Commitment to an Environmentally-Safe County
In April King County released findings of elevated heavy metal levels in undisturbed soil in some points on Vashon and Maury Islands and at selected sites on the coastline of mainland King County. After concerns about elevated levels of inorganic metals were raised by island residents last year King County undertook an extensive effort to investigate the scope and depth of this problem. Public Health of Seattle and King County also offered free testing for Vashon and Maury Island children, resulting in no findings of elevated levels of arsenic or lead in the blood of those tested.

Surplus Lands
King County uses its surplus lands in a variety of ways. Surplus lands have been sold to ensure the protection of rural and forest lands in perpetuity in some areas of the county. In others, surplus lands are used to ensure affordable housing within the county.

Transportation
King County is committed to better linking transportation with land-use planning throughout our growing region. This includes the implementation of important transportation standards, as well as a regional plan which would better utilize the county’s roads. Furthermore, King County is committed to Transportation Oriented Development (TOD) which encourages development along major transportation areas to decrease sprawl and encourage density within the urban area.

Regional Wastewater Services Plan (RWSP)
To ensure the region’s water quality remains high and that public health and safety is protected over the next 40 years, King County Executive Ron Sims’ regional wastewater services plan (RWSP) was adopted by the County Council in November of 1999. This plan will ensure the protection of public health and safety, the preservation of clean waterways, and meet the demands of our rapidly growing region.
Learn more.