Cedar Hills Regional Landfill 2020 site development plan and facilities relocation

  Cedar Hills Regional Landfill Site Development Project map

Close

  Possible development site for support facilities

Close

Project description

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.

Project update (June 2020)

In response to input received from the public in summer 2019, the Solid Waste Division has revised the options for relocating the landfill support facilities. The changes include:

• Removing the option to relocate support facilities in the landfill's east buffer
• Adding a new option to relocate support facilities away from the landfill
• Evaluating three possible locations for the support facilities that are being evaluated in a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) review process:
• A "North Facilities Option" at the landfill
• A "South Facilities Option" at the landfill
• An 8-acre, County-owned parcel located at 3005 NE 4th Street, Renton (adjacent to the Renton Transfer Station). No landfilling would occur at this location.

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.

Proposed development alternatives

A No Action Alternative and three Action Alternatives are being evaluated in an Environmental Impact Statement.

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 will be 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.

Preparation of a Draft EIS

The Draft EIS is a document that evaluates and describes the impacts on the environment as a result of a proposed action. Topics evaluated in a Draft EIS include aspects of the built and natural environments for each alternative, including, but not limited to earth, air, water, noise and vibration, transportation, etc. and other topics identified in the scoping process.

Final EIS

The Final EIS can be different from the draft EIS based on comments received or new information obtained. The Final EIS also includes all comments received on the draft EIS and a response to those comments by the lead agency, which is the Solid Waste Division.

Public involvement & project schedule

Public involvement

Please see the project schedule below for opportunities for public comment and involvement on this project. NOTE: Due to COVID-19, the Solid Waste Division is not currently hosting in-person meetings or events. However, SWD is committed to sharing information and gathering feedback from community members in alternative ways, including online opportunities.

Documents

Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Although the comment period is closed, you can still visit the online open house to learn more about the project.

• Notice of availability, notice of online open house, and request for comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement - Download PDF 75 K – Sept. 16, 2020
• Draft EIS Download PDF 8.5 MB
• Draft EIS - Appendix A Download PDF 250 K
• Draft EIS - Appendix B Download PDF 450 K
• Draft EIS - Appendix C Download PDF 1.5 MB
• Draft EIS - Appendix D Download PDF 1.5 MB
• Draft EIS - Appendix E Download PDF 2 MB
• Draft EIS - Appendix F Download PDF 14 MB
• Draft EIS - Appendix G Download PDF 1.5 MB
• Draft EIS - Appendix H Download PDF 8.5 MB
• Draft EIS - Appendix I Download PDF 7.5 MB
• Draft EIS - Appendix J, part 1 Download PDF 34.5 MB
  (Note: this is a large file and may take several minutes to download, depending on connection speed)
• Draft EIS - Appendix J, part 2 Download PDF 22.5 MB
  (Note: this is a large file and may take several minutes to download, depending on connection speed)
• Draft EIS - Appendix J, part 3 Download PDF 3.5 MB

Other documents

• Determination of Significance and Request for Comments on the Scope of the Environmental Impact Statement Download PDF 375 K – July 25, 2019
• Cedar Hills Regional Landfill Site Development Project map Download PDF 2 MB
• Possible development site (3005 NE 4th Street, Renton) Download PDF 2 MB for King County Solid Waste Division maintenance shop and employee offices

Contacts

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