Bill Text: NJ S2667 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Prohibits burial of Petty's Run archaeological excavation site.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-06-02 - Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee [S2667 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-S2667-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER
District 15 (Mercer)
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Prohibits burial of Petty's Run archaeological excavation site.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the preservation of Petty's Run historic site and supplementing Titles 13 and 52 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. The Petty's Run archaeological excavation, conducted by archeologists from Hunter Research, Inc., has found the remnants of historically significant Colonial and Industrial era structures, including remains of the iron plating mill of Isaac Harrow and Benjamin Yard, which operated from 1733 through 1777, and the steel furnace of the Trenton Steel Works, which operated from 1745 through 1785, industrial facilities that supplied arms to the Continental Army, both of which were powered by Petty's Run, a key water source in Colonial Trenton;
b. In addition to the remains of the furnace and water wheel that powered the mill, the remains of the paper mill owned by Garret D. Wall, a member of the New Jersey General Assembly and the United States Senate, which operated from 1827 through 1876, and of 19th century Trenton row houses have also been discovered;
c. The public outreach activities associated with the excavation discoveries received an historic preservation award in May 2010 from the Historic Preservation Office of the Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Historic Sites Council, with the press release on the historic preservation awards stating that the "Petty's Run archaeological explorations were undertaken as part of the design of the proposed Capital State Park. Phase 1B of the park, just east of the State House, calls for a series of conserved foundations, restoration of flow to Petty's Run, and the installation of an operational waterwheel in a 19th century paper-mill wheel pit to educate visitors about water-powered industry around the time of the American Revolution. The park design team realized the work, because of its location, would generate considerable attention. The team used the excavation itself to inform the public about the history of the site";
d. On November 30, 2010, the State Capitol Joint Management Commission voted to cover over the excavation;
e. On December 17, 2010, a letter from the Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection was published in The Times of Trenton, stating that "Nearly $1 million already has been spent on this historic effort, and $400,000 more will be spent to seal the property consistent with federal and State requirements";
f. While the archeological work associated with Petty's Run began as part of the State's efforts to develop a new State park, the Capital State Park, the preservation of the site should not be tied to the future of the park, but rather the history uncovered there should be preserved and maintained as part of the State Capitol complex as the site embodies and exemplifies the type of rich and valued resource of historical, architectural, and cultural significance that should be protected, preserved and displayed to the public; and
g. It is fitting and proper to preserve and interpret the discoveries of the Petty's Run archaeological excavation and allow this historic site to be preserved and maintained for viewing by the public, regardless of the future completion of Capital State Park.
2. The Department of Environmental Protection:
a. shall not take any action, or authorize any action or activity, that would result in the closure or burial of the archaeological excavation site known as "Petty's Run," located adjacent to the State House and the Old Barracks, in the City of Trenton, New Jersey; and
b. shall take all efforts to protect, preserve, stabilize, and enhance the Petty's Run archaeological excavation site.
3. The State Treasurer:
a. shall not take any action, or authorize any action or activity, that would result in the closure or burial of the archaeological excavation site known as "Petty's Run," located adjacent to the State House and the Old Barracks, in the City of Trenton, New Jersey; and
b. shall take all efforts to protect, preserve, stabilize, and enhance the Petty's Run archaeological excavation site.
4. The State Capitol Joint Management Commission:
a. shall not take any action, or authorize any action or activity, that would result in the closure or burial of the archaeological excavation site known as "Petty's Run," located adjacent to the State House and the Old Barracks, in the City of Trenton, New Jersey; and
b. shall take all efforts to protect, preserve, stabilize, and enhance the Petty's Run archaeological excavation site as part of the State capitol complex.
5. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would prohibit the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the State Treasurer, and the State Capitol Joint Management Commission from taking any action, or authorizing any action or activity, that would result in the closure of the Petty's Run archaeological excavation site. The bill would prevent the historic discoveries at the site from being re-buried and would require that the DEP continue the efforts to protect, preserve, stabilize, and interpret the findings, regardless of future completion of the Capital State Park.
