Environmental Commitment Six Honored As State ‘Heroes’

Three of six Washington state activists named “environmental heroes” by the state’s largest environmental coalition are from east of the Cascades.

They have fought to preserve the last free-flowing stretch of the Columbia River near Hanford, combat urban sprawl in Kittitas County and oppose chemical leach mining in north central Washington.

Jennifer Belcher, Washington’s public lands commissioner, presented the $250 awards at a Washington Environmental Council dinner Friday night in Seattle. The winners are:

Richard Steele, a Richland engineer fighting to preserve the 51-mile Hanford Reach of the Columbia from dams and development.

David Kliegman of the Okanogan Highlands Alliance, for his campaign to oppose Battle Mountain Gold Co.’s proposed gold mine near Chesaw, which would use tons of cyanide to leach gold from rock.

Mike Williams, an Ellensburg city councilman who has promoted the state Growth Management Act as a way to protect agricultural lands.

Karen Hamalainen and Sandra Worthington, sisters who inherited the Cama Beach Resort on Camano Island in 1990. They have worked to deed the scenic property to the state by 1997 for a public park and environmental learning center.

Janet Dawes, vice president of the Nisqually Delta Association, who has fought to protect the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.

The “hero” awards are a first for the environmental coalition, which works with 105 grass-roots groups statewide.

“We decided it was time to start recognizing people who are out there every day doing this kind of work,” said Joan Crooks, WEC executive director.

A panel of five chose the winners from hundreds of nominations. It included Bart Haggin of Spokane, an environmental activist and public radio commentator.

, DataTimes