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Brightwater
24-Hour Odor Control Telephone Hotline: 206.263.9500
UPDATE 4/20/07 : City
Council holds special meeting to discuss filing an appeal
of regulatory permits related to the Brightwater facility. UPDATE
8/28/06: Editorial
by Mayor Cathy VonWald
UPDATE 8/10/06: News
Release, Woodinville Invokes Brightwater Mediation Clause
UPDATE 8/4/06: Editorial
by Dr. Yeats
UPDPATE 7/21/06: News Release, City Disputes Brightwater Seismic
Findings
UPDATE 5/23/06: News Release, Council Authorizes Binding Site
Plan Appeal
UPDATE 5/5/06 : News Release, Brightwater Project Update Main
Topic at May 15, City Council Meeting
Snohomish
County Special Hearing Examiner Decision RE: Binding Site
Plan (issued 5/5/06)
Final Supplemental EIS issued 7/15/2005
The
final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement includes
comments received about the Final EIS .
Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) Issued
4/11/05 for Potential Seismic Impacts
In November 2003, King County issued a Final
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the proposed Brightwater
Regional Wastewater Treatment System. Since that time, new information
about the Southern Whidbey Island Fault has become available.
A draft Supplement to the Brightwater EIS, issued on April
11, 2005, describes the new information and its relationship
to the Brightwater Treatment Plant site and evaluates the significant
adverse environmental impacts that could result if an earthquake
were to occur on the SWIF and damage treatment plant facilities.
City staff from the Executive, Community Development, Building,
Parks & Recreation and Public Works departments are reviewing
the recently released draft Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement (SEIS) for the Brightwater Wastewater Treatment facility.
The SEIS addresses the potential impacts from an earthquake
that could result if seismic activity occurs along a geologic
fault near the Route 9 site. The draft SEIS is based on new
research on regional seismic activities. The City is contracting
with DMJM+Harris for technical assistance with the review. King
County seeks public comment on the SEIS via written comments
due May 11, 2005. To comment, go to King
County's website .
Background
In 1999, in response to increased growth in our region, King
County began a siting process for a proposed new regional wastewater
treatment plant, called Brightwater.
The proposed plant would serve residents of north King and south
Snohomish Counties. Through a siting process, King County has
narrowed its site selection to two locations: (1) the vacant
Unocal tank farm site in Edmonds and (2) State Route 9 in Snohomish
County.
The new facilities will include a treatment plant, conveyance
(pipes and pumps that take the wastewater to and from the plant),
and a marine outfall. The treatment plant at either the Unocal
or Route 9 location would include:
. secondary level wastewater treatment
. biosolids production
. advanced treatment of a portion of the
flows for water reuse
. odor control systems
. facilities designed to be architecturally
compatible with the surrounding neighborhood
In August 2002, King County Executive Ron Sims announced the
SR 9 site as the "preferred alternative. This site includes
the preferred conveyance route as deep tunneling for conveyance
pipes down a combination of 195th Street and 205th Street with
a deep water marine outfall at Point Wells (unincorporated King
County in the Shoreline area).
In November 2002, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
was issued allowing for comment by "consulting agencies." The
DEIS addresses probable significant adverse environmental impacts
of the Edmonds and Snohomish County plant options and conveyance
routes. DEIS comments were due to the County on January 21,
2003. A Final EIS is expected in late 2003.
City of Woodinville's Response
The proposed SR 9 site is located in Snohomish County, north
of the City limits. However the area is located with the City's
potential annexation area (PAA). The City will be directly impacted
if the SR 9 site is selected.
In April 2003, the Woodinville City Council adopted Resolution
No. 250 - a policy statement that clarifies the City's
concern that the proposed Brightwater facility, if not designed
properly, could adversely impact Woodinville. The Resolution
seeks King County's commitment to prove through technical analysis
to "independent experts of the City's choosing" that all significant
adverse environmental impacts to Woodinville's air, water and
ground water quality will be mitigated. The Resolution further
seeks King County's promise to take immediate remedial action
should any inappropriate off-site odors occur and make good
on the promise with a $20 million bond.
Since 1999, the City has been involved with King County on
the selection process for this facility. The City continues
to be engaged in the EIS process and is working with King County
to be recognized as a partner.
King County Outreach
For detailed information on the Brightwater Treatment System,
visit the
King County Metro website .
Siting Committee and Advisory
Committee representation
Woodinville's City Manager was an active member for the Brightwater
siting process and served on the Siting Committee. Once the
Unocal and SR 9 site were selected, the committee formed as
the Advisory Committee.
City Council Public Hearings
Although the SR 9 site does not lie within Woodinville City
limits, the impacts of having the treatment facility close by
are inevitable. In an effort to gauge public concern, the City
Council has hosted several public hearings. Some meetings have
been dedicated to topical issues, such as odor control. The
Council will continue to dedicate public meeting time to receive
public input regarding Brightwater.
Economic and Fiscal Analysis
of SR 9 Site
To keep the City's best interests in mind should the site be
constructed at the SR 9 site, an economic
and fiscal analysis was commissioned by the City Council.
DEIS Comment Letter
The
City's DEIS comment letter advises King County that Woodinville
is the most affected area. The letter identifies deficiencies
particularly in the areas of jurisdictional coordination and
planning, regulatory consistency and environmental impacts to
Woodinville should the plant be constructed on SR 9.
There is no requirement for King County to accept any or all
of the City's comments, but the City can challenge the sufficiency
of the Final EIS if it feels appropriate concerns are not address.
King County
King
County Brightwater Home Page
Email: brightwater@kingcounty.gov
Phone: 206.684.6799 or toll free at 1-888-707-8571
Snohomish County
Snohomish
County
Email: county.executive@co.snohomish.wa.us
Phone: 425.388.3460
Page last modified:
October 20, 2011
