Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) today called on the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) at Sandy Hook to make financial records for the Fort Hancock redevelopment project available to the public. The New Jersey congressman's request follows recent reports that an attorney representing the park service and Sandy Hook Partners, LLC, has filed a request with U.S. District Court for a protective order covering financial information submitted by the developer.

In a letter to Sandy Hook Superintendent Richard Wells, Pallone noted that given th e importance placed on the financial records when the NPS selected Sandy Hook Partners over 22 other applicants, it is critical that the public have full access to the records.

"Considering the controversy surrounding this project -- and the fact that it involves publicly-owned property -- it is in the best interest of all parties to keep this process as open as possible," Pallone wrote in the letter to Wells. "I hope that you will place openness and good government practices above any desire to keep financial records secret."

In the letter, Pallone wrote that the decision to keep the documents out of the public eye raises further concerns about the park service's recent decision to grant Sandy Hook Partners an additional six months to submit a funding plan for the first $14 million phase of the project.

"The potential financial solvency of this project is particularly important because of the extremely long duration of the lease that was signed last year," Pallone wrote. "There are serious questions about Sandy Hook Partners' ability to come up with the funding necessary to move forward."

The New Jersey congressman opposes the lease agreement between the National Park Service and Sandy Hook Partners. Prior to the signing of the agreement, Pallone worked to find an acceptable middle ground that would save the historic buildings, but no over-commercialize Fort Hancock.