DUSEL -- Community Concerns
see also -- Citizens Advisory Committee, Tough Questions and Top Ten Reasons sections and read the "Response to DUSEL CASCADES Pre-Proposal" [PDF: 92kb]
Aesthetics
Icicle Canyon would be “industrialized,” access limited, peace and tranquility ruined... sacrificing Icicle Valley, a national treasure.
Traffic and Noise
Trucking out the rock removed from the tunnels and lab could last 7.4 years, at 30 truckloads one way per day (60 total truck trips counting return trip), 8 hours/day, 5 days a week - one truck every 8 minutes; 55,000 truckloads and 55,000 returns; total project construction disruption estimated at 12.6 years due to related construction activities before and after tunneling. Noise: blasting, conveying, loading, crushing, ventilation, traffic of hauling, periodic road reconstruction. Trucks could go off road and pollute creek. Dangers to pedestrians & people driving road.
Taxes
Tax-exempt status of the National Science Foundation would mean additional costs to Chelan County taxpayers for additional infrastructure such as road reconstruction and extra PUD costs passed on to local ratepayers for laying electrical and fiber-optic lines to the site.
Recreation Loss
Reduction in recreational tourism to Leavenworth; derailing the enthusiasm of recreation users; loss of anticipation of having a ’true’ wilderness experience. Possible destruction of roadside climbing / hiking areas with potential widening and straightening of road to accommodate large rock-hauling trucks. Noise and heat from construction and lab activities (ventilation fans, etc.) affecting surrounding wilderness area.
Water Quality / Water Rights / Hydrogeology
Icicle Creek is currently over-allocated on water rights - lab cannot acquire water without affecting local use; potential chemical spills into Icicle Creek and groundwater (Leavenworth’s water supply); tunnel digging could drain alpine lakes and creeks above it by changing water table in the area.
Air Quality
Diesel truck fumes and dust for 12.6 years; inversions hold smoke and fumes in the Leavenworth Valley.
Undermines Wilderness Act -
Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Precedence for nationwide subversion of the integrity of all Wilderness conservancy, including National Forests, National Parks and Wild and Scenic Rivers.
Disproportionate Political Influence
Annual budgets:
City of Leavenworth -$12 million;
Chelan County-$26 million;
National Forest, Leavenworth Ranger District - $3-4 million;
Okanogan Wenatchee National Forests - $25-30 million;
City of Wenatchee - $47 million;
DUSEL - $50 million.
Unknown Future Uses For Lab / Nuclear Physics
Potentially hazardous or objectionable future uses; out of the control of local / state entities, and local citizens.
Light Pollution
Glare at portals, night-time trucking glare.
Wildlife
Mountain goats, other wildlife and birds affected / displaced by construction, noise and heavy truck traffic.
See our DUSEL Around the World section and read about the environmental disaster in Italy...
