Miller Field Cultural Resources Investigations: Investigations on Miller Field - Gateway National Recreation Area, Staten Island, NY - in Connection with the South Shore of Staten Island Coastal Storm Risk Management Project REDACTED

First Environment, Inc. Linda Stone, RPA

This is a report on archaeological shovel test excavations and extant historic structures assessments associated with the Miller Field portion of the South Shore of Staten Island Coastal Storm Risk Management Project. This report is being prepared to comply with environmental review regulations and meets the standards of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (SHPO). The work was conducted for First Environment, Inc. under contract to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) by Linda Stone, RPA, Principal Investigator and David Berg, Historic Preservation Specialist of First Environment. The project included a ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey to identify the Seaplane Ramp, shovel testing a 12.3 acre area to look for any potentially significant archaeological resources, National Register of Historic Places eligibility assessment of the Fire Control Tower, and evaluating the Seaplane Ramp and Concrete Apron as contributing elements to the Miller Army Air Field Historic District. The GPR survey identified a target assumed to be the Seaplane Ramp, buried at least 6 feet (183 cm) deep. It was not encountered in two shovel tests placed within its footprint. In fact, no potentially significant archaeological resources were encountered during shovel testing. Recommendations for additional field work were made to expose and evaluate the Seaplane Ramp using backhoe trenching. The Miller Field Fire Control Tower should be retained, stabilized, included as a contributing element to the Miller Army Air Field Historic District, eventually restored and interpreted as part of a potential “Harbor Defenses of Southern New York Historic District.” Understanding the significance of the Miller Field Fire Control Tower is dependent on a full understanding of the entire system and of what components of this system remain. The Miller Field Historic District National Register registration form should be amended to include the Concrete Apron as a contributing resource. The feature should be stabilized and interpretive options considered. Once accepted by the review agencies, copies of this report will be on file with USACE, the National Park Service and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.