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	Sept. 11, 2003 King County to make final payment on West Point settlement King County has now met all requirements related to sewage solids handling as part of a settlement agreement crucial to upgrading West Point Wastewater Treatment Plant in order to provide better environmental protection of Puget Sound. Executive Ron Sims has asked the King County Council to release $5 million to the City of Seattle for improving the City's Discovery Park in Magnolia in return for continued use of sewage digesters at the plant. The payment to the city grows out of a settlement agreement in 1991 between the wastewater treatment utility, which serves 1.4 million customers in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties and a group of litigants who objected to expanding the West Point plant to provide secondary treatment as required by the federal Clean Water Act. The county utility had 10 years to study possible removal of the digesters while making payments to escrow for acreage not available for public use because of the digesters. This money is in addition to $32.5 million given to the city for its shoreline and community improvement fund, and incalculable costs in the design and construction of the $542 million plant so that it would have minimal impact on the community and the recreational environment. King County also will continue to meet operating restrictions and conditions agreed to in the settlement, both for current operations and any potential upgrades to West Point. The project came in $21 million under budget. "We've met all requirements of the settlement agreement," Sims said. "After testing alternative treatment methods and upgrading odor control at the plant, we agreed no available technology could substitute safely, reliably and cost-effectively for the digesters. King County will continue to increase odor control and improve operations within current boundaries of the plant while protecting public health and water quality. We have worked hard to be a good neighbor while providing vital health and environmental protection." Last year, Sims convened the West Point Citizens Advisory Committee at the request of King County Councilmember Larry Phillips, who represents Magnolia. Councilmember Phillips chaired the committee, which comprised of representatives from the Friends of Discovery Park, Puget Sound Water Quality Defense Fund, Legal Advocates for Washington, Washington Environmental Council, Magnolia Community Club and Discovery Park Advisory Council "The West Point Citizen's Committee developed recommendations for using $5 million in settlement funds for 11 projects which will improve Discovery Park making it a more natural environment for visitors and providing more habitat area for wildlife", said Phillips. "They did a stellar job in picking projects that will greatly enhance the Discovery Park experience". Phillips explained that the projects are consistent with the primary function and central purpose of Discovery Park: "to provide an open space of quiet and tranquility for the citizens of this city--a sanctuary where they might escape the turmoil of the city and enjoy the rejuvenation which quiet and solitude and an intimate contact with nature can bring." These projects include removal of buildings and roadways, site restoration and revegetation. Park areas planned for improvement include the old Army Reserve in the park's Fort Lawton Historic District, a forested area in the north half of the park, and the park's North Meadow area. The committee also recommended $800,000 for an opportunity and contingency fund that could be used for other Discovery Park projects and a $500,000 endowment fund. Future interest earnings from the endowment principal will fund habitat restoration and improvement in Discovery Park. The wastewater treatment utility had worked with an alliance of park neighbors in Magnolia and local environmental organizations to agree on ways to mitigate impacts of enlarging the plant to meet federal requirements. The West Point plant treats wastewater from Seattle, north King County and part of south Snohomish County. King County's Wastewater Treatment Division protects public health and water quality by serving 18 cities, 15 sewer districts and more than 1.4 million residents in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties. # # # Note to editors and reporters: Visit the WTD Newsroom, a portal to information for the news media about the Wastewater Treatment Division, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks: http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wtd/newsroom/. Updated: Sept. 11, 2003 Executive's home Executive's news Executive's site map | E-mail the Executive King County | Executive | News | Services | Comments | Search Links to external sites do not constitute endorsements by King County. By visiting this and other King County web pages, you expressly agree to be bound by terms and conditions of the site. The details.