10. ECONOMICS -- Loss of tourism / recreation dollars from huge industrial operation in Icicle Canyon (and subsequent effect on Leavenworth area from heavy industrial truck traffic, noise, dust) as well as added costs to taxpayers from infrastructure development (road improvement, power lines, sewage, etc). Tax-exempt status of University / Government entities will not add to County budget.
9. LOSS OF LOCAL CONTROL -- This would be a national lab with several government agencies involved (including Department of Defense and National Nuclear Security Agency) and due to security reasons, local citizens would not know what activities and/or hazardous materials and chemicals may be transported through our valley and used in the lab.
8. WATER -- Icicle Canyon is Leavenworth's watershed (source of drinking water) and the source of irrigation for orchards and farms in the Icicle and Wenatchee Valleys. The supply is already over-allocated but expertly maintained to supply our needs. The construction phase and lab will need undetermined amounts of water from Icicle Creek. This will seriously affect water supply for residents of the valley.
7. TRUST -- What one or two scientists tell us at this point about doing this project cleanly and safely with little impact will be meaningless and out of their hands when the big budget federal program starts up and the large construction corporations move in. The manner in which the persuasive efforts have been conducted is also intensely disturbing; the cavalier attitude, the promising good to all, harm to none. The persuasive process has been “non-transparent” and non-forthcoming. The real information has been omitted.
6. JOBS -- There is an assumption that the area will benefit from more high-paying employment. Maybe if you are a dump truck driver, you'll benefit. And perhaps a few more service industry jobs like motel housekeepers. And of course realtors would benefit from the added pressure to our limited and already expensive housing market. The majority of new jobs would likely be filled by out-of-town grad students, scientists and government employees.
5. LOCAL PRESTIGE AND "CULTURE" -- It has been suggested that this project would "enhance" the local area with more educated, sophisticated and cultured people. These are also the same newcomers who would think nothing of destroying one of the most beautiful valleys in the northwest and negatively impacting one of the most thriving tourist / recreation towns in the state. A great addition to the community...?
4. POLLUTION -- The construction phase and lab would be using a variety of known (and unknown) hazardous materials and chemicals. Accidents happen, safety cannot be guaranteed and Icicle Creek or the groundwater of the valley could be affected. Any added risk of contamination to our water is not worth it.
3. THE TUNNELS -- Don't be mislead that this is just a small tunnel in Mt. Cashmere. It is actually two tunnels side by side and each tunnel is 6 meters (20-feet) in diameter. The "drill bit" is 20-feet in diameter and the drilling / excavating machinery is hundreds of yards long. With a huge infrastructure to support and maintain it, this would be a MASSIVE industrial project in Icicle Canyon. See photos at bottom of page.
2. WILDERNESS AND NATIONAL FOREST -- This proposed industrial project would undermine the Wilderness Act and set a dangerous precedent that would allow mining under Wilderness areas. The lakes and creeks above the tunnels on Mt. Cashmere could be affected if the water table is disrupted and changed by the tunnels. The National Forest land at the portal site lies within a "Scenic" river corridor designation by law in the Forest Plan. Access to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness would be severely impacted.
And the Number One Reason to say NO to NUSEL in the Icicle Valley...
1. THE RISKS FAR OUTWEIGH ANY BENEFITS
