BENTON COUNTY, Wash. – The Hanford Advisory Board (HAB) invites community members to help with the cleanup at the Hanford site. The HAB allows community members to provide advice and recommendations on policy matters related to the Hanford cleanup process.
Ryan Miller, Communications Manager for the Department of Ecology, emphasized the importance of the board.
“The Hanford Advisory Board is a really great way to get involved with Hanford. You get updates on cleanup. You’re going to hear about the progress being made out on the site. You could hear about the challenges that are being faced by the agencies at the site. And they have a chance to work with other groups, other members of the public,” Miller said.
The HAB works with the Department of Ecology, the Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency to guide decisions for the Hanford cleanup project. Out of the 38 positions on the board, 10 are reserved for public representatives. There are no educational or employment requirements to join.
Miller says the number of open seats for the upcoming term is still unknown. Accepted applicants will begin serving on the board next October. Applications are due Dec. 6.
Ed Dawson, with the Hanford Office of Communications, explained the board’s inclusive nature.
“It’s meant to be a very diverse board to get a diverse viewpoint from the community most affected by the cleanup work that we’re doing at Hanford,” Dawson said.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the HAB which has submitted 319 pieces of advice throughout its history. The HAB must come to a consensus on the advice before submitting it to the three agencies.
It’s a non-paid position to join the HAB. Each term is two years of service, with a maximum of three terms. More information can be found on the Department of Ecology’s website.
