Officials from the National Park Service and Department of Energy toured Hanford in mid-April to make plans for the new park. The Manhattan Project National Historical Park will be established officially when the Departments of Interior and Energy reach an agreement over their respective roles and responsibilities. The deadline for the agreement is December 2015.
In a Tri-City Herald article, Annette Cary noted, “Retired Rep. Doc Hastings said he had just one request of the National Park Service during a community open house Wednesday in Richland for the new Manhattan Project National Historical Park. If historic B Reactor could be built in 18 months, then DOE and the National Park Service should be able to have the new national park operating in 17 months and two weeks, Hastings said.”
Work on restoration projects and interpretative exhibits for the Manhattan Project Park will depend upon Congressional funding and could take several years. In the meantime, Victor Knox said NPS will do all it can to support and improve the tours of B Reactor already offered by DOE. Over the past decade, AHF has collaborated with the B Reactor Museum Association to produce exhibits and films on display at the B Reactor as well as Ranger in Your Pocket online tours of Hanford. The NPS has praised this approach as they work to set up the park.