Route 9 location reaffirmed as 'optimal site' for Brightwater wastewater treatment plant

After considering the latest environmental review, King County Executive Ron Sims today reaffirmed his decision that the optimal location for the Brightwater wastewater treatment plant is next to State Route 9 north of Woodinville.

"We must move forward now and build Brightwater to protect water quality and serve the rapidly growing population in south Snohomish and north King County," Sims said. "Route 9 is the optimal site for providing this new treatment capacity. And I'm convinced we can mitigate any significant environmental impacts at that location."

Other Brightwater facilities include a 13-mile pipeline to carry treated wastewater mostly below 195th Street in King County and the Snohomish-King County line and a mile-long outfall deep in Puget Sound west of Point Wells.

See related article: "King County seeking bids for first major Brightwater construction contract."

"I reaffirm the decision I made in December 2003 after a four-year process involving local residents, cities, sewer districts, tribes and many interested organizations," Sims said. "We have done the environmental analysis and technical studies. We have acquired nearly all the property we need. And we've reached significant milestones in the permitting process.

"Building Brightwater will create jobs when our region needs them," he said. "Without Brightwater, our region risks sewage overflows into local lakes, streams and Puget Sound -- and a moratorium on building new homes and businesses that will hurt our economy."

Sims' original decision came after release of a final environmental impact statement on the Brightwater project. That document included more than 5,000 formal comments from 550 people, tribes and government agencies.

Today's decision comes after release of a supplemental EIS on seismic issues. King County got more than 600 individual comments from two agencies, three organizations and 26 people.

"I am committed to carrying out the broad range of mitigation measures identified for the Route 9-195th Street alternative," Sims said. "The mitigation measures provide a comprehensive way to minimize project impacts."

The mitigation measures were developed through public involvement and collaborative efforts of the Brightwater team, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, local governments, and many people, organizations and experts. They commented and raised questions on impacts of the project and potential means to mitigate the impacts.

The supplemental EIS also referred to a permit issued June 15 by the Corps of Engineers. That permit, required under the federal Clean Water Act, approved King County's proposal to protect wetlands, water quality and the environment during construction and operation of the Route 9-195th Street system.

The corps concluded that the Route 9-195th Street proposal is "the least environmentally damaging practicable alternative available" to King County from the many sites considered -- and not contrary to the public interest.

"The corps' rigorous review of all possible plant sites and its permit decision provide further evidence of the appropriateness of this alternative for effective, timely protection of water quality," Sims said.

Impact on the aquatic environment was the corps' main concern in issuing the permit. But the corps also analyzed impacts to the human environment, including water quality, economics, traffic noise, aesthetics, cultural resources and other public interest factors.

The corps permit mandates various mitigation measures, both on-site and off-site, including restoration of streams and creation, restoration and enhancement of wetlands. King County also plans to develop new wetlands to improve water quality in salmon-bearing streams like Little Bear Creek.

"People want assurances that we will protect groundwater and drinking water supplies," Sims said. "Our mission is to protect water quality, not harm it. We have studied the worst -case scenarios and will use the best engineering and technologies available to protect people's drinking water."

Sims said his decision weighs the uncertainty of a devastating earthquake at the Route 9 site against the certainty sewage will overflow into Lake Washington after 2010 when the sewer system is running beyond capacity.

"The evidence shows there's an extremely low probability of surface-rupture earthquakes at the Route 9 site," he said. "We can mitigate risks to water quality and the health and safety of the public even in the very unlikely event of a seismic surface-rupture.

"The site and facilities design can also mitigate for soil liquefaction and ground-shaking, which are far more likely risks during an earthquake," Sims said. "We can safely build and operate Brightwater at the Route 9 site during the design life of the plant."

Sims stressed that the seismic design of Brightwater facilities will meet or exceed requirements of the 2003 International Building Code. That code governs seismic design safety for schools, hospitals and office buildings.

For more information about the Brightwater Project, visit its Web site. You can also contact the Brightwater office: 22509 State Route 9 S.E., Woodinville; 206-684-6799 (voice); 1-888-707-8571 (toll free); 711 (TTY relay); or brightwater@kingcounty.gov.

When Brightwater begins operating in 2010, it will serve Bothell, Brier, Kenmore, Mill Creek, Redmond, Sammamish and Woodinville. It will also serve unincorporated areas of Snohomish and King counties in the Alderwood, Cross Valley, Northeast Sammamish, Northshore, Silver Lake and Woodinville sewer districts.

Formerly known as Metro, the wastewater-treatment utility now operated by King County has been preventing water pollution for 40 years. The regional clean-water agency serves 17 cities, 17 local sewer utilities and more than 1.4 million residents in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties.