SENATE BILL REPORT

                           HJM 4007

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES, MARCH 22, 1993

Brief Description:  Petitioning Congress and the Secretary of Energy to name the Hanford and Lands Ecology Reserve after Richard Fitzner and Les Eberhardt.

SPONSORS: Representatives Bray, Ludwig, Lisk, Grant, Mastin and Rayburn

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Sutherland, Chairman; Jesernig, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Hochstatter, Owen, Roach, A. Smith, West, and Williams.

Staff:  Phil Moeller (786‑7445)

Hearing Dates: March 22, 1993

BACKGROUND:

The Hanford Arid Lands Ecology Reserve was established in 1967 as a buffer area and as a study control area.  The Ecology Reserve is made up of approximately 120 square miles on the Western border of the site between State Route 240 and Rattlesnake Ridge.

Dr. Les Eberhardt and Dr. Dick Fitzner were research scientists at Battelle. Both spent considerable time conducting wildlife studies on the Hanford Arid Lands Ecology Reserve.  Dr. Eberhardt and Dr. Fitzner lost their lives in a plane crash on June 3, 1992.

SUMMARY:

The House of Representatives and the Senate petition the President, Congress and the Secretary of Energy to change the name of the Hanford Arid Lands Ecology Reserve to the Fitzner and Eberhardt Arid Lands Reserve.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

The Arid Lands Ecology Report is a unique natural laboratory.  Dr. Eberhardt and Dr. Fitzner were dedicated researchers who studied this area extensively.  Naming this area after them would be a fitting tribute to their lives.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Representative Bray, prime sponsor; Larry Rader, Battelle; Lynn Eberhardt