Residents warn of traffic, water and noise impacts from proposed Cumberland aggregate mine and asphalt plant

Julius Stevens, a resident of unincorporated King County, told the Eden Plus City Council on July 13 that plans for a Cumberland-area aggregate mine and asphalt plant would have broad regional impacts if built.

“The project details say they’re looking at 25 to 35 years of removing gravel from the area,” Stevens said during public comment, and he warned councilors that the operation could send “approximately 298 to 668 heavy trucks per day” through nearby towns. He also cited an estimated daily water need of “175,000 to 250,000 gallons” for the plant’s operations.

Stevens told council members the truck traffic, noise and round‑the‑clock operations would affect road quality, police and fire response and residents’ wells. He urged the city to review King County’s materials and to submit comments; he noted King County’s public-comment window is open through Aug. 7.

Linda Stevens, who described long familiarity with the local trails and river access, pressed the council on conserving roughly 990 acres north of Cumberland around Lizard Mountain. “This land…would be wonderful to be able to save,” she said, and she warned that nearby wells and recreational access could be jeopardized by a large industrial project.

The two speakers asked the council to consider the regional footprint of the proposal — citing impacts on Auburn, the Muckleshoots area, Enumclaw and Covington — and to ensure the city’s official comments reflect those concerns. Julius Stevens said he left King County’s project materials with the city clerk and encouraged residents and officials to read the county’s environmental document before the Aug. 7 comment deadline.

The council did not take formal action on the matter during the July 13 meeting. The county-level permitting process and the public comment period remain the next opportunities for formal input and review.