Cedar Hills Regional Landfill, 2010 Site Development Plan from King County’s Solid Waste Division

The Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) for the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill, 2010 Site Development Plan was issued on July 27, 2010.

Background
Environmental review process
Public involvement and project schedule
Contacts
Documents

Background

The King County Solid Waste Division (division) is exploring ways to extend the useful life of the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill by developing more disposal capacity at the site. The division evaluated five action alternatives that would provide additional landfill capacity, as well as a No Action Alternative. The division has recommended a preferred alternative in the Final EIS that maximizes the available space at the landfill with no significant adverse impacts on the environment.

Environmental review process

The division, as lead agency on the project, has completed environmental review under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) (external), which requires that state and local agencies consider the likely environmental consequences of a project before taking action.

2010 Final EIS cover — View or download the 2010 Final EIS in PDF format.

Steps completed in the environmental review process include:

SEPA determination: The division determined that one or more of the alternatives under consideration could potentially have significant adverse impacts on the environment and issued a Determination of SignificanceDownload PDF 192 K. This determination meant that an Environmental Impact Statement, or EIS, would need to be prepared. The purpose of an EIS is to provide an impartial evaluation of potential significant environmental impacts, identify reasonable alternatives, and propose mitigation measures that would avoid or minimize adverse impacts.
Scoping process: A scoping process, which provided an opportunity for the public and other agencies to comment to the division on the issues to be evaluated in the EIS, took place between March 30 and May 1, 2009. Both the natural environment (earth, air, water, plants and animals, energy and natural resources, etc.) and the built environment (environmental health, land use, transportation, public services and utilities, etc.) were evaluated. During the scoping process, the division held a public scoping meeting on April 20, 2009 to receive written and oral comments.
Draft EIS: In accordance with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), under RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c), a Draft EIS was prepared that analyzes the potential significant adverse impacts of each alternative and mitigating measures to avoid or minimize impacts. The public comment period on the Draft EIS ran from Sept. 30–Nov. 6, 2009.
Public Hearing: On Oct. 22, 2009, the division held a public hearing at the Greater Maple Valley Community Center, to receive comments on the Draft EIS. At the hearing, there was also a presentation about the project and an opportunity for participants to ask questions. At least twenty-two people from the community attended the hearing.
Final EIS: The division prepared a Final EIS that includes responses to comments received on the Draft EIS and identifies a recommended preferred alternative. The Final EIS was made available for review at the following locations:
- King County Solid Waste Division office: 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 701, Seattle, and the division’s website
- Five public libraries:
  - King County Library – Issaquah
    10 W. Sunset Way, Issaquah
  - King County Library – Fairwood
    17009 140th Avenue SE, Renton
  - King County Library – Maple Valley
    21844 SE 248th Street, Maple Valley
  - Renton Public Library – Main Branch
    100 Mill Avenue South, Renton
  - Renton Public Library – Highland Branch
    2902 NE 12th Street, Renton

Public involvement & project schedule

Public involvement

There were several opportunities for public comment and involvement on this project (see below).

Project schedule

Date	Action/Event
March 30, 2009	King County Solid Waste Division Director issued a SEPA Determination of SignificanceDownload PDF 192 K, the first step in the environmental review process.
March 30 – May 1, 2009	Scoping process public comment period - an opportunity for the public and other agencies to comment to the division on the issues to be evaluated in the EIS.
April 20, 2009	A public scoping meeting was held at the Greater Maple Valley Community Center. In response to comments received during the scoping process, the Solid Waste Division conducted additional studies.
Sept. 30, 2009	The Draft EIS became available for review and public comment.
Oct. 22, 2009	A public hearing was held at the Greater Maple Valley Community Center to receive public comments on the Draft EIS.
Sept. 30 – Nov. 6, 2009	Draft EIS public comment period.
July 27, 2010	Final EIS issued that includes responses to comments received on the Draft EIS and identification of a recommended preferred alternative.
Dec. 6, 2010	King County Council unanimously approved the Project Program Plan – Cedar Hills Regional Landfill 2010 Site Development Plan, which recommended Alternative 2 as the preferred alternative for development of the landfill. Review the Project Program PlanDownload PDF 1.4 MB.

Contacts

Laura Belt
Project Manager
King County Solid Waste Division
Telephone: 206-477-5215, TTY Relay: 711
Fax: 206-296-8431

Cedar hills regional landfill

For questions or comments about the operation of the landfill, call 206-263-1000, TTY Relay: 711. This phone line is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.