Key Commitments
50% source-separated recycling diversion (Goal 5V); 500-foot setback from transmission pipeline centerline for high-population land uses (Policy 5N-7); 1,000-foot pipeline notification area (Map 5-2)
Goals
(18 total)
- Goal 5A: Specify a clear process for determining appropriate locations for future needed utility facilities
- Goal 5B: Support the development and use of new utility and information technologies
- Goal 5C: Facilitate accessibility of utilities
- Goal 5D: Minimize the time required for processing utilities permits
- Goal 5E: Reduce unnecessary obstacles to land use development applications
- Goal 5F: Identify and remove impediments to effective siting of necessary utility facilities
- Goal 5G: Support cost-effective conservation as a significant supply factor and implement policies that promote energy conservation measures
- Goal 5H: Support cost-effective renewable energy projects and implement policies that promote renewable energy projects
- Goal 5J: Facilitate maintenance and rehabilitation of existing utility systems and facilities and encourage use of existing utility corridors
- Goal 5K: Be responsive to new information on electric and magnetic field (EMF) research progress
- Goal 5L: Support direct and indirect economic benefits to Whatcom County originating with energy or utilities in general
- Goal 5M: Protect the citizens and the environment of Whatcom County through informational, educational, and regulatory measures
- Goal 5N: Develop locational siting criteria specific to special conditions regarding transmission and large distribution pipelines
- Goal 5P: Resolve county water issues through proactive participation in processes leading to a solution of water-related conflicts
- Goal 5Q: Work with water purveyors to provide service to all existing and designated urban growth or industrial areas
- Goal 5R: Ensure that potable water supplies required to serve development are available at the time the development is available for occupancy and use
- Goal 5S: Reduce the incidence of on-site sewage treatment system failure through system management and enforcement of standards
- Goal 5T: Support development of new sewage treatment facilities, including new pipelines and extensions of existing pipelines, to areas designated for urban-level growth
- Goal 5U: Support waste prevention for both solid waste and hazardous waste as a primary focus prior to waste management
- Goal 5V: Achieve 50 percent source-separated recycling waste diversion goal
- Goal 5W: Make safe, effective, economical, and environmentally sound techniques for solid and hazardous waste disposal available
Stronger Policy Language (27 policies)
- Policy 5C-7: Public facilities and utilities will be designed and located in a manner that protects the integrity of planned land uses, existing land forms, drainage ways, natural systems, critical areas, and resource lands.
- Policy 5C-8: Extension of urban utility services shall be limited to areas designated for urban development.
- Policy 5E-2: Require evidence of compliance by the applicant with all relevant easement provisions as a condition of all discretionary and non-discretionary land use approvals.
- Policy 5E-3: Utility companies shall provide notification of proposed projects to abutting landowners consistent with County code.
- Policy 5M-4: Require transmission pipeline operators to provide accurate 'as-built' pipeline maps as a condition of approval for any county development permit.
- Policy 5N-7: Prohibit new land uses with high on-site populations that are difficult to evacuate or new essential public facilities from being located nearer than 500 feet from the centerline of a transmission pipeline.
- Policy 5R-1: Building permit applicants, new subdivisions, short plats, and binding site plans will be required to provide evidence that adequate and legal supplies of water are available prior to approval.
- Policy 5W-2: Maintain and enforce standards for disposal of bio-solids, including management of the amount of heavy metals and other pollutants and management of impacts to sensitive areas.
Aspirational / Monitoring Language (35 policies)
- Policy 5A-3: Encourage utility purveyors to consider underground installation of distribution facilities consistent with WUTC rates and tariffs.
- Policy 5B-2: Support development and use of new technologies.
- Policy 5C-5: Encourage regional planning of public facilities and utilities that will facilitate coordinated land-use management and capital facility construction.
- Policy 5G-2: Encourage and support the use of conservation-based methods and technologies.
- Policy 5H-2: Encourage and support the development of renewable energy projects and technologies, including pursuing renewable energy supply portfolios for the County from power suppliers.
- Policy 5J-1: Encourage utility providers to explore expanded and/or joint use of existing utility corridors before seeking sites for new rights-of-way.
- Policy 5M-8: Encourage the Office of Pipeline Safety to enact stronger safety measures for transmission pipelines, and to encourage pipeline applicants to voluntarily enact stronger safety measures.
- Policy 5P-2: Encourage and actively participate in forums, workshops, and other water-related planning activities.