| November 5, 2002
News Release King County Executive Ron Sims today encouraged people to comment on the draft environmental impact statement for the planned Brightwater wastewater treatment facilities. King County is issuing the two-volume document November 6. "This is your opportunity to share information or ask questions about the Brightwater systems," Sims said. "My decision will be based on the merits of the sites so it is important that you attend one of the hearings, or send in written comments, and tell us what you think." King County's Wastewater Treatment Division is distributing about 60,000 copies of a 12-page summary of the draft EIS. That booklet, which includes a postage-paid card for commenting on the project, is going to people who live, work or own property in areas that may be affected by construction or operation of Brightwater facilities. Public comment must be received by King County by January 21, 2003 in order to be included in the final EIS. The comment period is more than double the 30 days required by state law. The deadline is about two week later than the date printed in a summary booklet mailed to residents. The planned Brightwater facilities will protect public health and the environment by treating wastewater from rapidly growing south Snohomish County and north King County. About 63 percent of the wastewater will come from Snohomish County. The Wastewater Treatment Division has been protecting water quality and cleaning wastewater for more than 40 years at two regional plants. Those plants are nearing capacity, so Brightwater must be operating by 2010. In a summary chapter and 17 detailed chapters, the draft EIS analyzes the characteristics, impacts and mitigation measures for the Brightwater alternatives. The alternatives were evaluated equally and include a treatment plant site next to State Route 9 north of Woodinville, a plant site at the former Unocal Corp. property in Edmonds, and a no-action alternative. The draft EIS also evaluates three alternative pipeline routes and two alternative outfall zones in Puget Sound. Depending on the route, the pipeline could run beneath Bothell, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, Shoreline, Brier, Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds and Woodway. The outfall zones are west of Edmonds and Shoreline. County Executive Sims in August identified a preferred alternative to help focus discussion of the draft EIS: the Route 9 site in Snohomish County with a deep pipeline tunnel below Northeast 195th Street in King County and an outfall zone at Point Wells. Sims stressed, however, that he has not made a final decision. He plans to make a decision next year after all impacts and mitigation measures for all the alternatives have been considered equally in the environmental review process. The final EIS, to be issued by mid-2003, will address questions and comments raised during the public comment period for the draft EIS. Using 172 maps, charts, photos and illustrations, the draft EIS analyzes the advantages and drawbacks of each alternative and proposes mitigation solutions to minimize disruptive impacts. The earth section, for example, looks at the alternatives for their individual geologic features, construction and required earthwork, and soil and groundwater conditions. The air section discusses odor-causing compounds in wastewater and various options for meeting the most stringent odor-control standards in the United States. The environmental health section discusses safety features at the plant during power outages, extreme weather, high tide and equipment failure. And it describes methods for disinfecting wastewater safely before discharging it to Puget Sound. Other sections describe proposed mitigation measures for Brightwater's impact on water, plants, animals, noise, glare, aesthetics and traffic - during both construction and operation. Multiple paper copies of the draft EIS will be available for review at public libraries. They also may be bought at a reduced cost of $50 each. CDs containing the EIS will be given free to anyone who asks for one. The entire EIS will also be available as a PDF file on King County's Brightwater Web site: http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wtd/brightwater/env/ To comment on the draft EIS, people can send written comments to Environmental Planning, KSC-NR-0505, King County Wastewater Treatment Division, 201 South Jackson Street, Seattle, WA 9891204-3588. People can also comment in an online form at the Brightwater Web site. In addition, King County has scheduled four public hearings in December to provide more information and get public comments on the draft EIS. They will run from
To buy a copy of the EIS, request a free CD, get other information or request reasonable meeting accommodations for people with disabilities, call King County's Wastewater Treatment Division protects public health and the environment by serving 16 cities, 16 sewer districts and more than 1.4 million residents in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties.
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