RICHLAND, Wash. - Energy Secretary Rick Perry and Deputy Secretary Dan Brouillette each visited the Hanford Site recently to view cleanup progress and meet with workers, elected and Tribal leaders, and other stakeholders.
“It is a privilege for me to be here today," Secretary Perry said to a gathering of approximately 200 employees simulcast to workers at other site facilities. “The DOE’s mission here is incredibly important, and coming to this site was very important for me."
Secretary Perry noted the important roles Hanford and other EM sites played in World War II and the Cold War.
“I hope that you appreciate the part of American history that you are engaged in," he said during the all-employee meeting.
U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (Washington) and Congressmen Dan Newhouse (Washington) and Greg Walden (Oregon) joined the Secretary for portions of the visit. During their respective visits, Secretary Perry and Deputy Secretary Brouillette toured several Hanford projects, including the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant, Plutonium Finishing Plant, Volpentest Hazardous Materials Management and Emergency Response Federal Training Facility, tank farms, and Waste Encapsulation and Storage Facility.
In a meeting hosted by the DOE State and Tribal Government Working Group, Secretary Perry introduced himself to the leaders of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Wanapum Band of Indians, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and Nez Perce Tribe.
The Secretary listened to the Tribal leaders’ perspectives on the cultural and religious significance of many areas of the Hanford Site. The leaders told Secretary Perry their people have lived and thrived around Hanford for thousands of years. Wanapum leader Rex Buck noted that several of his ancestors were born near what is now the site of Hanford's B Reactor National Historic Landmark. Asa Washines, an elected leader of the Yakama Nation, explained that the Yakama have had a "long history when it comes to Hanford" and that "Tribal members are on the front lines" in wanting to help protect Tribal interests.
Umatilla Trustee Board Member Woodrow Star said that the Tribes have the "experience, knowledge, and culture to help the government take care of this land," and willingness to help DOE make better cleanup decisions. Chairwoman Miles of the Nez Perce Tribe expressed appreciation for how EM’s Richland Operations Office "reached out to the Tribes and listened" to their concerns and desires for the future of Hanford.
Acknowledging his responsibility to "be a good steward" of Hanford, Secretary Perry thanked each Tribe for meeting with him. The Secretary said it will be a great privilege to work with the Tribes and added that the meeting “was the start of a long, productive relationship." The Tribal leaders conveyed their appreciation to the Secretary for taking time to visit with them.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Environmental Management
