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The county is looking at the current draft alternatives or <br /> different pathways under the State Environmental Protection Act . <br /> The public comment period is open from April 16th to May 18th. <br /> Staff is seeking public comments on EIS alternatives to <br /> consider, EIS elements of the environment, probable significant <br /> adverse impacts, minimization and mitigation measures, and <br /> licenses or other approvals that may be required. There will be <br /> a scoping open house in early May to provide informational <br /> materials about project goals, purpose, timeline, and <br /> opportunities for questions . <br /> Discussion of small modular reactors and fission versus fusion <br /> occurred. CDS DIRECTOR BALA stated that staff and Kimley-Horn <br /> picked the small modular reactor scenario and through that they <br /> decided to get ahead of it to see if we have an opportunity to <br /> get this process, develop the mitigation requirements, identify <br /> what those are, create a process if needed, and try and develop <br /> something that we retain control of for processing. <br /> PLANNER ELLIE MYERS shared that the public website for this <br /> grant is live on the CDS webpage . The scoping notice has been <br /> issued and will run through May 18th. There is an email on our <br /> website to submit written comments . They may also be submitted <br /> at the office or through the mail . <br /> 2026 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PERIODIC UPDATE: DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS <br /> AND CRITICAL AREAS ORDINANCE REVIEW <br /> CRITICAL AREAS ORDINANCE UPDATE - CDS DIRECTOR BALA provided a <br /> brief introduction to the update . He stated that in 2025, CDS <br /> settled with the Yakama Nation and we became BAS compliant . <br /> Staff received one comment on the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) <br /> from Fish and Wildlife . ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER KYLE COTCHETT, <br /> from Facet presented. ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNER COTCHETT stated that <br /> we are updating the CAO because the Growth Management Act <br /> requires all cities and counties in Washington to adopt and <br /> periodically update regulations to protect critical areas on a <br /> ten year cycle and must incorporate the best available science . <br /> The minor changes focus on consistency, clarity, and <br /> administration. Clarifications were made for the repair and <br /> maintenance of legally established non-conforming system <br /> structures . The requirement for all development within critical <br /> aquifer recharge areas needs to adhere to federal and state <br /> requirements and recommendations related to water source <br /> protection. Revisions were made to allow the director to have <br /> the discretion to require revegetation or widening of a wetland <br /> buffer when not meeting vegetation standards . COMMISSIONER <br /> 2026-4-14 MINUTES 4 <br />