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Loan offer to King County for the Duwamish Combined Sewer Overflow project

Agency
Ecology, Department of
Title of action
Loan offer to King County for the Duwamish Combined Sewer Overflow project
Date significant agency action was initiated
Friday, February 2, 2024
Category
Capital project, grant, or loan award of at least $12 million
Brief description of significant agency actions for which the agency is initiating an environmental justice assessment.
The purpose of the proposed action is to provide King County with $70 million of loan funding to construct a storage facility and conveyance so that partially and untreated sewage mixed with rainwater (combined sewer overflow) can be routed for treatment before release into the Duwamish River through outfalls. The increased storage capacity will reduce the number of combined sewer overflows at two sites along the Duwamish River. Currently, based on a 20-year average, pollution overflows into the river 4.4 times per year at one site and 1.9 times per year at the other. The loan project locations are West Michigan Street Regulator Station (W Michigan St. RS) Overflow and Terminal 115 (T115) Overflow. These sites are part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund National Priorities List and the Washington Hazardous Sites List. Anticipated benefits from the investments made with this loan include: • The Lower Duwamish River will receive less pollution during severe rains because large volumes of sewage and rain runoff will be treated before discharge into the river. • Reducing the overflows to one per year at each site. Federal and state regulations require communities to reduce the frequency of untreated combined sewer overflows, on average, allowing no more than one overflow event per year. Reducing overflows benefits people, wildlife, and water quality because CSOs can carry contaminants such as pathogens, oxygen-consuming pollutants, solids, nutrients, and toxics.
Methods for providing public comment for agency consideration as part of the environmental justice assessment.
Ecology plans to conduct engagement focused on connecting with overburdened communities and vulnerable populations for the environmental justice assessment of this loan offer beginning in April 2024. Ecology conducted public engagement in February and March of 2024, with an online webinar and public comment period. We will respond to comments regarding overburdened communities or populations with vulnerabilities and will seek further involvement as needed to address concerns. Through methods yet to be determined, Ecology will identify additional opportunities to engage overburdened communities in King County and provide opportunities for their meaningful involvement in this funding decision. Ecology will also invite tribal consultation and staff discussions with impacted Tribes, which include but may not be limited to the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, Puyallup Tribe, Snoqualmie Indian Tribe, Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians, Suquamish Tribe, and Tulalip Tribes. Ecology will engage in consultation in formats that are requested by the Tribes and that create opportunities for their meaningful involvement in this funding decision. Please contact Faith Wimberley at faith.wimberley@ecy.wa.gov with any comments or questions.