Local Interests Should Help Manage The Hanford Reach

We face a unique and critical opportunity in the history of the Columbia Basin: the future protection and management of Hanford Reach and much of the acreage of the Hanford Site. The Reach is a 51-mile stretch of the Columbia River that runs between the Priest Rapids Dam and the reservoir behind the McNary Dam.

In general, everyone agrees that the goal is to manage the Hanford Reach to protect and enhance plant, fish and wildlife resources; to protect cultural resources; to provide for continued recreational and other compatible uses within the corridor; and to improve visitor understanding of the Reach’s unique resources.

The central question is who should be responsible for managing the Reach?

On Friday, Vice President Al Gore announced that the Reach and surrounding lands will be designated a national monument, forever placing management in the hands of federal officials. A couple of weeks ago, Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt toured the Reach with environmental group representatives and tribe members. Babbitt also briefly met with county commissioners from the area. Babbitt and other federal officials say the Reach needs immediate federal protection. However, some suggest the immediacy is more likely due to national politics - in this case, a lame-duck president who wants to throw his environmental supporters a bone.

The Reach is already permanently protected from damming, dredging, or channeling of any kind as a result of Public Law 104-333 - written by U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings and passed by Congress in 1996. Consequently, there was no pressing reason for national monument designation at this time. There was time to find a fair resolution short of complete federal control.

County officials have argued the best way to protect the Reach would be through a shared management approach that encourages the meaningful participation of local, state, tribal and federal interests. This approach recognizes that all levels of government have a role and interest. Shared management means all parties would be partners in setting policy to protect the Reach and associated lands. In 1995, the counties convened a citizens advisory panel to develop specific management goals and actions for the Reach in an open public process. This three-year effort resulted in the Interim Action Plan - a blueprint for managing the Reach that proposed a Hanford Reach Commission and a process to develop a long-range protection and management plan. This effort was largely ignored by federal agencies.

History shows us that decisions made by federal managers in the Hanford area have often resulted in significant and direct impacts to our local families and communities. Consequently, local participation in decision making is critical to ensure that the concerns of our local communities are brought forward and addressed in advance of any policy decisions. It seems only fair that local interests are fully involved in decisions that impact their communities. Who would want to live in a place without any say?

Under designation as a national monument, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will control the river and designated uplands. You may remember that the FWS is the one federal agency that publicly supports breaching the Snake River dams and has often preferred a heavy-handed approach in working with local interests.

Moreover, a December 1999 survey of FWS refuge managers found that refuges suffer from poor leadership, inadequate staffing and low funding. Even the National Audubon Society has called FWS refuges the “black sheep of the federal lands system.” The U.S. Department of Energy apparently will continue to manage areas not contracted to the FWS.

In short, the federal government will make all the decisions regarding the Hanford Reach and surrounding lands, and although it may seek local input, it won’t be obligated or required to consider our perspective.

And that’s where the problem begins. We think it is unfair and irresponsible to exclude local people from the decision making and management of an area that has proven to greatly impact our quality of life. Management of these lands should be placed in the hands of a partnership that allots all government agencies - federal, state, local and tribal - a seat at the decision-making table. Under this scenario, local concerns would be heard and addressed on such fundamental issues as water rights, revenue impacts to local governments, resource management, recreational opportunities, public access, fire management, law enforcement and weed control.

Everyone agrees the Hanford Reach is an important resource that deserves protection. We invite the Clinton administration and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray to create partnership that include local, state, federal and tribal interests.

By working with local people on a shared management approach, the federal government could demonstrate its commitment to listen and work with our communities on significant issues of the day. Isn’t that what the people elected us to do?