Interpretive Center Looking for New Site

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Story Published: Nov 16, 2009 at 9:20 PM PDT

By Molly Kelleher

RICHLAND -- As 2009 winds down a big deadline is coming up for the Hanford Reach Interpretive Center. There needs to be a new site for the Reach.

This year the group working on the project hit a major speed bump when tribes told them to build somewhere else.

There are five sites being considered for the multimillion-dollar museum.

Three years ago, there was a lot of talk of opportunity and possibility for the museum to highlight our region.

The Hanford interpretive center was supposed to go on land in Richland's Columbia Point.

It was supposed to be done by next year, but then bureaucracy got in the way.

"It was not unexpected but it was a disappointment at our last meeting. The tribes said 'We support the project just don't build at this location,' " said Reach CEO Kimberly Camp.

With the tribes saying no, it is forcing the Reach to come up with other options for the museum.

It's not exactly back to the drawing board, just back to a search for another site.

That's now the talk at the Richland Public Utilities District and the clock is ticking on the decision.

The goal is to have a site picked by the end of the year so they can start building in 2010.

We now know the board has narrowed it down to five alternative sites.

But we don't know where in Richland they're talking about.

The meeting Monday went into executive session, meaning no media because the real estate deal includes both private and public land.

"We want to make sure the alternatives we pick get construction up and running as soon as possible," said Camp.

And Camp said it's important for the public to see the progress.

They're still trying to get locals to donate -- and seeing is believing.

"$15 million left to go and when you see something come out of the ground it's easier to step up to the plate," said Camp.

Action News did get tipped off to one possible site. Before the panel went into executive session, there was a mention of a meeting with WSU Tri-Cities chancellor and that the university is offering up some of their land as a possible site for the interpretive center.

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