Residents urge council to weigh regional impacts of proposed Cumberland Aggregate Mine

Members of the public told the Eden Plus City Council they are concerned about King County’s proposal for the Cumberland Aggregate Mine and associated asphalt plant and asked the city to review and comment on county materials.

Julius Stevens, who said he lives in unincorporated King County just outside Enumclaw, asked the council to examine the King County project documents he provided to the city clerk. He said the proposal anticipates 25–35 years of gravel removal and quoted project figures for truck traffic and water use: “they’re looking at 298 to 668 heavy trucks per day,” he said, and characterized the operation as a 24‑hour, seven‑day‑a‑week activity that will “complicate the life in Enumclaw.” Stevens also cited a projected daily water demand of “175,000 to 250,000 gallons a day,” and warned of regional effects on roads, police and fire services.

Linda Stevens, speaking on the same issue, urged protection of roughly 990 acres north of Cumberland, including Lizard Mountain and White River access, and said nearby residents worry about well impacts if large‑scale extraction proceeds. She described the area’s recreational value for hiking, biking and horseback riding and said county and state entities had previously discussed acquisition possibilities.

Speakers asked the council to consider submitting comments to King County (the county’s comment period was noted as open through August 7 in remarks left with the city clerk) and to weigh traffic, noise and water impacts in their response. The council did not take formal action on the mine during the meeting but accepted the public comments for the record.