Parametrics consultants told the Clark County Solid Waste Advisory Commission on Dec. 5 that a multi-step siting process has narrowed an initial universe of 158 candidate parcels to roughly 14 technically viable sites, with a plan to identify 3–5 focus sites for field study and two preferred sites for environmental review under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA).

Carl, a senior member of Parametrics, said the project is proceeding in four phases and that the team has completed extensive data collection and a detailed GIS map used to screen sites. "Transfer stations are essential public facilities," he said, adding that the project uses a 60-year planning horizon for sizing and that sites must be "as good a neighbors as they can possibly be." The team reported the broad-area screening trimmed the list first to 72 then to about 14 sites after applying criteria such as size, floodplain avoidance, wetland buffers, residence adjacency and proximity to utilities.

Why this matters: choosing a site will shape the county's solid-waste logistics, traffic patterns and where residents drive to drop off materials. Parametrics stressed that utility access (water, sewer and three-phase power), site size and workable access to arterial roads were decisive factors in the early elimination of many parcels. The county has also made a policy decision not to use condemnation for site acquisition; consultants said outreach to property owners to identify "willing sellers" is a next, essential step.

Key details: the team has developed 35 siting criteria and a transparent scoring/weighting memo that will be applied in subsequent screening. Carl said none of the current short-list sites have direct rail spurs, but rail access is a scored criterion and will be evaluated in the focused screening. Parametrics estimates the broad-area screening will be complete by the first quarter of next year, followed by focused site screening and SEPA-level analysis for two preferred sites.

Point North, the public-engagement lead, described how outreach will be sequenced: the project web page is live, and the team plans questionnaires, advisory commission briefings and public workshops once the technical shortlist is ready. Bridal of Point North said the PIP aims to communicate community benefits, maintain transparency and gather actionable public feedback; early targeted outreach is planned for March–April so residents can react to concrete site maps rather than an unwieldy initial list.

On technical constraints and program scope, Parametrics clarified the current program does not include siting a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) as a required function. Carl noted the plan calls for a minimum of about 15 usable acres for a transfer station but that the conceptual program does include space for self-haul recycling areas, organics collection and a household hazardous-waste receiving area.

What happens next: the county and consultants will verify site availability by contacting landowners, continue focused technical and field screening of the short list, brief county council in January on the shortlist, then launch public engagement and move to SEPA review on two preferred sites. Consultant contact information and further materials will be circulated through the county's project webpage and advisory-commission briefings.

Provenance: Parametrics presentation and Q&A reported and discussed in the meeting (presentation: SEG 070–SEG 503).