal Building
10 Causeway Street, Boston MA 02222
The Honorable Richard G. Lugar January
25, 2000
United
States Senator
United
States Senate
Washington,
DC 20510-1401
Dear Senator Lugar:
Your
letter to William Ratchford, dated January 6, 2000, regarding the former NIKE
Battery C-47, Porter County, Indiana, has been forwarded to me for response.
This property, originally conveyed to the Portage Township Schools in 1973,
reverted to Federal ownership in 1993 and is expected to again be processed as
surplus property.
We
were informed by Mr. Patrick Andrus, with National Park Service, that the
property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places January 21,
2000. Therefore, our disposal of the property shall take its historic
significance into account and we shall take appropriate steps to mitigate any
adverse effects to the property. Before the disposal process can begin,
however, Army must determine whether additional environmental remediation is
necessary. Army's environmental activities at the site were placed on hold
pending determination of the property's historic significance. Once Army
informs us the property is environmentally suitable for transfer, the disposal
process may commence.
Once
the disposal process has begun, we shall take actions required by the National
Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (I 6 U. S.C. 470), to determine
the appropriate treatment for the historic property. At this time, no
conclusions have yet been reached. The decision shall be made in consultation
with the Indiana State Historic Preservation Officer and the National Advisory
Council for Historic Preservation as well as any other interested parties. With
respect to the disposition of the property, it must first be screened for
interest from Federal, state, local, and homeless assistance agencies. If none
of these acquire the property, it will then be offered for sale to the general
public. It appears that Mr. Braun and the Nike Preservation Group shall be
eligible to acquire the property only through public sale, should the property
reach that stage of the process. I hope this information shall be of assistance
and I regret any confusion that may have arisen regarding previous
correspondence. Enclosed are copies of letters previously sent to Senator
Lugar, via Lane Ralph in Indianapolis, in response to inquiries regarding this
issue. If there are any questions or if you would like to discuss this matter
further, do not hesitate to contact me at (617) 565-5860 or a member of your
staff may wish to contact Joseph O'Bradovic of our Property Disposal Division,
Chicago Operations Branch, at (312) 353-6045.
Sincerely,
Robert J. Dunfey, Jr.
Regional Administrator
New England
Region
WHERE DO
WE GO FROM HERE?
By John Braun
Shortly
after receiving the above letter In the beginning of May, I contacted Mr. Paul
Diebold at the DNR, Historical Preservation and Archaeology Division who works
for the Indiana Historic State Preservation Officer.
Mr.
Diebold gave several suggestions on how to proceed in acquiring C-47L. He suggested the NPG contact The State
Museum Division and Historic Sites, to see what help they could provide.
Secondly, he suggested we might contact the National Park Service and ask for a
meeting to give them a presentation about our plan and purpose for restoration
of Nike Site C-47L. A good possibility exists that the NPS would assist us in
acquiring the property for museum purposes. Mr. Diebold at the DNR indicated he
would be willing to compose a letter to the National Park Service to plant an
idea in their mind about using C-47L as a park in joint venture with the Nike
Preservation Group. Mr. Diebold said that the C-47L property would need to meet
Federal Secretary of Interior environmental standards. He also indicated that
funds would need to be available from the NPG to restore buildings and to
provide a maintenance endowment.
We
continue to move forward as a Group in an arduous bureaucratic process to
obtain C-47L for our purposes. It has taken much longer than we could have
imagined a couple of years ago. Your Officers and Board members of the Nike
Preservation Group, Inc., assure you that
we will persevere in our efforts. If any of you can provide ideas of
procurement assistance to our Group, please contact Mr. Don Peterson.
JOIN
THE NIKE PRESERVATION GROUP!
Date____________
Last Name _____________________ First
Name _____________________MI _____
Street Address:
_______________________________________________________________
City___________________________ State ____________________Zip Code__________
Home Phone ( )__________________Work Phone ( )___________________
E-mail
Address________________________________________________________________
Are you a Veteran? (Yes)
(No)
Did you work with Nike Systems or where you stationed at a Nike
Base? (Yes) (No)
If so, Where and When?
_______________________________________________________________
Are you interested in volunteering labor at C47? (Yes)
(No)
What do you think you could help with?
___________________________________________________
Mail to: The Nike
Preservation Group, Inc., 475 Maple Street, West Lafayette, Indiana 47906
Membership fees:
Individual Membership, $15 a year $150 NPG life time membership*
or $40 for 3 years. $200 NPG family life time membership*
Family Membership, $20 a year $1000 or More -
Corporate Sponsorship**
or $50 for 3 years.
All members receive the NPG
newsletter. * Lifetime members receive a free gift and their names on the C47
Wall of Fame. ** Corporate sponsors
receive a wall plaque of appreciation and their corporate logo placed on our
sponsorship board. The Nike Preservation Group, Inc. is a
not-for-profit corporation.
|
|
U.S.
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION New England Region |
April 18, 2000 |
Mr. Don
Peterson National Spokesperson Nike
Preservation Group 475 Maple Street West Lafayette, Indiana
47906 |
As you may be aware, Nike
Battery C-47 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places January
21, 2000. You may also be aware that the property is again proposed for
disposition, having reverted to Federal ownership after having been used by
the Portage Township Schools for many years. Before this disposition can
occur, however, the property needs to be determined environmentally suitable
for transfer by Army, the agency that originally used the property. Army's
investigation and remediation of the property had begun but halted when the
State of Indiana determined the property to be historically significant,
reversing a previous determination that the property was not significant.
Army, which had, proposed demolition of all structures on the property on the
basis of the determination that the property was not significant, now must
reassess the situation and determine an appropriate course of action for any
environmental work that may still be required. |
Once we have received
certification that the property is environmentally suitable for transfer, it
shall be disposed of following GSA's standard procedures. These are, as you
will see, affected by the property's historic significance and will give due
consideration to governmental agencies looking to acquire the property. In addition, our regulations guarantee
that the property's historic significance will be considered and that any
disposition of the property will attempt to avoid, minimize, or mitigate any
adverse effects to the property's historically
significant features. |
I am writing in response
to your letter of April 11, 2000, inquiring as to the status of Federally-owned
property referred to as Nike Battery C-47, Porter County, Indiana. In
particular, you asked about possible disposition options available with
respect to the property. I hope the information provided below will answer
all your questions. |
Upon hearing that the
property had been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, we informed Army
of this fact and requested information as to what further investigation or
remediation would be-required at the property before its disposition could
proceed. We are still waiting for a response to our letter but telephone
conversations indicated that the project would have to be reviewed in light
of its new circumstances and that it would have to be resubmitted for funding
before any work could take place. Our disposition efforts for the property
cannot resume until this occurs. . |
|
|
When excess Federal real estate is
scheduled for disposal, it is first offered to other Federal agencies, then
to state and local government agencies and, for many properties, homeless
assistance agencies. Finally, properties which have not been conveyed to one
of the above will be offered for sale to the general public in an open,
competitive sale. |
State and local government
agencies will have the option to purchase the property for public purposes or
to pursue acquisition of the property through one of our public benefit
programs in which properties are conveyed at no cost for specific public
purposes. Because of the property's historic significance, it will be made
available to these state and local agencies through our historic monument
program. Interested agencies will be required to submit an application for
the property to the National Park Service- if the application is approved, it
will be considered by GSA along with any other requests for the property by
state or local agencies. It should be noted that requests for the property by
other Federal agencies take precedence over any other requests. In addition,
requests for the property for homeless assistance use, submitted through the
Department of Health and Human Services, are, by law, given priority of
consideration over requests from state and local agencies. |
|
Reality
Specialist Property
Disposal Division |
For any
conveyance of historically significant Federal property to non-Federal
parties, we are required by the National Historic Preservation Act to consult
with the State Historic Preservation
Officer and other appropriate parties regarding our proposed disposition. In
addition, we are required to take actions to avoid, minimize, and mitigate
any potential adverse
effects that are likely to arise as a result of the property's proposed
reuse. None of this guarantees the property will be preserved but it will
require whoever acquires the property to consult with the State Historic
Preservation Officer before proceeding with any
activities that might impact the property's historically significant aspects. |
Finally, with respect to
your interest in acquiring the property, as a private organization, your only
opportunity to acquire ownership of the property would be through purchase of
the property in a competitive sale to the public, usually in the form of a
seated-bid sale. Only governmental agencies may acquire the property through
negotiated sale or through our public benefit program. It may be possible,
however, for you to attempt to make arrangements with a local governmental
body which may acquire the property for operation by your group. |
I hope this information
shall be of assistance. If you have any questions or wish to discuss this
matter further, do not hesitate to contact me at (312) 353-0857. |
|
|
DEPARTMENT
OF THE ARMY U.S. ARMY ENGINEER DISTRICT, LOUISVILLE CORPS OF ENGINEERS P.O. BOX 59 LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY 40201-0059 |
July 16,
1998 |
Programs
& Project Management Division |
General
Services Administration Attention- Ms. Lucrezia Patruno 230 S. Dearborn Street Room
3756 Chicago,
Illinois 60604 |
Dear Ms.
Patruno |
The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (Corps), after having again reviewed the history of this project
and having reassessed its authorities under the Defense Environmental
Restoration Program - Formerly Used Defense Sites (DERP-FUDS) program, are
proceeding with the Nike Site C-47 project as follows: |
1. Current HTRW
Pr2ig,51t. We are proceeding with the soil and groundwater cleanup, which
includes-. |
(a)
Removal of contaminated soil caused by leaking underground storage tanks
previously removed. (b)
Removal of PCB contaminated transformers. (c)
Removal of asbestos tiles stockpiled out side the buildings (d) Removal of TCEs at Monitoring Well Number 4. (e) Padlock gate and repair holes in the fence. |
2. Eligibility
of the Building Demolition and Debris Removal Project. On June 26, 1973,
34.62 acres were conveyed through allowance to the Portage Township School
Corporation by Quitclaim deed. The deed stated the property should be
utilized for. educational purposes for 30 years from the date of deed. In
1982 the School Corporation returned 20.46 acres (the radar and admin site,
Barracks Area) to GSA. The 20.46 acres were subsequently conveyed to Mr. Dale
Summers on March 8, 1982, and were then sold by Mr. Summers in August 1994 to
Mr. Paul Johnson and Mr. Tom Mikos. The remaining 14.16 acres (The Launch
Area) were utilized by the School Corporation for Drivers Training and
Storage until August 24, 1993, when the property was returned to GSA. The
School Corporation made beneficial use of the Launch Area over 20 years, June
1973 - August 1993. Because the School Corporation made beneficial use of the
property, the project does not qualify for BDIDR under the DERP- FUDS
program. There should have never been a BD/DR project. That was our mistake. |
|
-2- |
Therefore, the Building
Demolition and Debris Removal Project is cancelled, and the funds
de-obligated. However, the demolition of the missile silos, because of the
groundwater contamination issue, does qualify as a CON/HTRW project. We will
proceed to seek funding for the demolition of the silos subject to the 106
review. |
3. Ownership. DOD used
the site from approximately 1958 through 1972. The site was reported excess to
GSA in May of 1972. The United States of America was the fee owner of both
the Launch Area and the Barracks Area. As stated above, the Barracks Area is
now privately owned. Protection and maintenance (P&M) of the existing
facilities, buildings and missile silos as discussed during the June 16,
1998, conference call, is not the responsibility of the Corps. The Corps'
position is that GSA is the Federal Holding Agency of
the Launch Area. The Corps is the agency responsible for environmental
cleanup only. While our contractor is on site, all necessary safety
requirements will be met for the associated work being performed. |
4. |
Responsibility
for the National Historic Preservation Act 106 Review. |
(a) The
responsibility for the 106 review process to determine if the site qualifies
for the National Register of Historic Places rests with the property owner.
In that the Corps is not the property owner, we will not be reviewing, making
any investigation, or determination, relative to the 106 review process. |
(b) In summary, it is the
Corps' position that the site does not qualify for a BDIDR project, meaning
under any circumstances the Corps can not demolish any building within the
Launch Area. The only project at the Launch Area that does qualify under the
DERP-FUDS program is an HTRW project for the demolition and groundwater
cleanup at the missile silos, if allowed by the National Historic
Preservation Act. The 106 Review Process is the responsibility of the
property owner. |
If you have any questions
please call our Project Manager, Michael Layman, at 502-626-7005. |
|
|
Sincerely, Donald L. Basham Deputy
District Engineer (PM) |
Does anyone else feel that the GSA is not exactly on
board with the Corps of Engineers.
The way I read the Army’s letter, they are not interested in ever
returning to C47. The GSA letter
makes it sound like the Army is running the show. Oh well, just another day dealing with
the GSA. By
Don Peterson
“The
Nike Hercules Story” Video
as told by the United States
Army
This historic footage tells the public affairs version of the Nike
Hercules development and deployment. 30 minutes of family entertainment. Yours free when you make a donation
to the Nike Preservation Group of $18.00 or more.
Send your
donation to:
The Nike Preservation Group, Inc., 475 Maple Street, West Lafayette, Indiana 47906 Available in VHS only. Allow 3-4 weeks for delivery. The Nike
Hercules Story - produced in 1958/59 by Herbert Kerkow, Inc. of New York
The
Nike Preservation Group, Inc.
475 Maple
Street
West Lafayette,
Indiana 47906
(THE NEW NPG ADDRESS)
If you haven’t paid your dues for 2000, please
don’t delay, send it in today!