Yes, that is the history but it is not an “Indian Reservation”. It is a federal government reservation of a different kind. This designation was made in the 40s a little before my parents moved here. There is a great deal of deserved respect given to the tribes. Most of the laboratory and communications facilities on top of Rattlesnake Mountain recently were removed at their behest.
Still windy over here today.
It still makes the tribal connection to the clean-up a significant issue for the Democrats, especially since they are supporting the coal against the Lummi Nation’s opposition. The Democrats always want to appear as supporting the tribes, especially when support for the tribes is in conflict with the rural property owners, like on the water issue.
This whole Hanford issue is way too political for there to be any good solution, just like the sequestration. Just be aware that the tanks are not yet really leaking, only leaking into the double wall.
The wind ended here last night and the sun is shining, so you should be in for some good weather by tomorrow.
A little background on the connection between the tribes and the coal and the tribes at Hanford might be helpful. The contractor that was hired by Goldman Sachs to work on the terminal site, violated the permitting rules and began digging before any permit was granted. The contractor dug up an Indian burial ground, a Lummi Indian burial site. An outside official was brought in to study the issue and arbitrate a settlement. The Lummi turned down the money because the outside archeologist stated in his report that the site of terminal was of important historical significance to the Lummi because it was the site where the Lummis entered the land by boat. It was the gateway into the region, one of the few no bank sites along the coast. Anyway, the coal terminal would permanently destroy everything that the tribe values about the region. So, the tribe is opposing the terminal and the Democrats are supporting it. Inslee has said that he only supports it if it can be proven that it will not negatively impact the region environmentally. Weasel words.
So, that is why the Hanford mess is being demagogued, once again.