Agenda - 12/11/2008 - 6e - Laserfiche WebLink

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The following actions are recommended by Olver, Inc. and Solid Waste Management in conjunction and support of the recommended Site 056 decision: • Olver, Inc. to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) in accordance with State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) guidelines as part of the site plan approval process. • The BOCC to expand the Solid Waste Advisory Board (SWAB) membership with the addition of a neighborhood representative to help address and evaluate concerns relating to the transfer station development and provide feedback and advice back to the BOCC. Discussion Since the decision in November 2007 to discontinue development of a transfer station on Eubanks Road, and utilize the services of an experienced consulting engineering firm as technical advisor and facilitator, the BOCC, staff, and community have been deeply engaged in a new and systematic siting process. The new process was founded upon and guided by meaningful, relevant search criteria, painstakingly applied, and presented with extensive documentation for public information and participation. The process was intended and strived to uphold the values of transparency, accountability, and integrity. Momentum has been maintained over the past year because of the criticality of timelines, with respectful appreciation that the task would be difficult, and in recognition no process would go unchallenged or without controversy. Concurrent with the re-opened site search, the BOCC, SWAB, and staff have pursued and explored alternative waste technologies as evidenced in the comprehensive assessment by Greshman, Brickner and Bratton. While a small scale, mass-burn, modular technology may be a suitable approach for Orange County, given our annual tonnage at present it was deemed too risky and problematic to pursue because of economics, environmental considerations, and time. The reality remains the County must make every effort to have the transfer station ready when the landfill reaches capacity in late spring-early summer 2011 and the projected timeline for moving forward is at best optimistic and tenuous. (Appendix C, Olver, Inc. Report) FINANCIAL IMPACT: There will be substantial costs to the County in the overall land acquisition, design and development of a selected site and the permitting and construction of the actual facility along with any ancillary features the BOCC may authorize. Preliminary estimates for the transfer station alone, separate from land purchase, range from $5-7 million. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board: 1. Receive Olver, Inc. Report and Staff Memorandum; 2. Approve recommendation from Olver, Inc. and Solid Waste Management to select Site 056 for the Orange County Solid Waste Transfer Station;