WA to Get New National Historical Park...Hanford

[bigtex]

After years of lobbying by Rep Doc Hastings it looks like his prized "Manhattan Project National Historical Park" looks to be becoming real. This bill has been added to the 2014 Defense Program Authorization bill that is set to pass both houses of Congress and be signed by the President by the end of the year. Numerous other land bills were added to this bill.

The proposed park would include numerous facilities at Hanford, as well as sites in New Mexico, and Tennessee.

[KFhunter]

= no more hunting?

[Special T]

Just more Pork

[bigtex]

= no more hunting?

The current legislation (and all past bills) have been more for preserving infrastructure, not mass amount of land. So this isn't going to turn all of Hanford into a NHP, but rather several buildings, and maybe some of the surrounding land. Now the bill doesn't say that in 20, 50, etc years that more land can't be added to the park, it just says that from the start, it should just be the buildings, and those buildings are listed in the bill.

[bigtex]

The National Defense Authorization Act passed the House today. It will go to the Senate for vote next week and then to the President.

[boneaddict]

I am unfamiliar with the park designation or process and how it will effect things out there.   For me I see a large chunk of land that I would love to photograph on, but there is no admittance, yet somehow a bunch of tribal guys get out there to kill bulls.   What it means to be a monument verus a park etc, and or how National security is involved

[bigtex]

I am unfamiliar with the park designation or process and how it will effect things out there.   For me I see a large chunk of land that I would love to photograph on, but there is no admittance, yet somehow a bunch of tribal guys get out there to kill bulls.   What it means to be a monument verus a park etc, and or how National security is involved

You'll get more access but it'll mainly be for the historic infrastructure, not just a free for all go drive wherever. Basically just imagine it turning into a museum for a few buildings.

As part of the big bill Hastings did include mandating that the USFWS allow access to Rattlesnake Mountain on the current USFWS monument. Currently only tribal members are allowed on the mountain for their religiuos events.

[bigtex]

The bill was passed by Congress and is waiting for the President's signature.

[Bean Counter]

Woohoo!!! More federal control over what could ostensibly be managed by state and local interests. 

I can't wait for the Dear Leader to assume control over my 401(k). 

[400out]

I wonder if they will open the city in rattle snake mnt. for tours! 

[400out]

= no more hunting?

what hunting?

[bigtex]

Woohoo!!! More federal control over what could ostensibly be managed by state and local interests. 

I did receive a briefing statement on the park.

The land will stay under the control/ownership of the Dept of Energy. The National Park Service will simply run the education, interpretation, etc of the several sites that are now part of the park. If the day comes (pretty sure we will all be dead) that the DOE no longer needs the area, the NPS can then take on the land ownership role of only those selected sites within the park. Additionally, under long standing federal law the DOE can also simply transfer land to the NPS like any other administrative transfer. There are only about 5 actual buildings/sites within the Hanford portion of the multi-state park.

[csaaphill]

  guess we will see.

[Sandberm]

I'm not an expert on this piece of legislation but what Doc is trying to do is preserve some of the History of the Hanford Reservation and open up the top of Rattlesnake mountain to the public. Currently access to the area by the general public is not permited so no hunting rights are being taken away, in fact there will be at least some access.

What gets the headlines in this deal is being able to get to the top of Rattlesnake Mountain which is the highest "peak" around. Very few people have been up there. The views are supposed to be spectacular. I guess the Indians, who gained access to the peak I think in the late nineties are not too happy with everybody else being granted access to their sacred spot.

I think its cool. Ive been staring at that mountain my whole life wanting to go up there. I think, along with a road to the top there also are thoughts of having a hiking trail for those who want the challenge of hiking to the top.

From a hunting perspective, this opening of limited space on the Hanford reservation for siteseeing may be the first small step toward some limited hunting of the numerous elk that wander around there. At least thats my opinion.

[300rum]

No doubt the tribes were waiting to make a play on this.  Hopefully this will block them from making a claim to the land when/if it ever comes out of the vacuum it is in.