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Agency seeks Hanford Reach Monument ideasThis story was published July 30, 2002 By the Herald staff The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking ideas from the public as it develops a plan to guide management of the Hanford Reach National Monument. Agency officials plan an open house in Richland and a series of public meetings in coming weeks to collect comments on management issues, concerns and opportunities. Specifically, the agency is looking for assistance developing a comprehensive conservation plan and environmental impact statement, which will set a long-range management vision for the monument, including resource protection, recreational uses, support facilities and programs. The open house is scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 14 at the monument office, 3250 Port of Benton Blvd. The public is invited to meet monument staff and receive information on the monument and the planning process. Public meetings about planning issues are: -- Aug. 28: Wahluke High School, 502 N. Boundary, Mattawa, 6-9 p.m. -- Sept. 5: Seattle Radisson Hotel, 17001 Pacific Highway S., Seattle, 6-9 p.m. -- Sept. 9: Consolidated Information Center at WSU Tri-Cities, 2770 University Drive, Richland, 4-9 p.m. -- Sept. 17: Yakima Convention Center, 10 N. Eighth St., 6-9 p.m. The agency will accept public comments until Oct. 12 on the scope of issues that should be addressed in the planning process and environmental impact statement. The monument was designated by presidential proclamation in June 2000. It consists of a ring of land bordering the Department of Energy's central Hanford site, including a 46-mile stretch of the Columbia River known as the Hanford Reach. During the process, the Fish and Wildlife service will consult with tribal governments and work with other government agencies. In addition, a citizens committee was formed to provide recommendations. For more information about the planning process, visit the Fish and Wildlife Service's Web site at http://pacific.fws.gov/planning/ | |