Gov. announces Homestake Laboratory Conversion Project

PIERRE—Gov. Mike Rounds today announced the implementation of the Homestake Laboratory Conversion Project (HLCP) to expedite the preparation of the information necessary to support the conversion of the Homestake Gold Mine into the world’s premier deep underground scientific research laboratory.  With the announcement Gov. Rounds has named Dr. Richard Gowen, of Rapid City, SD, to serve as the Executive Director of the Homestake Lab Conversion Project.  

“I am committed to the development of the laboratory, and there is no one more qualified than Dr. Gowen to lead this effort,” said Gov. Rounds on this major milestone.  “I have invited all who have worked to prepare the proposals considered by the National Science Foundation (NSF), and all others with appropriate scientific need for the laboratory, to join with South Dakota in an open and inclusive process to prepare the information necessary for the NSF to authorize funding for the lab.”

There are two major steps to the conversion process; the transfer of ownership of the underground mine from Homestake to South Dakota and the decision of NSF for submission of the request for funding, and appropriation of funding by Congress. 

Gov. Rounds is continuing discussions with representatives from Homestake for the transfer of ownership of property from Homestake to the State of South Dakota.  He has outlined his expectations for the preparation of detailed plans and the associated costs for the construction of the laboratory, the need for an environmental impact statement for the conversion, and the need for a special legislative session to address the procedures for South Dakota to own the mine and convert it into the laboratory for use by the scientific community.

With this announcement of the conversion project, the governor has stressed that the next opportunity to enter the Congressional appropriation process is the 2006 fiscal year budget.  While Congress is expected to consider the FY06 budget request in the summer and fall of 2005, the development of the NSF portion of the budget will occur within the next eight months.  This schedule requires the detailed design and development of the conversion process before the end of December 2003.

In accepting the governor’s appointment, Dr. Gowen thanked the governor for the opportunity to assist South Dakota in responding to the selection of Homestake as the location for a deep underground laboratory.  

According to Dr. Gowen, “I invite the principle investigators who have submitted proposals for the deep underground laboratory, and all others that have worked so hard over the past three years, to join in an open and inclusive process to prepare the information to support the NSF approval and budget process.”

Dr. Gowen has served more than 26 years in South Dakota public higher education. He is retiring July 1, after serving as the President of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology for the past 16 years.  Prior to his tenure in South Dakota, he served as a member of the faculty of the United States Air Force Academy for 15 years.  

In 2000, the Boeing Company reviewed the engineering programs across the nation and selected a team of faculty who developed the university’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing Processes as most innovative engineering educators.  Dr. Gowen coordinated the three-fold increase in externally sponsored research funding.  He has guided the formation of a partnership with the Army to create the Advanced Materials Processing Center for the development of new manufacturing applications to support the industries building new lightweight tanks and other Army systems. 

Dr. Gowen has received recognitions for his leadership in engineering and public service, and he will bring his experience with DOD, NASA, the National Research Center, and the Department Of Energy, along with his service in developing supercomputers to guiding the conversion of the Homestake mine into the deep underground laboratory for scientific research.

On May 30, 2003, the NSF designated the Homestake Mine as the best site for the deep underground science lab.