Governor Rounds announces Homestake Mine selected by NSF review committee as a possible site for an underground laboratory 

PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Mike Rounds announced today that National Science Foundation (NSF) has again selected the Homestake Gold Mine in Lead as one of two sites under consideration for a deep underground science and engineering laboratory.  Each site will receive a $500,000 grant to produce a conceptual design for a possible laboratory.   

“I am very happy that after an extensive scientific review process, we have again been selected as one of the most desirable locations for a deep underground science and engineering laboratory,” said the governor on the announcement.  “This process has been a tremendous team effort that wouldn’t have been possible if not for the scientific community having a vision for the future of science, and the Homestake Gold Corporation working with us to put together a land transfer plan, which was the first critical step in designing a deep underground science and engineering lab. This cooperative effort sends two clear messages to the National Science Foundation and the scientific community.   First, that the best location in the United States for an underground science lab is available for development, and second, that South Dakota will do what it takes to make the lab a reality.”

The announcement comes after the NSF made a solicitation (S-2) inviting proposals for candidate sites and for the development of a conceptual design of the infrastructure for a Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL). The purpose of a DUSEL is to enable the broad range of science and engineering research that requires a deep underground location for reasons such as shielding from cosmic rays or direct access to physical/chemical/biological/engineering processes that can occur deep underground. A third solicitation (S-3) is planned through which detailed technical designs will be developed for the most promising combinations of site and conceptual design resulting from this solicitation.

In June 2003, Gov. Mike Rounds formed the Homestake Laboratory Conversion Project, with state funding authorized by the legislature, to enable the conversion of the mine to a deep laboratory. The governor and Homestake Gold Corporation have agreed that, subject to specific terms and conditions, the ownership of the mine will be transferred to the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority when funding for the conversion is available.   

An original unsolicited proposal, submitted by scientists, approached the development of the deep underground laboratory to include the excavations of several large experiment detectors as part of the laboratory. This proposal would have required funding in excess of $300 million and remains unfunded. 

However, a new approach, the creation of a laboratory at the 4850 foot level, became feasible as the extensive capabilities of the mine, as it will be transferred, were reviewed.  The mine, as will be transferred, will include extensive infrastructure and operational capabilities that can provide the core support facilities of the Homestake Underground Laboratory with the ability to expedite the addition of various detector experiments as they are proposed, reviewed, and authorized far into the future.