May 3, 2002: Reach 'friends' look to organize

Reach 'friends' look to organize

This story was published May 3, 2002

By Mike Lee
Herald staff writer

Faced with the possibility of losing large donations, a core group of community leaders aims to establish a nonprofit organization to accept money and land for enhancing the Hanford Reach National Monument.

The issue now is finding a way to do that without creating a conflict of interest and still align a new organization with the goals of the Fish and Wildlife Service and its formal citizens advisory committee.

Walking that line may prove difficult.

Jim Watts, chairman of the citizens committee, broached the subject immediately after ending Thursday's committee meeting in Richland.

He said the Mid-Columbia needs an official organization to administer an existing $250,000 federal grant as well as offers of land for a Reach visitors center.

Also, he hopes to direct donations by Hanford cleanup contractors toward a top-rate Reach visitors center that also could serve as a community headquarters for educational and scientific efforts on the 200,000-acre monument.

"It's like you don't have a pocket to put your marbles in," said Watts, suggesting creation of a Friends of the Monument organization.

There are a few hundred "friends" groups for national wildlife refuges across the nation, said Rick Leaumont, a regional conservation leader.

"Now is the time to get money from large corporate donors," he said, referring to the massive Hanford vitrification project that is injecting hundreds of millions of dollars into the Tri-City economy.

The concept was well-received by committee members, who nonetheless quickly showed concern about a potential conflict of interest if committee members lead the "friends" effort.

The committee advises the Fish and Wildlife Service on the Reach management plan, which may include the location of a visitors center.

It may be possible to use an existing nonprofit group to support the Reach, but that would pose its own political challenges.

"We have to make sure that we maintain our independence," said committee member Gene Schreckhise of Washington State University, which reportedly is interested in having a visitors center at its north Richland campus. "I think you want a totally neutral organization."