Drafter
Clerk 10/17/2007
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AN ORDINANCE relating to approval of the Solid Waste Transfer and Waste Management Plan and findings of the independent, third party review.
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BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Findings:
A. Ordinance 14236 adopted the Final 2001 Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan on October 26, 2001.
B. Ordinance 14236 directed the county executive to begin to implement the policy to export the county's waste by developing a waste export coordination and implementation plan.
C. Ordinance 14971 was adopted August 2, 2004, to provide further direction related to the upgrade of the regional transfer system; and timing and process for planning for waste export. The process included establishment of a metropolitan solid waste management advisory committee consisting of representatives of those cities that have signed solid waste interlocal agreements with the county to review and make recommendations on the waste export system plan before transmittal to the county council.
D. Pursuant to Ordinance 14971, the county and cities formed the interjurisdictional technical staff group ("ITSG") and the metropolitan solid waste management advisory committee ("MSWMAC") to develop the Solid Waste Transfer and Waste Management Plan.
E. In accordance with Ordinance 14971, the county has worked closely with ITSG, MSWMAC, the solid waste advisory committee ("SWAC") and other potentially affected jurisdictions and other interested parties (collectively referred to as "stakeholders") to develop the Solid Waste Transfer and Waste Management Plan that contains agreed upon recommendations for solid waste export.
F. The county and its stakeholders strictly adhered to the established criteria contained in Ordinance 14971 that relate to performance of a comprehensive evaluation of transfer system capacity, public and private alternatives for transfer capacity and waste export, site evaluation criteria and siting, as appropriate.
G. The Solid Waste Transfer and Waste Management Plan is based on the results of four milestone reports required by Ordinance 14971, Section 6.B.
H. In accordance with Ordinance 14971, all four milestone reports have been submitted to the county council for its review and approval, which are Motions 12055, 12134, 12182 and 12283.
I. The Solid Waste Transfer and Waste Management Plan received conditional approval by all stakeholders, including SWAC and MSWMAC pending the results of the third-party review.
J. Having completed their review of the third-party review report submitted by the independent consultant, SWAC and MSWMAC have re-affirmed their approval of the Solid Waste Transfer and Waste Management Plan, now including the findings of the third-party review process.
K. The findings of the independent, third party review process addressed ten questions raised by stakeholders and approved by the council for consultant analysis. The independent, third party consultant further broadened the scope of waste management system review by offering advice on three additional topics of commentary, based upon their observations of the county system. Once completed, the independent, third party review addressed issues pertaining to transfer station configuration and needs, recycling, utilization of the Cedar Hills landfill, development of an intermodal plan and options for disposal, and cost analysis of solid waste facilities and activities.
L. The recommendations in the Solid Waste Transfer and Waste Management Plan are consistent with the policies set forth in the 2001 Final Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan, as adopted by Ordinance 14236.
M. Nothing in the Solid Waste Transfer and Waste Management Plan affects the ability of the county to consider other waste management alternatives to waste export, such as a waste-to-energy system, or expansion of landfill capacity at Cedar Hills. The alternative technologies are to be thoroughly analyzed and evaluated during the update process of the 2001 Final Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan.
N. The Determination of Significance issued on April 7, 2006, and related Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Solid Waste Transfer and Waste Management Plan for King County, Washington issued September 1, 2006, are adequate for purposes of complying with the state Environmental Policy Act and for making the decision to adopt the Solid Waste Transfer and Waste Management Plan for King County, Washington.
SECTION 2. The council hereby accepts and approves the Solid Waste Transfer and Waste Management Plan, dated August 4, 2006, which is Attachment A to this ordinance. The council also hereby accepts and approves the Independent, Third Party Review of the Solid Waste Transfer and Waste Management Plan, dated July 31, 2007, which is Attachment B to this ordinance. The recommendations contained in the Solid Waste Transfer and Waste Management Plan and the Independent, Third Party Review of the Solid Waste Transfer and Waste Management Plan shall inform the update of the
2001 Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan that is anticipated to be completed in 2008.