November 20, 1997<p>


The Honorable Bruce Babbitt<BR>

Secretary, Department of Interior<BR>

1849 C Street NW<BR>

Washington DC 20240<P>


Dear Mr. Secretary:<P>


Like the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Friends of the Parks at Gettysburg  and  the National Park Service,  I
too strongly support the public-private initiative at Gettysburg.  In fact, the record will show that it was my efforts and offer
to build this complex three years ago - because of my concerns for the preservation of the battlefield,  its integrity  and the
protection  and display of its artifacts -  that actually served as the catalyst for the process that brought us to where we are
today.  We welcomed the competitive process as originally established by the NPS  because we felt it would assure all involved
a fair, equitable, and open evaluation on what we believed  would  be a level  playing  field  in accordance  with  NPS  stated 
goals. Unfortunately that has not been the case.

<P>

<U>Proposal Review Selection Process Riddled with Errors.</U><P>

A 30 day extension of the deadline for submission of proposals was extended to the eventually selected developer based upon
his assertion of possession of the land to be used for the project.  This <U>was not true</U> and the NPS is <U>fully</U> aware of this.</P>

It is clear now that the final selection decision was made at least 2 - 3 weeks prior to the official announcement and the decision
by NPS Director Stanton and the entire handling of this fiasco was an embarrassment to the NPS and to the Department of
Interior as well as unfair to all competing bidders.<P>

In response to our concerns about all of this - the National Park Service has responded  with  the <U>ultimate conflict of interest </U>
in that our grievances will be addressed  not by the Dept. of Interior Solicitor or even the NPS Solicitor but rather they will
be reviewed by the very committee  - the Bidder Selection Review Panel - that committed these offenses. We have filed a
formal protest.
<P>

In all candor Mr. Secretary, is this professional conduct that you support?<P>

<U>
Flawed Process Costs the American Public<P></U>

                              <u>Totally </u> commercial free museum and visitors center<BR>

          Preservation of the Battlefield and its viewshed<br>

                              Protection of and display of priceless civil war artifacts<br>

$10 million gross revenue per year<p>

                               All  without federal funds<P>

 <U>Results of a Flawed Process</U><P>


Destroys hallowed  ground  and viewshed of the battlefield  and  severely compromises the mission of the NPS and the RFP criteria 
with commercial activity including  food court, bus terminal, arts and crafts shop theater, and retail sales area.<P>

Mr. Secretary,  our local paper today reported you as aysing that you will not review the selection process because procedures are in
place  for such review.   We agree procedures are in place BUT they are being totally  ignored in blatant violation of federal  law and
procurement procedures.  As such we are calling on you to initiate a formal congressional investigation and congressional intervention
of this process and to take all immediate and necessary steps to stop this process so that the American people can be given the facts
and make informative comments and ensure we have a new museum and visitors center in  a commercial  free environment  protecting
the battlefield and its resources.<P>


Sincerely,<P>




Robert J  Monahan Jr<BR>

President<P>

                 cc: Robert Stanton, Director NPS<BR>

Congressman William Goodling
<BR>
Senator Arlen  Specter
<BR>
Senator  Rick Santorum
<BR>
                 Scott Heimberg, Attorney At Law<BR>