I reside in rural Enumclaw. There are several reasons to request the denial for permit #GRDE23-0083 and ask for a n environmental impact statement.
The Enumclaw plateau has experienced rapid growth during the past few years adding traffic to rural roads. All roads are posted with a 45 mph speed limit which is ignored. Farmers have to use these roads with slow moving tractors which impede traffic
Enumclaw hosts bicycle races on the plateau which cross rural roads. Week end and after work cyclists use the shoulders of the roads. Many roads do not have a wide bicycle lane.
School buses use the roads twice a day to load and off load children. The buses need to stop traffic both ways and wait for the children to cross the road. This is a major concern for our community.
Segale’s proposal would have 500 heavy trucks per day driving for 20 hours, from 8 a.m. to 4 a.m. the following morning. While Segale maintains that the roads are designed for heavy loads, those of us who drive these roads are used to pot holes and rough roads
Besides the road issues, I’m concerned about the environmental impact. I used to ride my horse above Corliss gravel pit. There was a lovely valley with deer and elk. Once I saw a cougar. Corliss filled the valley up with mud. It’s now a mud lake. Above the valley was a mature forest. Riding through was other worldly. Now it’s gone.
This gravel pit would potentially impact the Green River ecosystem. A environmental impact study would answer that question.
King County has done so much work to keep rural King County rural. Neuwaukum Creek now has salmon migrating, and bald eagles nesting in the trees. I understand the need for building supplies, but surely there are other sources besides Cumberland. There have to be sources that don’t destroy a natural forested area that cannot be returned to nature.
Please request the denial of permit #GRDE23-0083 and ask for an environmental impact statement for the sake of the land, the school children, and the health of the community.
Gay Johnson
Enumclaw
