Copyright © 2000 The Seattle Times Company
Local News :
Thursday, July 06, 2000
Gravel-pit dispute gains more comment time
A computer glitch in downloading the environmental-impact statement for two controversial Cadman gravel-pit operations proposed near North Bend has prompted King County to extend the comment period by 15 days.
Comments can now be sent until Aug. 15.
Paula Adams, communications director for the county Department of Development and Environmental Services, said those with older and slower computers were having difficulty downloading the document from the county's Web site.
In the future, she said, consultants will be asked to set up a Web-site format that works for all computer users.
Meanwhile, copies of the document are available at Cadman's office at Ken's Truck Town, 46630 S.E. North Bend Way, Suite 6, and at local libraries. The department Web page is
http://www.metrokc.gov/ddes
; to find the document, pull down the "DDES Hot Topics" menu and click on "North Bend Gravel Operation Proposal."
A public meeting on the impact statement will run from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Mount Si High School.
Cadman's proposal involves extracting gravel at two locations - a 33-acre lower site at an existing pit and a 240-acre parcel on property recently logged on the Grouse Ridge plateau - near the Edgewick interchange on Interstate 90 southeast of North Bend.
Robin Hansen, Cadman's environmental manager, said buffer areas would surround both sites, and berms would obscure views and noise. The company consulted with the Mountains to Sound Greenway trust in preparing the plan.
Cadman's trucks, making some 450 round-trips a day, would use Exit 34 from I-90 and would not pass any homes, parks or schools. Only trucks making local deliveries, as they do now, would use North Bend or Snoqualmie streets, Hansen said.
Digging at the upper site would take place in a bowl with the outer slopes of Grouse Ridge left in a natural state, Hansen said. It would be done in 50-acre segments, and as the segments were completed the land would be recontoured, soil added and trees planted, he said.
The operation would continue for about 25 years, depending on market demand. Afterward, Cadman would complete regrading and plant trees on the two sites, Hansen said.
Despite such plans, Cadman is drawing strong opposition from local residents, including the Cascade Gateway Foundation.
Jeff Martine, foundation president, said there are three major issues in contention: damage to the aquifer on the 33-acre site, use of Exit 34 and a planned conveyor belt to move materials across the two sites.
"They propose to mine right into the water table on the east end of the 33-acre site," Martine said. "This is a clear and present danger to the aquifer. It's ironic, but all the problems could be mitigated if Cadman would eliminate the lower site from the plan."
Jerry Liszak, a hydrogeologist for the state Department of Ecology who toured the site last month, said breaching the water table on the east end of the small site, which is higher than the west end, would lower the water table at that part of the site. And, he added, Cadman's plans to install French drains, or covered ditches, to move water to the west end could cause on-site flooding, and eventually the drains could clog up.
Using Exit 34, where Seattle East (also known as Ken's Truck Town) is located would add to the traffic congestion in and out of the truck stop, Martine contends.
And he questions the 42-inch-wide conveyor belt that would connect the Grouse Ridge and lower sites. Cadman has not yet submitted a plan for the belt.
"We don't know exactly where it will be," Martine said, "but it's certain to be a noisy and dirty operation."
Louis T. Corsaletti's phone message number is 206-515-5626.
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