ECA Update: Moniz, Jewell Hold Signing Ceremony for Manhattan Project National Historical Park
Published: Tue, 11/10/15
Moniz, Jewell Hold Signing Ceremony for Manhattan Project National Historical Park ECA Staff *Watch the Recorded Ceremony Here* *View Photos from the Ceremony Here* On Tuesday, November 10, 2015, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Moniz and U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Jewell held a ceremony to sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) officially establishing the Manhattan Project National Historical Park in Washington, D.C. Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) and its member communities have worked for almost ten years to see the creation of Manhattan Project National Historical Park. Leaders of the communities that will host the Park will attend the ceremony. ECA Vice-Chair and Mayor of Kennewick (WA) Steve Young said, “Our communities are honored to be working together to tell the story of the Manhattan Project. The Park creates a real opportunity to preserve history while realizing the benefits the Park’s heritage tourism industry will create for our communities.” Mayor of Richland (WA) David Rose added, “Not only is the creation of the Park going to preserve our nation’s history, they will tell the untellable Manhattan Project.” ECA Treasurer and Los Alamos County (NM) Council Chair Kristin Henderson stated, “The Manhattan Project is an important story in our nation’s history and our communities appreciate the leadership of our senators and congressional members in ensuring that this story will be told to future generations.” ECA Secretary and Roane County (TN) Executive Ron Woody said, “The Manhattan Project National Historical Park will give current and future generations a better understanding of this indisputable turning point in world history. We look forward to telling that story together.” Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch commented, “The science of the Manhattan Project laid the foundation for innovation in fields such as nuclear medicine and clean energy, which has enhanced the quality of our lives, helped keep us competitive in a global economy, and maintained our national security.” ECA Chair and Aiken County (SC) Councilman Chuck Smith said, “All of our energy communities support the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, because it will identify and share an important moment in our history.” “The leadership of the local governments and their congressional members along with DOE and NPS has made this a reality. The real winners are the communities and the thousands of hardworking men and women at Los Alamos, Oak Ridge, and Hanford that helped bring an end to World War II and the future generations that will learn about their contribution to our country,” added ECA Executive Director Seth Kirshenberg. The Manhattan Project National Historical Park Act became law as part of a provision passed in the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act. The Park establishes three different sites in Los Alamos, New Mexico; Oak Ridge, Tennessee; and Hanford, Washington. The park will conserve historic sites and artifacts that played a key role during the nuclear era while telling the story of the world’s first atomic bomb and exploring its historical and societal consequences. Who: U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Sally Jewell U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) The following ECA members participated at the ceremony. ECA members: |
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