Jan. 20, 2001: Committee chosen for Hanford Reach

Committee chosen for Hanford Reach

This story was published Jan. 20, 2001

By Mike Lee
Herald staff writer

Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt selected a 13-member committee to chart the future of the Hanford Reach National Monument just before his term in office expired Friday.

Many committee members have close ties to the Reach or the 195,000 acres also encompassed by the monument. Longtime conservation advocates Rick Leaumont of Pasco and Rich Steele of Richland, for instance, were instrumental in convincing President Clinton to create the monument last summer.

Counties are represented by Benton Commission Chairman Leo Bowman, while Chris Jensen of the Pasco City Council represents cities.

"It's a very well-balanced group," said Jeff Haas, deputy project leader for the agency in Richland. "We wanted somebody who is familiar with the area and somebody who is used to dealing with complex situations - because this is going to be very complex."

Eventually, the committee's task will be to create a use plan for lands that have generated substantial controversy in the last two decades as development and environmental interests battled over the correct amount of federal control and public use.

But on Friday, the new committee's members talked mostly about finding consensus and working together.

"We all need to keep an open mind and try to leave the baggage that we ... all bring outside and sit down and really listen," said Dave Geist, senior research scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland.

Geist was one of three chosen to represent the scientific community. The others are Hanford historian Michelle Gerber and Gene Schreckhise, associate campus dean for Washington State University at Tri-Cities.

Scientific alternates are Dennis Dauble, natural resources manager at PNNL; Eric Gerber of Mid-Columbia Engineering; and Ed Rykiel, associate professor in the Environmental Science and Regional Planning Program at WSU-TC.

The committee is to advise the Fish and Wildlife Service on creation of the land-use plan for the monument, but the agency retains final authority.

The 13 members and 13 alternates are expected to serve about two years - or as long as it takes to finish a monument plan. The first meeting is planned this spring.

"It's going to take some time, but it's going to be worth it," Schreckhise said. "And I think it can be done in a way that satisfies the concerns of all the people involved."

Jim Watts, longtime Tri-City labor leader and board member on the Tri-City Industrial Development Council, said he'll continue to play peacemaker between environmentalists and county leaders - a role he adopted a few years ago to try to broker a compromise that eventually failed.

"I think we have a real valuable resource if it's used right," said Watts, representing the local economic perspective. "I want to see it so that it is usable - so that people can enjoy it ... so that they just don't lock it up and throw away the key."

Harold Heacock, Hanford programs manager for TRIDEC, is Watts' alternate.

Bowman said he would wait to form opinions about the plan until he hears from the rest of the committee. "If I can't understand someone else and appreciate (their needs), we are going to be deadlocked on issues," said Bowman. Commissioner Frank Brock of Franklin County was selected as the county government alternate.

Jeff Tayer, south-central regional manager for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, is the state representative. Ron Skinnarland of the Department of Ecology is his alternate.

Richland Mayor Bob Thompson is Jensen's backup for the city sector.

The tribes are represented first by Robert Tomanawash and by alternate Rex Buck, both of the Wanapum Band.

Doug Ancona of Grant Public Utility District is the utility-irrigation voice, supported by Nancy Craig, also of Grant PUD.

PNNL science education specialist Karen Wieda represents K-12 education interests. Her alternate is Royace Aikin, who oversees PNNL programs to bring together students, teachers and scientists on research projects.

Mike Lilga, a leader in the Tapteal Greenway river preservation campaign, backs up Leaumont in the conservation community. And Mike Weimers of Richland is Steele's alternate for outdoor recreation.

The at-large representative is Kris Watkins, executive director of the Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau. Valoria Loveland, former state senator from Pasco, is the alternate.

Seventy people applied for the committee.