NO DUSEL in Icicle Canyon
Letter to National Science Foundation
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Thank you.
National Science Foundation
attn: Dr. Eugene Loh
Division of Physics
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Blvd.
Room 1015
Arlington, VA 22230
RE: DUSEL Cascades
We the undersigned urgently request that the National Science Foundation remove Mt. Cashmere - Icicle Canyon from further consideration as a site for the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Lab for the following reasons:
- The proposed site is within the municipal watershed for the City of Leavenworth and outlying areas. The inherent risk of siting a major industrial project like DUSEL at the source of drinking water for thousands of people and irrigation for more than 10,000 acres is unacceptable -- accidental chemical spills, unsafe contaminated water discharge from tunneling into granite fractures filled with groundwater, and the likelihood of vehicle accidents on a narrow canyon road involving large quantities of gas/diesel/chemicals spilling into Icicle Creek.
- The environmental and aesthetic damage to what is currently a beautiful, peaceful and relatively pristine mountain canyon surrounded by a federal Wilderness area would result in ruining what is truly a national scenic treasure.
- Federal laws and years of creating the U.S. Forest Service's National Forest Plan for the area would have to be overturned to allow such a project. The area surrounding the proposed portal site is designated "Scenic-Recreational" or "Roadless" and Icicle Creek in that area is under consideration as a National Wild and Scenic River (a Federal designation).
- The lengthy construction process would severely damage the experience of visitors to the area and adversely affect the thriving tourist-based economy of Leavenworth. Icicle Canyon is one of the most popular recreation areas in the Pacific Northwest -- attracting campers, hikers, climbers, fishermen, horsemen and tourists by the thousands every year -- and to turn it into a major construction/industrial zone would be a tragedy of the worst kind... a travesty that could never be reversed or mitigated.
We ask that no further consideration be given for siting DUSEL at Mt. Cashmere, saving not only Icicle Canyon but also millions of taxpayer dollars on what will surely be a long, hard-fought battle to prevent it.
Sincerely,
[ Your name and many more will be listed here in a formal letter ]