H-1396.1          _______________________________________________

                             HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 4016

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              54th Legislature             1995 Regular Session

By Representatives Hankins, Honeyford, Delvin, Grant, Blanton, Ebersole, Lisk, Cairnes, Mastin, Sheahan, Chandler, Robertson, Schoesler and Mulliken

Read first time 02/03/95.  Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

Requesting Hanford site lands for preservation by the state.

     TO THE HONORABLE BILL CLINTON, 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, AND TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY;

     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, The Fitzner-Eberhardt Arid Lands Ecology Reserve and the lands north of the Columbia River at the Hanford site are no longer necessary for Department of Energy purposes; and

     WHEREAS, These sites have provided a unique opportunity, due to their relatively undisturbed environments over the past several centuries, for researchers such as Dick Fitzner and Les Eberhardt, for whom the Reserve was named, to document:  A naturally functioning shrub-steppe ecosystem; the sensitive wildlife species such as elk, deer, eagles, salmon, waterfowl, and raptorial birds that live there; and how the ecosystem can change over time; and

     WHEREAS, Over the past thirty years this research has allowed an understanding of baseline conditions needed to design mitigation and restoration efforts for natural communities; and

     WHEREAS, The sagebrush/bluebunch wheatgrass community, the native vegetation of these areas, is the state of Washington's seconmost endangered ecosystem; and

     WHEREAS, Since 1967, when the Arid Lands Ecology Reserve lands were set aside, it has been intended that these areas be used "to preserve shrub-steppe habitat and vegetation" through ecological research and education;

     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the Fitzner-Eberhardt Arid Lands Ecology Reserve and the lands north of the Columbia River at the Hanford site be placed in custody of the State of Washington, to be managed by the State to preserve the lands' ecological system for research and education.

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

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