I just found this link in the course of other internet searching. it appears to be from some UW "science geek." http://int.phys.washington.edu/NUSEL/leavenworth.pdf
I have no problem with the research, nor with an underground lab. I do, however, have a problem with the thought that it is acceptable to drill (permanently) under Federally designated wilderness areas for research that is supposed to only last 40 years. The laws governing mining and wilderness are complex; it seems that if UW/NUSEL needs to have an air vent within the wilderness (which i read somewhere) that it would be in violation of the Wilderness Act as it not within a current mining claim and, therefore, is subject to Wilderness Act regulations. That alone is enough to make the entire project illegal in my mind. Let alone the other potential effects on water/air quality and the human dimensions in the Icicle.
This issue goes way beyond how it will impact us as climbers ...