[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 27 (Monday, March 6, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1787-S1788]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING ROCKY FLATS COALITION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

 Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I wish to honor and celebrate the 
accomplishments and service of an outstanding civic organization, the 
Rocky Flats Coalition of Local Governments. Having accomplished its 
task of working with Federal and State officials to transform Rocky 
Flats from a nuclear weapons facility to a wildlife refuge, the 
coalition will cease to exist on March 6, 2006. It is fitting that we 
pause to reflect on and to learn from the record of service and success 
of the governments and people of this coalition.
  The Rocky Flats Coalition of Local Governments was established in 
February 1999 by agreement of the seven local governments that 
neighbored the Rocky Flats nuclear production site in central 
Colorado--Boulder County, Jefferson County, the city and county of 
Broomfield, the city of Arvada, the city of Boulder, the city of 
Westminster, and the town of Superior. The coalition was formed to 
serve as the representative of these local communities and to advise 
the State and Federal governments in the cleanup and closure of Rocky 
Flats and the future use of the site.
  Since its inception, the coalition has provided an effective vehicle 
for communities to work together on issues such as workforce safety, 
outreach, and advocacy, as well as future use and long-term stewardship 
of the site. The Rocky Flats Coalition of Local Governments created a 
forum for governments and elected officials to come together to 
proactively discuss and address extremely complex issues and 
contributed to a rapid, successful, and cost effective resolution. The 
Rocky Flats Coalition of Local Governments has shown us by example what 
can be accomplished through effective advocacy expressed in a spirit of 
cooperation.
  As Colorado's attorney general, I worked closely with the coalition 
to refine cleanup standards to better match community interests. 
Together, we developed strategies to address long-term management needs 
of Rocky Flats, issues concerning mineral rights, and other concerns 
central to the protection of Rocky Flats as an asset for future 
generations. The coalition also worked with Senator Allard and 
Congressman Udall in developing and securing the passage of The Rocky 
Flats National Wildlife Refuge Act of 2001, one of their most 
significant achievements, and a milestone in the history of the Rocky 
Flats cleanup.
  I rise today not only to recognize the Rocky Flats Coalition of Local 
Governments but also to celebrate the successful completion of its work 
and to acknowledge the significance of the coalition's accomplishments 
to the State of Colorado and to the Nation. The site has come a long 
way since the closure of the weapons plant that once stood there. After 
years of cleanup, hazardous material disposal, and rehabilitation, the 
Rocky Flats nuclear weapons facility is well on its way to becoming the 
Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge.

[[Page S1788]]

  The dissolution of this coalition coincides with the completion of 
the physical cleanup and the beginning of the process to transfer 
oversight over much of the site from the Department of Energy to the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. As the focus of efforts shifts from 
cleanup to future management, the members of the coalition now join 
with other local governments, organizations, and individual 
representatives to form the Rocky Flats Stewardship Council, which will 
continue local oversight of postclosure plans for the site. The 
Stewardship Council will facilitate ongoing discussion between Federal 
and local officials and will ensure that the best interests of Colorado 
citizens will be served as Rocky Flats makes its transition to wildlife 
refuge.
  For their devoted advocacy of the interests of fellow citizens, for 
the work they have done to ensure the safe and thorough cleanup of the 
Rocky Flats weapons facility, for the example that they have given us 
of what can be accomplished when governments work together, and for the 
tremendous success they have helped to achieve at Rocky Flats, I offer 
my sincere thanks and congratulations to the members of the Rocky Flats 
Coalition of Local Governments.

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