November 19, 2003 News Release Final Brightwater environmental impact statement reflects improvements planned for wastewater treatment facilities Significant improvements in the proposed Brightwater wastewater treatment system are reflected in the final environmental statement released today by King County. The improvements include better water quality, no odors and fewer impacts in residential neighborhoods. The regional wastewater treatment utility operated by King County revised the original Brightwater proposal in response to more than 5,000 formal comments from 550 people, agencies and tribes on the draft EIS. The revisions are also based on continued technical and scientific analyses of groundwater, soil conditions, air currents, construction methods and other in-depth studies. Project revisions include new advanced-treatment technology, shallower tunnel depths, fewer construction access portals, higher standards for odor control, and improved methods for protecting groundwater and wetlands. "These changes mean improved efficiency, fewer community impacts, and greater ability to avoid affecting the environment," said Christie True, manager of the Capital Improvement Program. "They also reflect King County's commitment to being a good neighbor and to designing Brightwater in a manner that protects public health, water quality and the environment." The revised proposal includes the following changes: Four-stage air treatment process that will ensure no detectable odor at the property boundary and meet all federal, state and local air-quality permits. Reduced number of primary construction portal sites along all three conveyance routes and reduced depth of the portals. Revised conveyance alignments so more tunneling could take place under roads and public rights-of-way. Combined tunnel corridors for untreated and treated wastewater on the Route 9 - 195th Street preferred alternative. Advanced treatment technology that will exceed federal and state standards, discharging 75 percent fewer pollutants than conventional secondary treatment. Added the property leased by StockPot Soups to be part of the Route 9 site. The wastewater treatment utility has been preventing water pollution for nearly 40 years by operating two regional plants in Seattle and Renton. Those plants are nearing capacity, however, so the new Brightwater plant must be operating by 2010. Brightwater will serve King and Snohomish county customers in the rapidly growing north portion of the utility's wastewater service area. Today, wastewater as far north as Mill Creek is treated at the plants in Seattle and Renton. After Brightwater starts up, those plants will serve people in Seattle, the Eastside, south King County and a small part of northeast Pierce County. King County also plans to expand the plant in Renton. King County released the final EIS for Brightwater following four years of extensive study and public comment. After reviewing the final EIS, other information and public comments, King County Executive Ron Sims is expected to select the location of the treatment plant, its wastewater conveyance pipelines and a Puget Sound outfall. In a summary chapter, 16 detailed chapters and 55 technical appendixes, the final EIS analyzes the characteristics, impacts and mitigation measures for the Brightwater alternatives. The alternatives 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 final 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, Woodway and Shoreline. County Executive Sims in August 2002 identified a preferred alternative to help focus discussion for the 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. The final EIS addresses questions and comments raised on a draft EIS during a 75-day public comment period a year ago. The final EIS also addresses comments made on technical documents released during the past summer. Some people commented in writing, and others commented orally at public hearings. A team of engineers, architects, biologists, geologists, oceanographers and environmental planners reviewed those comments and used them to continue to study the project and its impacts. The team's analysis of the project was shared at three public technical seminars last summer, giving people another chance to comment on information to be presented in the final EIS. Mitigation measures for environmental impacts The final EIS analyzes the advantages and drawbacks of each alternative and proposes mitigation solutions that will minimize disruptive impacts. The EIS compares environmental impacts and mitigation measures for these topics: earth, air, groundwater and surface water, wetlands, plants and animals, energy, environmental health, noise and vibration, land and shoreline use, aesthetics, light and glare, recreation, cultural resources, transportation, and public services and utilities. Below are some of the mitigation measures: Improved methods for managing stormwater would protect wetlands, reduce runoff and remove the need for a stormwater pump station on the Route 9 site, reducing energy consumption. Unocal's stormwater would be discharged through its own outfall into Puget Sound. At either location, Brightwater would produce reclaimed water for on-site uses. Future off-site reclaimed water customers could include golf courses, commercial nurseries, sports fields and industrial parks. Reclaimed water would be disinfected using ultraviolet light and sodium hypochlorite, a strong form of household bleach. Both sites have capacity to reclaim all the wastewater treated if there are customers for it in the future. Responding to comments about air quality, King County put meteorological stations at the Port of Edmonds (Unocal) and the Waterman property (Route 9) to study each site's weather patterns. Brightwater will not rely on wind to dilute odors. Instead, advanced odor control technology will treat odors at the source. To learn about soil and groundwater conditions -- and how to avoid affecting drinking water sources -- King County conducted geotechnical borings to gather soil and groundwater data. Besides helping engineers design the tunnels, the data will be shared with area scientists to increase understanding of Puget Sound geology. King County would protect creeks, streams and other surface water resources using best management practices, or BMPs, on construction sites to reduce erosion and runoff. BMPs include silt fencing, slope protection, sediment ponds, mulching and discharge monitoring to keep sediment and debris out of storm drains and streams. Building facilities that blend into the community is a priority for King County. Public art and attractive architecture would add aesthetic appeal to visible structures, while innovative site design and landscaping can minimize visual impacts. Sustainable design practices, like using recycled materials and designing to maximize natural light, would make Brightwater a "green" facility. Parks, trails, habitat improvements and community-oriented space are examples of some of the types of mitigation that can be incorporated into Brightwater construction plans. What's next After County Executive Sims selects the locations for Brightwater facilities, the community will have opportunities to be involved in what Brightwater will look like. As design and construction get under way, King County will work with jurisdictions and government agencies during the permitting process. Many permitting processes include a public comment period in which people can directly contact the local, state and federal permitting agency. People have already suggested possible mitigation, such as education, habitat restoration and recreation fields. King County will work with jurisdictions to reach agreements on mitigation and will share plans with the community. The public also has been involved in influencing the design of facilities. King County will continue to host workshops and meetings on design issues after the site is selected. For more information A 24-page summary of the final EIS is available for downloading from the Brightwater Web site. On request, King County will send the summary to individuals through e-mail or postal mail. The final EIS and its technical appendixes are available on the Brightwater Web site and on a free compact disk. To request the EIS summary or compact disk, people can send an e-mail message to brightwater@kingcounty.gov; call 206-684-6799 (voice), 1-800-888-707-8571 (toll free) or 711 (TTY); or write King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, Wastewater Treatment Division, KSC-NR-0503, 201 S. Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98104-3588. The final EIS, comments and responses are also available for viewing in the Wastewater Treatment Division's downtown Seattle office during business hours and at certain public libraries listed on the Brightwater Web site. Other technical documents referenced in the EIS are available for viewing at the division office. Paper copies of the final EIS and its technical appendixes are also available at a reduced cost of $50 each. Contact the Brightwater project team for details. King County's Wastewater Treatment Division protects public health and the environment by serving 18 cities, 15 sewer districts and more than 1.4 million residents in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties. Related Information Brightwater Siting Project Wastewater Treatment Division Facts at a glance about our wastewater system News Releases

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