Carnation Wastewater Treatment Facility

Project Background

Siting Process

Facility Alternatives

Project Library

Siting Process

How was a location for the facility selected?

Beginning in January 2003, King County conducted extensive public involvement activities for the project. These activities included:

• Four Citizen Advisory Committee meetings on facility siting, to get input on the development and application of siting criteria, and on the results of the siting process
• Six community meetings to provide information about the project, get input on the treatment process and discharge options and explain the decision process and factors
• Preparation of a draft and final environmental impact statement (EIS), with opportunities for agency and public comment on the issues and alternatives addressed in the EIS. The Final EIS was issued in October 2004.

Because King County must ensure the facility meets all applicable regulations, the King County Executive was responsible for the final decision on the treatment plant site, conveyance route and discharge location. The decisions were based on the environmental analysis as well as other factors including cost, community considerations, engineering and policy issues.

King County and the City of Carnation worked together on establishing a decision process based on the factors above. In addition, the County Executive carefully considered comments from the City of Carnation, government agencies and community members in making the decision.

In December 2004, the County Executive selected the city-owned site west of downtown at the west end of Entwistle Street for the new wastewater treatment plant. The County Executive also eliminated further consideration of the upland discharge alternative. The river discharge is currently being permitted as the first phase of the project. The wetland discharge is still being pursued and will be constructed as a second phase of the project. Funding, landowner agreements and regulatory requirements need to be negotiated for the wetland discharge to become a reality.

For More Information

• Refer to the project timeline for next steps.
• For further information on the siting process, refer to Why were the Treatment Plant Site and Discharge Alternatives Chosen?