Assumptions and Responses
see also Tough Questions, Community Concerns, and Citizens Advisory Committee sections and read the "Response to DUSEL CASCADES Pre-Proposal" [PDF: 92kb]
Assumption
Response
There will be a huge economic benefit with no negative impact.
There are no guarantees that the few jobs the lab and construction activites would incur would be offered to local people. There would also be additional costs with support taxes, road building and utilities with no tax revenue coming in from tax-exempt government and university entities.
This is an environmentally clean project.
This project has many environmental issues. Some of these include the construction of the tunnels which would cause traffic, noise and air pollution. There are serious water concerns that our source of drinking and irrigation water could be severely affected.
Wick Haxton has been telling the community that this would be a clean lab with only water used for scintillators.
As reported by an attendee at a February 3, 2004 meeting with west side environmentalists in Fremont, Haxton said they would be using in the detecto 50,000 tons of water that would be removed from Icicle Creek at high flow every four to five years. The contents would also include a scintillator, 1,000 tons of a hydrocarbon similar to gasoline, although more readily evaporated into the air. He said a spill would kill fish then evaporate. Many gases would be used: helium, argon, ntirogen, etc.in their liquid form, which requires constant refrigeration to maintain their fluidity. It would be dangerous if the electricity/refrigeration failed, these substances would return to gas. If this occurred, the lab room would be flushed. Radon would also be vented out. The tunnel and lab would also be used by the National Nuclear Security Administration for their own experiments.
The Wilderness Act is not an obstacle because it mentions "for scientific study"
This "interpretation" could set a dangerous precedent that could lead to mining and drilling in Wilderness areas.
Visitors to the area will support the project.
The many visitors that contribute to our local economy come here to enjoy the peace and beauty of the Icicle Valley. This could negatively affect tourism in our area.
Timeline of this project is approximately 2 to 5 years once construction begins.
Project would likely take far longer - from 7 to 12 years by some estimates, extending the negative impacts of construction activities on the local community.
The lab will be used for scientific experiments.
There has been open discussion among scientists involved in the facility's planning of also using it for Department of Energy and Defense Department projects including "weapons detection," analyzing samples for evidence of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Even without the WMD element the DUSEL would still likely demand intense national security oversight, at least with lighting and guards. (source- Leavenworth Echo). Close Icicle Canyon for security reasons...?
Opponents to the DUSEL project are environmental extremists who have let their imaginations run wild, have "gone off" and are not willing to listen.
We too believe in the scientific method of inquiry. This includes getting all of the data and reviewing it carefully. This would include risks that are highly probable to occur and some that have already happened at other DUSEL sites.
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| Assumption | Response |
| There will be a huge economic benefit with no negative impact. | There are no guarantees that the few jobs the lab and construction activites would incur would be offered to local people. There would also be additional costs with support taxes, road building and utilities with no tax revenue coming in from tax-exempt government and university entities. |
| This is an environmentally clean project. | This project has many environmental issues. Some of these include the construction of the tunnels which would cause traffic, noise and air pollution. There are serious water concerns that our source of drinking and irrigation water could be severely affected. |
| Wick Haxton has been telling the community that this would be a clean lab with only water used for scintillators. |
As reported by an attendee at a February 3, 2004 meeting with west side environmentalists in Fremont, Haxton said they would be using in the detecto 50,000 tons of water that would be removed from Icicle Creek at high flow every four to five years. The contents would also include a scintillator, 1,000 tons of a hydrocarbon similar to gasoline, although more readily evaporated into the air. He said a spill would kill fish then evaporate. Many gases would be used: helium, argon, ntirogen, etc.in their liquid form, which requires constant refrigeration to maintain their fluidity. It would be dangerous if the electricity/refrigeration failed, these substances would return to gas. If this occurred, the lab room would be flushed. Radon would also be vented out. The tunnel and lab would also be used by the National Nuclear Security Administration for their own experiments. |
| The Wilderness Act is not an obstacle because it mentions "for scientific study" | This "interpretation" could set a dangerous precedent that could lead to mining and drilling in Wilderness areas. |
| Visitors to the area will support the project. | The many visitors that contribute to our local economy come here to enjoy the peace and beauty of the Icicle Valley. This could negatively affect tourism in our area. |
| Timeline of this project is approximately 2 to 5 years once construction begins. | Project would likely take far longer - from 7 to 12 years by some estimates, extending the negative impacts of construction activities on the local community. |
| The lab will be used for scientific experiments. | There has been open discussion among scientists involved in the facility's planning of also using it for Department of Energy and Defense Department projects including "weapons detection," analyzing samples for evidence of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Even without the WMD element the DUSEL would still likely demand intense national security oversight, at least with lighting and guards. (source- Leavenworth Echo). Close Icicle Canyon for security reasons...? |
| Opponents to the DUSEL project are environmental extremists who have let their imaginations run wild, have "gone off" and are not willing to listen. | We too believe in the scientific method of inquiry. This includes getting all of the data and reviewing it carefully. This would include risks that are highly probable to occur and some that have already happened at other DUSEL sites. |