BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

TO THE HONORABLE WILLIAM J. 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 DIRECTOR OF THE 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 fifty-one mile stretch of the Columbia River known as the Hanford Reach provides eighty percent of the fall Chinook salmon in the river system, critical habitat for wildlife, a high-quality waterfowl sanctuary, and numerous scenic, historic, and recreational opportunities for the public; and

WHEREAS, In order to help preserve and protect the unique environmental benefits of the region, Congress prohibited damming, dredging, channeling, and other such activities along the Hanford Reach in 1996 by enacting Public Law 104-333; and

WHEREAS, The land surrounding the Hanford Reach should be properly managed in order to protect plant, fish, wildlife, cultural, recreational, and scenic resources, while preserving access to these lands; and

WHEREAS, Recognizing the unique and pristine values of the area, local citizens in cooperation with federal and state authorities have developed a comprehensive protection plan which has enhanced salmon habitat along the Hanford Reach through the Vernita Bar Agreement which preserves the free flowing, riparian character of the Hanford Reach and serves as a blueprint for further successful management along the Columbia River; and

WHEREAS, Although numerous local, state, and federal environmental protection and management laws and regulations exist for the Hanford Reach, management efforts can be better integrated and can lead to more efficient use of public resources and improved habitat and recreation management; and

WHEREAS, Several of the areas adjacent to the Hanford Reach, including lands known as the Wahluke Slope, currently owned by the United States, have been extensively studied and reviewed through environmental impact statements and have been found to be environmentally sound and certified suitable for conveyance; and

WHEREAS, Since federal financial resources are constrained, joint partnerships among federal, state, and local entities can provide long-term habitat and wildlife management, maintain recreational opportunities, and develop a responsible and environmentally sound local land use plan for the region; and

WHEREAS, The people and governments of Benton, Franklin, Grant, and Adams Counties desire to enter into such a partnership with the State of Washington and the United States to ensure the continued protection of plant, fish, wildlife, cultural, recreational, and scenic resources on the lands surrounding the Hanford Reach; and

WHEREAS, Such cooperative partnership will provide a forum for public input from the entire region and will ensure the long-term protection of the river as wild, scenic, and accessible;

NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that Congress create a Hanford Reach Protection and Management Commission that grants local residents an authoritative voice rather than an advisory role in the protection and management of lands in the Hanford Reach area, as reflected in H.R. 1811.

BE IT RESOLVED, That lands owned by the United States in the Hanford Reach area be conveyed to the State of Washington and to Adams, Grant, and Franklin Counties for management as prescribed and authorized in H.R. 1811; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Hanford Reach Protection and Management Commission develop and implement a plan to manage the lands so conveyed to protect and enhance plant resources, fish and wildlife resources, cultural resources, recreational access, and other uses or resources; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable William J. Clinton, President of the United States, the Director of the 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.