Cedar Hills Regional Landfill 2020 site development plan and facilities relocation from King County's Solid Waste Division

Preferred alternative identified

After publishing a Final EIS in spring 2022, the Solid Waste Division has identified a preferred alternative to support further development of new waste disposal areas on the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill site, and to permanently relocate support facilities. Learn more Download PDF 450 K.

Project description

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To meet the region's need for waste disposal services, King County's Solid Waste Division is working on a project to ensure there is adequate capacity in the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill to continue accepting garbage beyond 2028. The project was outlined in the 2019 Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan, which was approved by the King County Council.

The project entails moving support facilities, such as office spaces and maintenance facilities, that are currently at the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill so these areas can be developed for disposal of garbage.

The landfill site development plan project involves several components:

Evaluating a No Action Alternative and three Action Alternatives for developing a new area (Area 9) for garbage disposal in the southeast portion of the landfill property.
Relocating landfill support facilities (vehicle maintenance shop, office space, parking for employees, tractors, trailers, and operations vehicles, and laboratory space) from their current location to make room for development of the new disposal area.
Pursuing a Special Use Permit to place the new facilities within the existing northern or southern buffer zone. This permit is only needed if an on-site facilities relocation option is chosen.

Cedar Hills Regional Landfill Site Development Project map — Two possible areas for relocating support facilities at Cedar Hills Regional Landfill are shown as the *North Facilities Option* and the *South Facilities Option*.
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Possible development site (3005 NE 4th Street, Renton) for King County Solid Waste Division support facilities — A possible site for relocating King County Solid Waste Division support facilities is shown at 3005 NE 4th Street in Renton.
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Background

The Cedar Hills Regional Landfill has been in operation since 1965. It is the only active landfill remaining in the county and is the disposal site for all garbage generated by King County residents and businesses, excluding the cities of Seattle and Milton. The landfill is owned by King County and operated by the Solid Waste Division.

The King County Council approved the 2019 Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan (Plan) on April 24, 2019, that sets strategies for managing solid waste in King County over the next six to 20 years. The Plan addresses all aspects of the regional solid waste system, including curbside collection, processing of recyclable and compostable materials, and transfer and disposal of garbage. The Plan authorizes the Division to consider alternatives to maximize the capacity of the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill to meet the county's disposal needs.

View information about the 2010 Site Development Plan for Cedar Hills Regional Landfill.

Preferred alternative

After careful consideration of environmental and technical analysis, as well as non-environmental factors such as cost, policy considerations, and operational benefits, the Solid Waste Division identified its preferred alternative (referred to as Action Alternative 2 Download PDF 450 K) for landfill development.

Environmental review process

The State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) external link requires that state and local agencies consider the probable adverse environmental impacts of a project before taking action. The King County Solid Waste Division, as lead agency on the project, is responsible for conducting the environmental review.

SEPA process summary

For more information about the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) process, please visit the Washington State Department of Ecology external link .

SEPA determination

The Solid Waste Division has determined that one or more of the alternatives being considered has the potential to result in a significant adverse impact to the environment. On July 25, 2019 the Solid Waste Division issued a Determination of Significance Download PDF 375 K.

Scoping period

A 30-day scoping period from July 25 to Aug. 26, 2019 gave the public, tribal governments, and local, state, and federal agencies an opportunity to comment on the range of alternatives, areas of impact, and possible mitigation measures the EIS should evaluate. Comments received were considered by the project team developing the Draft EIS.

Scoping meeting

On Aug. 12, 2019, the Solid Waste Division hosted a scoping meeting at the King County Library System Service Center, 960 Newport Way NW, Issaquah external link . Members of the public were invited to drop in to learn more about the proposal, ask questions, and provide written and oral comments.

Draft EIS

The Draft EIS, issued September 16, 2020, evaluated and described the potential impacts on the environment of the project alternatives.

Final EIS

The Final EIS includes modifications to the text stemming from the comments received on the Draft EIS. As part of SEPA requirements, the Final EIS contains a Responsiveness Summary (Appendix M), which provides the public with responses from the Solid Waste Division to all the questions and comments that were received during the public comment period for the Draft EIS. The text of the Final EIS was revised as needed to clarify or correct information.

Project schedule

Updated March 2022 – subject to change

Date	Action/Event
July 25, 2019	King County Solid Waste Division issued a Determination of Significance and Request for Comments on the Scope of the Environmental Impact Statement Download PDF 375 K.
Aug 12, 2019	A Scoping meeting was held at the King County Library System Service Center, 960 Newport Way NW, Issaquah. Members of the public were invited to drop in to learn more about the proposal, ask questions, and provide written and oral comments.
July 25 – Aug 26, 2019	Scoping period – this 30-day period gave the public, tribal governments, and local, state, and federal agencies an opportunity to comment on the range of alternatives, areas of impact, and possible mitigation measures the EIS should evaluate. Comments received were considered by the project team developing the Draft EIS.
Sept 2019 – Fall 2020	DRAFT EIS prepared
Sept 16, 2020	The King County Solid Waste Division issued a DRAFT EIS for public review.
Nov 6, 2020	Deadline for comments on the Draft EIS
March 22, 2022	FINAL EIS is issued and includes responses to comments received on the Draft EIS.
Nov 2022	Preferred alternative identified
June 2020 – May 2025	Design and permitting for selected landfill site development alternative
June 2025 – Mid 2028	Potential construction of new landfill area, Area 9, within the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill property

Documents

Final Environmental Impact Statement

Contacts

Ms. Kinyan Lui email Kinyan Lui
Project Manager
King County Solid Waste Division
Telephone: 206-263-3685, TTY Relay: 711

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Call: 206-477-4466

TTY Relay: 711

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King County Solid Waste Division mission: Waste Prevention, Resource Recovery, Waste Disposal