Proposed Marine Drive Metal Processing Facility 

(updated 03/12/2024)

Map showing the proposed location of the ABC metal processor.

About the proposed project 

ABC Recycling has applied to Whatcom County for a permit to build a metal processing facility on Marine Drive. The proposed facility would be located outside the Bellingham city limits, in the Urban Growth Area that is currently part of unincorporated Whatcom County. 

Because the facility’s proposed location is outside city limits, the City does not have land use or zoning authority over the project. Whatcom County has the ultimate authority and will decide whether to approve this project.  

Get the most current information for this project on the Whatcom County website. 

City of Bellingham’s role: Co-lead SEPA review 

We know the outcome and impacts of this project are important to Bellingham community members. We’ve chosen to work with Whatcom County to co-lead the required environmental analysis for this project, the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review. 

Co-leading the SEPA review of this proposed facility gives us the ability to represent the concerns of Bellingham residents more directly in the process. We’re voluntarily taking this role so the City is integral to evaluating if and to what extent the proposed metal processing facility will have environmental impacts, and if so, to determine how best to mitigate those impacts. 

Requesting to be a co-lead of a SEPA review for development activity outside the city is not typical for the City. We carefully considered this role in contrast with how we’ve approached similar projects in the past. Ultimately, we believe stepping up to share responsibility for the environmental review of this project is in Bellingham residents’ best interest. 

As decision-makers on the development proposal, the County can use information learned through the SEPA process to: 

  • Change a project proposal to reduce the likely environmental impacts. 
  • Apply conditions to a proposal or deny a proposal when significant adverse environmental impacts that cannot be effectively mitigated are identified. 

How can you participate? 

Community members will be able to weigh in during the SEPA process. As a co-lead of the SEPA review, we’ll provide information about how you can participate and learn more. 

You can find more information about the proposed metal processing facility on Whatcom County’s project page. When the project is open for public comment, you will also find instructions for providing comments on that webpage. 

Frequently Asked Questions

In the past, the City has participated as a commentor during SEPA reviews on similar types of projects outside city limits. As a co-lead, our role in this SEPA process will be different. We’ll participate equally with the County in managing all steps of the SEPA review. 

This means the City will weigh in directly on the threshold decision, which determines whether an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be required. If an EIS is required, the City would also participate in decisions such as the scope of the analysis, how the public can participate, what alternatives should be studied and what measures might be required to mitigate environmental impacts. 

Because the co-leadership role is new for us, we will continually be evaluating the best way for the City to represent the needs of our community. We’ve structured the agreement outlining our co-leadership of the SEPA review in a way that allows us to adapt our role if needed.

By state law, non-exempt development projects must go through an environmental analysis (a SEPA review) to determine what environmental impacts – if any – the project will likely lead to, and how those impacts can be mitigated. 

Many projects must complete an Enivronmental Impact Statement (EIS). An EIS is required when the lead agencies issue a Determination of Significance. Some of the steps in an EIS are: 

  • Selecting a consultant – A consultant is often selected to manage the process, including writing the EIS and managing public engagement.  
  • EIS scoping – Lead agencies and the consultant conduct a scoping session. At this stage, the goal is to identify potential issues that should be studied and analyzed, such as traffic volumes, water quality, potential hazards, air quality, and more. The public can weigh in on what should be included in the scope. 
  • EIS mitigation measures – If likely environmental impacts are identified, the EIS will identify and evaluate alternatives and/or mitigation efforts that could reduce anticipated impacts. 

See these SEPA FAQs from the Department of Ecology for more details. 

You can find project details, including a timeline when it’s available, on the County’s project page. 

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