One of the hallmarks of the past eight years under County Executive Bruce Dammeier was the prolific use of the DNS, Determination of Non-Significance. It is a term used in land development after an environmental review form is filled out and a plan for development is submitted.

In the past eight years, I cannot recall any development that actually required a further study to ensure that the development was not going to cause irreparable harm to the land, wildlife, environment neighborhood, etc. That further study, known as an environmental impact statement (EIS) usually takes months to a year or more to produce, but thoroughly categorizes the current environment versus the potential effect of the proposed changes.

Although my mamma said, “Never say never.” Since those eight years have been completed, I will say I never saw it used once. Basically, under our previous administration, Pierce County was non-significant.

I hope you agree with me that a county whose elevation goes from sea level to 14,411 feet and has a 369 square mile National Park mostly inside its boundaries and endangered Orca pods swimming in its waters must assuredly be extremely significant.

So, I am asking each of you who reads this to promise to watch a little more closely, as this new administration, led by a former leader of the Pierce Conservation District takes the helm, to see that his Forward Together plan actually follows the rules the citizens, the County Charter, State, Federal, and the Community Plans set to protect our quality of life, the beautiful Pacific Northwest forests, coasts, and waterways we live within, and ensures development doesn’t do irreparable harm to it all.

We are anything but non-significant, thankfully, one former Executive now is.