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Residents urge council to scrutinize Cumberland aggregate mine proposal, urge preservation of nearby 990 acres
Summary
Speakers at the council’s public-comment period warned that a proposed Cumberland gravel and asphalt operation could mean decades of extraction, substantial truck traffic, large daily water use, noise and regional emergency-service strain; another commenter urged preserving roughly 990 acres north of Cumberland, including Lizard Mountain and White River access.
Several residents used the council’s public-comment period to press the city to scrutinize a proposed Cumberland aggregate mine and asphalt plant and to support land-preservation efforts nearby.
Julius Stevens, who lives in unincorporated King County just outside Enumclaw, said the proposal could mean "25 to 35 years of removing gravel from the area" and warned of a 24/7 operation that would add heavy-truck traffic through the city. He said the project materials cited daily water use in the range of "175,000 to 250,000 gallons a day" and noted the site’s round-the-clock hours. Stevens urged the city to review King County’s project documents and submit comments before the county comment deadline (he said comments are open through August 7).
"The water usage probably isn't that big a factor to you folks, but they're looking at needing 175,000 to 250,000 gallons a day to run the operation," Stevens told the council. He also said the proposal listed an estimate of "2.98 to 6 68 heavy trucks per day" (transcript phrasing), and he cautioned that increased truck traffic could affect roads and emergency services.
Linda Stevens, speaking separately on the Cumberland-area issue, urged the council to help preserve about 990 acres north of Cumberland, including Lizard Mountain and trails that give access to the White River. She described long-standing recreational use—hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking—and said some residents fear well-water impacts if a large extraction project proceeds. "This is a beautiful piece of property," she said, urging preservation efforts and noting she had heard county and state officials might be interested in protecting the land.
Both commenters asked the council to review county materials and to consider the local environmental, traffic and water-supply consequences as the county’s permitting process proceeds. The council did not take action during the meeting but heard calls for coordination and comment.
