From December 2003 issue of Cascade Checkerboard News
Cascade Checkerboard Project
Cascade Chapter
Sierra Club
Underground Lab Proposed for Icicle Creek

In November, University of Washington scientists announced a proposed underground physics lab in the Icicle Creek valley, southwest of Leavenworth. In order to locate a lab that has 7,000 feet of granite insulation to radiation, they propose digging 4.9-km dual tunnels under 8,501-foot Cashmere Mountain. The National Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (NUSEL) is primarily responsible for studies of cosmic matter such as neutrinos. There are serious concerns about the proposal's impacts to roadless areas, wildlife, wilderness, recreation, water, air and scenic values. Dr. Wick Haxton, project director, says this is the only place in the western United States that meets their requirements.

This $300 million project would involve a drilling operation for more than 2 years, with over 360,000 cubic meters of waste material. This would be hauled down the Icicle Creek road in truck-trailers, about 30 per day. Boring and construction would require industrial staging areas in the valley. Noise, dust and diesel fumes would impact the valley. The project will also require water for drilling and for operation. Since the waters of Icicle Creek are already used for fish and irrigation, that could be a problem. And how will waste water be disposed of? Substantial cutting and filling could be required to "improve" the Icicle Creek road for heavy truck traffic and giant drilling equipment. When finished, there would be impacts from parking, traffic, ventilation shafts, and power. Some toxic materials would be used in these labs, but with double containment. The main office building would be in Leavenworth, connected by underground fiber optic to the underground lab. The lab would be under the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, which raises questions about compliance with the Wilderness Act, and the precedent of allowing a mining operation within the boundaries. With the current administration using every opportunity to undermine environmental laws, this could be a very troubling Trojan horse.

This proposal will require an EIS to analyze impacts and review alternatives (including alternate sites). Funding would come from Congress through the National Sciences Foundation. The Sierra Club has neither opposed nor supported the project. The Club has expressed serious concerns about the significant impacts of this project, and will closely monitor the environmental review.

For more information: http://int.phys.washington.edu/nusel/