Analyze this.That’s what Island County engineer Gary Hess plans to do later this month with soil from several sites in the Freeland area.

Hess is hoping to find permeable soil for the future site of a wastewater treatment and discharge facility.

Three possible sites were considered this summer by the Freeland Sub-Area Planning Committee, which favored a pasture between Cameron and Bush Point Roads along Highway 525. Unfortunately, due to “unfriendly soils” in that area, Hess said he will be going back to the two other sites that were discussed and rejected.

“We are dropping back to study two other sites that were discussed at the meeting,” Hess said.

The two other areas are a portion of the 740-acre parcel that was a former Trillium tree farm, and an acreage just west of the Holmes Harbor area.

Once analysis is complete, Hess and the private engineering firm Tetra Tech/KCM will make recommendations to the committee.

No date has been set for the next Sub-Area Planning Committee meeting.

Developing a plan for a sewer system for Freeland is dependent on finding a location for the plant. It is also the final stage of Freeland’s comprehensive sewer treatment plan. During the last few Sub-Area Planning Committee meetings, the main subject has been choosing such a location.

Consultants have recommended a sewer system in Freeland that uses home septic tanks for holding solids and pumps liquids to a treatment plant.

Yet to be be decided is where to discharge treated water.

Hess said he expects the sewer plan will be completed and ready for public comment and approval by the Island County commissioners early in 2004.

Island County budged $185,000 for development of the plan. According to Hess, the county is still on budget.

Once the plan is completed, the public will have the opportunity to review it. If approved by county commissioners, it will still have to be approved by the state Department of Ecology.

“Ecology’s approval is the big hurdle,” Hess said.