[Mike E.]

The Wenatchee World ran an article on the front page this evening regarding the National Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory, (NUSEL). Apparently Cashmere Mountain and Cannon Mountain are on the top of this groups list for a large underground physics lab. They need 6000 feet of covering rock and they like the stable geology of the region and the ease of access. They were looking at the Homestake Mine in South Dakota, but that deal fell through. This could be very interesting, as they also want to have 240,000 square feet of buildings 10 miles from the site. I imagine that means somewhere by the fish hatchery and Sleeping Lady resort. They don't say how many people would be working there, but I imagine that it would be a sizable number. Do any of you know any more about this ?

[Stefan]

I wonder if this is part of that atomic particle bombardment.

[polarbear]

Nothing about it mentioned here.

[troutman]

Does this mean we get to skin to the top of the mountain from their newly developed parking lot and improved paved Iclcle Creek Road? Maybe we will get to access Doctor creek year round. Possibly a chair to the top of Cannon and Enchantment peak?

[Dante]

[troutman]

From the elevator, you can then ride the commuter bus straight to the base of Prussik Peak. Have coffee from the espresso booth by Gnome Tarn and take the gondola to the summit. What better way to spend the morning?

[Dante]

[mgd]

Yes, but it's the waterslide down Aasgard Pass into Colchuck Pool that takes the cake. It makes the hike to the top all worthwhile.

[kleet]

[marta]

This made the Seattle Times today. (sorry registration required- couldn't find it in the PI) The Times article has several quotes from Harriet Bullitt (owner of Sleeping Lady) saying she is in favor of the project. Supposedly the 5 miles of tunnels could be drilled from outside the wilderness area. When asked about the drilling. Bullitt said it would bother her. "I can't see anything that would not be of benefit to the whole community," she said. "The Icicle Valley is a sacred place, but it's not pristine anymore. It's a grab bag for developers."

[marta]

Oh yeah, to answer MikeE's question; it would employ 100 people and accomodate 120 or more visiting scientists.

[MtnGoat]

I think it's kinda cool. If they can drill from outside the Wilderness, not that big a deal. What i'd like to see as mitigations: Would be nice if they build as much as possible underground, including offices and parking, so as to minimize the footprint. After all, if they're digging miles of tunnel office space and parking for 100 shouldn't be a big deal. Also, cutoff lighting and extremely limited external lighting at night to preserve the character of the valley.

[Sore Feet]

Just as long as there not gonna be building some sort of new fangled nuclear colf fusion hydrogen ubermega bomb. And where are they gonna put all the excavated rock?

[Happy Trail Dog]

The scale of this thing could be huge. Here's a link to the UW NUSEL page, check out the info on the Homestake Mine labs in Lead South Dakota which would be replaced by the Cashmere Mountain lab. The politics surrounding the Homestake project and the management screw ups make me nervous. http://int.phys.washington.edu/NUSEL/ HTD

[Dante]