Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for a Municipal Solid-Waste Landfill Proposed by Resource Investments, Inc. in Pierce County, WA

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]

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