  The proposed Mitchell Institute Neutrino Experiment at Reactor (MINER)
experiment at the Nuclear Science Center at Texas A&M University will search
for coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering within close proximity (about
2 meters) of a 1 MW TRIGA nuclear reactor core using low threshold, cryogenic
germanium and silicon detectors. Given the Standard Model cross section of the
scattering process and the proposed experimental proximity to the reactor, as
many as 5 to 20 events/kg/day are expected. We discuss the status of
preliminary measurements to characterize the main backgrounds for the proposed
experiment. Both in situ measurements at the experimental site and simulations
using the MCNP and GEANT4 codes are described. A strategy for monitoring
backgrounds during data taking is briefly discussed.
