My husband and I moved to Enumclaw ten years ago. We were attracted to the charming rural farming community at the foot of the Cascades.

Enumclaw is “The Gateway to Mount Rainier”, a peaceful town where people walk, ride bikes, and hike in peace. Pinnacle Peak/Mount Peak up the Cal Magnusson Trail offers nature at its best; wooded trails, moss, ferns, and the songs of a variety of birds. The newly constructed lookout tower at the top of Mt. Peak would lose its attraction and all the peace and tranquility would be destroyed by the road of jet planes. Noise pollution to Enumclaw and surrounding communities would be intolerable.

I grew up in Burien and know the consequences of a nearby airport. Teachers and ministers stopping mid-sentence to allow the jet engines to pass and missing words and sentences on the radio and T.V.

The economy of this town is the rural, peaceful environment. Converting farmland into a sprawling concrete mass would be an assault to the environment and destroy the very essence of Enumclaw.

We are a community that does not want the “big box” stores. An airport would result in large businesses, like hotels that would change this community forever. An airport would result in a n exodus of good and caring citizens.

The White River flows from the Emmons Glacier on Mt. Rainier through Enumclaw, the Muckleshoot Indian Reservation, a broad floodplain west of Lake Tapps, then into the Puyallup River in Sumner. The White River and its tributaries provide habitat for salmon species including Chinook, pink, chum, and coho. The proposed airport would compromise the river, its tributaries and the salmon population.

The land in and around Enumclaw is rich with indigenous artifacts. A recent construction site for new homes within the city limits revealed a “significant” ancient toll-making location, rich with artifacts important to the Muckleshoot Tribe. Building on the site where the artifacts were discovered was prohibited. The Tribe conducts archeology students of all new construction areas and has the power to halt all projects if artifacts are found. The wide area proposed for the airport is bound to contain important artifacts.

In addition, Enumcalw is a rural location with no convenient access to major roadways. Depending on traffic and the time of day, it is 45 to 60 minutes to I-5. The two-way country roads will not support the traffic an airport would generate. And the cost to create an infrastructure to accomodate an airport would require billions of dollars, years of road construction, and long delays in every direction.

We cannot allow this land, rich in natural and native history, to be destroyed. We cannot allow our charming rural town, rish in pioneer history, to be destroyed. The suggestion of locating an airport here is completely illogical. Everyone who cares about Enumclaw, and everyone who cares about the environment, should object to this proposal. Long may Enumclaw stand as the symbol of “Gateway to Mount Rainier”.

Linda Rude

Enumclaw