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Residents urge council to scrutinize Cumberland aggregate mine proposal, warn of truck traffic and water use
Summary
Speakers warned the proposed Cumberland Aggregate Mine and Asphalt Plant could run for decades, send hundreds of heavy trucks through Enumclaw daily, operate 24/7 and use 175,000–250,000 gallons of water per day; residents urged further review and noted King County's comment window runs through Aug. 7.
Several residents used the July 13 Eden Plus City Council public-comment period to urge scrutiny of a proposed Cumberland Aggregate Mine and related development and to press for land preservation near Lizard Mountain.
Julius Stevens, who said he lives in unincorporated King County just outside Enumclaw, asked the council to review King County project materials and expressed multiple concerns about the proposed mine and asphalt plant. "They're looking at 25 to 35 years of removing gravel from the area," Stevens told the council, and he warned that the project could mean "approximately 298 to 668 heavy trucks per day" passing through local routes. Stevens also cited an estimated operational water need of "175,000 to 250,000 gallons a day" and emphasized noise and traffic impacts to Enumclaw and surrounding jurisdictions. He said King County had opened public comments through Aug. 7 and left a copy of the county materials with the city clerk.
Linda Stevens, also speaking from the audience, urged the council to consider preserving about 990 acres north of Cumberland near Lizard Mountain. She said long-term residents and visitors value access to the White River and nearby trails and expressed concern for residents who rely on wells: "A lot of the residents are worried about their wells if a big project like that goes in," she said.
No city action on the Cumberland project was taken at the meeting; speakers were primarily urging the council to review materials and to consider the regional impacts of permit approvals. The county process and its public-comment deadline were identified by speakers as the appropriate venue for submitting technical concerns and evidence.
What comes next: Residents urged continued engagement with King County’s permitting process; council staff did not announce any formal action or ordinance tied to the mine at this meeting.
