A $300 million national science laboratory sought by the University of Washington will not be built deep underground in the Cascades outside of Leavenworth in Chelan County.

The National Science Foundation said yesterday that it has taken the proposed site in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness off its list of possible locations for the National Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory.

"Naturally, we are very disappointed, but we are glad to have been part of the evaluation process" said Marilyn Cox, assistant vice provost of capital planning at the University of Washington. "I know our scientists will try to work with the physics community in the future to support this national laboratory."

Cox said she didn't know why the site was rejected, and the scientists promoting the lab couldn't be reached yesterday.

The proposed lab would have been built 7,000 feet underground in an ultraclean environment shielded from ultraviolet radiation. Research at the site would investigate physics, astrophysics, Earth science and microbiology, including the study of life deep underground.

The rejected site, 10 miles outside of Leavenworth, was considered because of its granite formations, ideal for constructing tunnels to the lab and providing good stability for the structure, Cox said.

Some Leavenworth residents opposed the lab, arguing that its construction would disrupt the area's beauty and taint the community's water supply.

The science foundation did not say which sites are still being considered for the lab.

Carina Stanton: cstanton@seattletimes.com or 206-464-8349