[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 3, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S3365]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MATTHEW McCORMICK

 Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, I wish to pay tribute to a 
devoted public servant as he retires from a career at the U.S. 
Department of Energy and U.S. Navy. Matthew S. McCormick has dedicated 
32 years in service to our Nation, including 11 years--the last 4 as 
manager--at the Richland Operations Office at the Hanford Nuclear 
Reservation in my home State of Washington.
  A graduate of Montana State University, Mr. McCormick began his civil 
career as a nuclear engineer for the U.S. Navy. After he worked on the 
Naval Reactor's Program, Mr. McCormick moved to the Department of 
Energy serving in multiple different capacities in the Office of 
Environmental Management and with the Savanah River Site and Rocky 
Flats Environmental Technology Site. His time there taught him the 
value of environmental cleanup, and was critical to his next job as 
assistant manager for the Central Plateau in the Richland Operations 
Office. He proved himself in this role, and was named manager of the 
Richland Operations Office in 2010.
  It is clear to me that Washington State has benefitted from Mr. 
McCormick's leadership. As a part of the Manhattan Project, the Hanford 
Nuclear Reservation produced plutonium from 1944 until 1987. The people 
of the Tri-Cities sacrificed for the strength and safety of our Nation, 
and cleanup of the Hanford site is an ongoing challenge. Mr. McCormick 
has shown tremendous dedication to this task, and has helped ensure 
that the cleanup efforts at Hanford continue to move forward in a 
meaningful and timely fashion.
  Mr. McCormick was part of the team that set forward a path to protect 
the Columbia River and reduce the active footprint of the Hanford site 
by focusing on cleanup projects along the shoreline under the 2015 
Vision. During his tenure, the remaining plutonium left in the 
Plutonium Finishing Plant after the Cold War was stabilized, packaged, 
and shipped offsite and out of the State of Washington. Cleanup was 
completed at the first reactor area--F Reactor, and a total of seven of 
nine nuclear reactors were placed in interim safe storage. Significant 
progress has been made in protecting the Columbia River from 
contaminated groundwater through the construction of the 200 West Pump 
and Treat Facility in the Central Plateau and three new pump and treat 
facilities along the Columbia River. Most importantly, Mr. McCormick 
has strived to ensure that local communities, tribal nations, and 
stakeholders know their voices are being heard.
  Mr. McCormick's success in carrying out the cleanup mission at 
Hanford was aided by his ability to build relationships, including with 
me and members of my staff. When he was made manager almost 4 years 
ago, I knew that the Tri-Cities community and Washington State as a 
whole could count on his leadership. Today I join with others 
throughout the Pacific Northwest in thanking him for his years of 
service. I congratulate Mr. McCormick on his retirement, and wish him 
the best of luck in moving forward.

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