[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 74 (Monday, April 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-9058]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: April 18, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
for a Municipal Solid-Waste Landfill Proposed by Resource Investments,
Inc. in Pierce County, WA
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, DOD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: Resource Investments, Inc. (RII) of Puyallup, Washington is
proposing construction and operation of a private solid-waste landfill
on a 320-acre site in central Pierce County, Washington. The project
site is located at the intersection of State Route (SR) 161 (Meridian)
and 304th Street East (Kapowsin Highway), approximately 15 miles south
of Puyallup, Washington. Construction of the landfill's cells and
support facilities will impact approximately 33 acres of wetlands,
including palustrine emergent, scrub-shrub, and forested wetlands. The
proposed project may also require relocating 2,600 linear feet of the
South Fork of Muck Creek (South Creek) which flows through the
northwest corner of the site. South Creek is a seasonal tributary to
Much Creek, which is a tributary of the Nisqually River. The proposed
site is located over the Clovers-Chambers Creek Sole Source Aquifer
which has been designated by the Environmental Protection Agency as a
``Sole Source Aquifer.'' Work in wetlands and South Creek will require
a Department of the Army Permit under section 404 of the Clean Water
Act.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions about the proposed action and DEIS can be answered by: Dr.
Stephen Martin, Planning Branch, Environmental Resources Section,
Seattle District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle, Washington
98124-2255, telephone (206) 764-3631.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Proposed Action
RII has proposed the facility because the existing landfill in
Pierce County (Hidden Valley, owned and operated by an affiliated
company, Land Recovery, Incorporated) has nearly reached maximum
capacity and is scheduled for closure sometime between January and
September 1996. To extend the life of the existing Hidden Valley
Landfill, Pierce County has opted to use this existing facility for
approximately 80 percent of Pierce County's solid-waste disposal needs.
The remaining 20 percent is long-hauled to the Rabanco Landfill
(located in eastern Washington) via truck and rail.
The proposed project site is located in central Pierce County,
approximately 15 miles south of Puyallup, Washington and approximately
12 miles north of Eatonville, Washington, adjacent to SR 161. The site
is bounded by SR 161 (Meridian) to the west and 304th Street East
(Kapowsin Highway) to the north. The landfill facility will occupy up
to 177 acres of the relatively level 320-acre site. Fill in wetlands
and in South Creek is necessary under the proposed action to construct
the landfill's cells and support facilities.
The landfill design includes a bottom liner, temporary and
permanent cover cap systems, a leachate collection system, a leak
detection and collection system, a gas collection and combustion
system, and a storm drainage system. The landfill would be constructed
in a series of seven cells (one cell constructed and filled at a time)
over approximately 20 years. The life of the proposed project would
depend upon the waste stream volume and any fluctuations (i.e.,
increases or decreases from established 20-year projections.
RII's project purpose is to provide the unincorporated areas and
the incorporated cities in Pierce County that participated in the 1989
Tacoma-Pierce County Solid Waste Management Plan and specifically not
the military bases located within Pierce County with a viable,
affordable, environmentally sound solid waste project to meet projected
needs for the next 20 years.
Alternatives
a. The Corps of Engineers has three alternative courses of action
available:
(1) The section 404 permit could be issued with standard conditions
for the proposed action as described above.
(2) The section 404 permit could be issued with standard and
special conditions that would mitigate impacts resulting from the
proposed action.
(3) The section 404 permit could be denied. This option would
prohibit all proposed work impacting the wetlands and the stream on the
project site as well as prevent environmental impacts associated with
the proposed action in these areas. The economic and social benefits of
the project to Pierce County residents would also be foregone.
b. Alternatives to be examined in the EIS include:
(1) No action.
(2) Off-site alternatives.
(3) On-site alternatives.
Scoping and Public Involvement
An EIS was prepared under the Washington State Environmental Policy
Act (SEPA) regarding this proposal. A public scoping meeting and public
hearings were held by Pierce County during development of the Draft
SEPA EIS. After receiving extensive comments on the Draft, Pierce
County issued a Final SEPA EIS in November 1990. In addition, over 200
comments have been submitted to the Corps of Engineers in response to
the Corps' public notice for the permit application. Public involvement
will be sought during scoping and conduct of the EIS in accordance with
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures. This Notice of
Intent formally commences the scoping process under NEPA. As part of
the scoping process, all affected Federal, State and local agencies,
Indian Tribes, and other interested private organizations and citizens,
including environmental groups, are invited to comment on issues of
major concern and to identify any additional studies that might be
needed in order to analyze and evaluate impacts. Comments are requested
concerning project alternatives, probable significant environmental
impacts, mitigation measures, and permits or other approvals that may
be required. The following key areas have been identified to be
analyzed in depth in the draft EIS:
1. Alternative Sites
2. Project Design
3. Potential for Surface and Groundwater Contamination
4. Wetlands
5. Water Quality
6. Amphibians and Reptiles
7. Waterfowl and Fisheries
8. Cultural Resources
9. Aesthetics
10. Transportation/Traffic
11. Social and Economic Characteristics
12. Cumulative Impacts
13. Endangered Species
14. Air Quality
15. Noise
16. Land Use/Zoning
17. Human Health and Safety
18. Earth/Geologic Resources
19. Wildlife and Plants
Scoping Meeting
Because over 200 comments have been submitted in response to a
Corps of Engineer's public notice for the permit application covering a
wide variety of issues, a formal scoping meeting pursuant to NEPA is
not planned at this time. To assist the Corps in developing the scope
of the EIS and in identifying important issues, comments are invited to
be submitted in writing and should be forwarded to Seattle District,
Corps of Engineers, before 15 May 1994. Previous comments provided to
the Corps of Engineers on this project are on file and will be
addressed in the NEPA EIS.
Other Environmental Review, Coordination, and Permit Requirements
Other environmental review, coordination, and permit requirements
include preparation of a section 404(b)(1) evaluation by the Corps of
Engineers; consultation among the Corps, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, and the State of Washington per section 7 of the Endangered
Species Act; acquisition by the applicant of a Conditional Use Permit
and a Solid Waste Handling Permit from Pierce County, a Water Quality
Certification and Hydraulics Project Approval from Washington State,
and State concurrence with consistency pursuant to the Washington State
Coastal Zone Management Program.
Availability of Draft EIS
The draft EIS is scheduled for release in December 1994.
Dated: March 30, 1994.
Rex N. Osborne,
Lt. Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 94-9058 Filed 4-15-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-ER-M
