S-1245.1          _______________________________________________

                            SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8009

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1991 Regular Session

By Senators Hayner and Jesernig.

Read first time February 7, 1991.  Referred to Committee on Energy & Utilities.Requesting Congress to create a HAMMER training center at Hanford.

     TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:

     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

     WHEREAS, Chemicals and materials that may pose a threat to the environment and public health and safety are an everyday and indispensable part of our lives; and

     WHEREAS, Fire fighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency response personnel are potentially exposed to hazardous materials on a daily basis; and

     WHEREAS, New federal requirements under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration require hazardous materials emergency response training for several occupational groups; and

     WHEREAS, These occupational groups include law enforcement agencies, fire departments, emergency medical organizations, emergency management personnel, United States Department of Energy (USDOE) Patrol, USDOE fire departments, USDOE emergency medical personnel, USDOE emergency management; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to the groups for which training is required, the need exists for other emergency response groups to obtain comprehensive training related to hazardous materials response; and

     WHEREAS, Currently there is not a facility with the resources to provide adequate training required by federal and state law, especially as training relates to a realistic simulation of credible hazardous material accidents; and

     WHEREAS, The Hanford site would be an ideal site for a Hazardous Materials Management and Emergency Response (HAMMER) training center; and

     WHEREAS, The Hanford site contains an ample amount of federally owned isolated land with a mild climate; and

     WHEREAS, The Hanford site provides the advantage of a base of extensive technical expertise and training expertise as well as the existence of strong local and political support for enhancing hazardous materials response; and

     WHEREAS, A HAMMER training facility is consistent with the current site mission and could serve as the perfect program as Hanford becomes the USDOE flagship for site cleanup and environmental restoration activities; and

     WHEREAS, A HAMMER facility would produce a plethora of benefits to the Hanford site, the local USDOE response agencies, local emergency response entities, and hazardous materials response units throughout the state of Washington; and

     WHEREAS, A HAMMER facility could serve as a national resource for hazardous materials response training combining realistic field training with thorough and consistent classroom training;

     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the United States Congress support and fund legislation that would create a Hazardous Materials Management and Emergency Response training center at the Hanford reservation.

     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.