Sanford Laboratory at Homestake

On February 11, 2004 the South Dakota State Legislature created the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority (SDSTA). The purpose of the Authority is to foster and facilitate scientific and technological investigation, experimentation, and development by creating a mechanism through which laboratory, experimental, and development facilities may be acquired, developed, constructed, maintained, operated, and decommissioned.

Here are the highlights in the on-going process by the Authority to convert the Homestake Mine in Lead, South Dakota into a Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL).

2000

After 124 years of operation, the Homestake Mining Company announced on September 11, 2000 that it would close its underground gold mine in Lead, South Dakota. Scientists who had been involved with experiments conducted at the 4,850 foot level in the mine suggested that the site be used specifically as an underground science facility.

2002

In 2002 Dr. Ray Davis, who had conducted a neutrino detection experiment at the 4850 foot level, received the Nobel Prize in physics for his work by proving that fusion provides the energy from the sun.

Barrick Gold Corporation of Toronto bought the Homestake Mining Company, which included mines around the world in addition to the Homestake Mine in Lead. Barrick agreed to an Agreement in Principle to donate the Homestake Mine property if the National Science Foundation (NSF) endorsed the plan for a DUSEL and if Barrick were to be protected from liability.

2003

In June 2003 Homestake Mining Company turned off the pumps in the mine.

On July 1, 2003 Governor Mike Rounds established the Homestake Laboratory Conversion Project to oversee efforts to turn the mine into a DUSEL and named Dr. Richard Gowen as Interim Executive Director.

Homestake Mining Company sealed the Yates and the Ross shafts in November to prevent possible damage to the infrastructure due to fluctuations in temperature and humidity.

2004

On February 11, 2004 the South Dakota State Legislature created the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority and committed $14.3 million to the Homestake project.

Although the National Science Foundation had earlier designated Homestake as the preferred site for a deep underground science and engineering laboratory, the agency requested that proposals be re-submitted under new guidelines it established. Discussion centered on a laboratory to be built at the ~8,000 foot level.

In August 2004 Governor Rounds appointed Mr. Thomas C. Adam, Mr. Dave Bozied, Ms. Pat Lebrun, Mr. Casey Peterson and Mr. Dave Snyder to the Board of Directors of the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority.

On November 2, the board named Dave Snyder as Executive Director following the resignation of Dr .Richard Gowen. Later that month the Governor appointed Mr. Steve Zellmer to fill the position vacated by Mr. Snyder.

2005

In July Homestake was selected by the National Science Foundation as one of two sites for a Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory. The Collaboration received a $500,000 grant to study the feasibility of the site.

The South Dakota Science and Technology Authority and the Homestake Collaboration of scientists from universities and research institutions proposed an interim laboratory at the 4,850 foot level, as that level would provide opportunity for many, if not most, of the proposed experiments.

In September Homestake Mining Company agreed to an amendment to the Agreement in Principle to allow the state, instead of only the National Science Foundation, to provide funding for the laboratory.

In October, during a Special Session called for by the Governor, the South Dakota Legislature approved $19.9 million specifically for the purpose of developing an interim laboratory at Homestake.

The next month the Homestake Collaboration, led by Principal Investigator Dr. Kevin T. Lesko of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California/Berkeley, solicited Letters of Interest from scientists for experiments at Homestake.

2006

On January 12, 2006 the water level was recorded at the 6200 foot level. The inflow was a few months behind the original predictions.

In February the Homestake Collaboration held a two-part workshop in Lead which focused on Education and Outreach opportunities at Homestake as well as potential experiments.

The Homestake Program Advisory Committee (PAC) reviewed 60 Letters of Interest.

Barrick Gold Corporation donated the mine (which is comprised of 370 miles of drifts), 7,000 acres of mineral rights and 186 above-ground acres to the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority.

In May the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority moved its office from Rapid City to the Administration Building at Homestake in Lead.

A live video inspection of the Yates Shaft was successfully conducted by a volunteer crew of current and former Homestake employees and South Dakota Science and Technology staff on June 10. An apparatus with four cameras was lowered into the shaft on a steel cable to the 4850 foot level. The results of the inspection were positive. See still images from video project.

The Homestake Collaboration submitted its Conceptual Design Report (CDR) to the NSF by the June 23 deadline.

On June 26 Governor Rounds announced the $70M private gift from Mr. T. Denny Sanford that would allow for completing laboratory space at the 4850 foot level, improving hoists and reducing operating costs as well as pumping out accumulated water when appropriate. The gift also provides funds for a science education center as well as funds for preparing the 8,000 foot level when appropriate. The donation agreement sets a requirement that there be committed experiments in the Interim Laboratory ($10M of committed Research and Development.)

In September the National Science Foundation solicited applications for a grant award of up to $15 million to fund development of a detailed design for a DUSEL. Applications were not limited to the two preferred sites.

On November 6 sensors located at every 600 feet indicated that the water had reached the 5600 foot level.

A live video inspection was successfully completed in the Ross Shaft on December 7. Results of this inspection were positive.

On December 21 a three-phase plan to keep the mine dry at the 4850foot interim laboratory level and to ready the mine for use was announced by Governor Rounds. Part One calls for re-commissioning hoists at the Yates and Ross Shafts and installing exhaust ventilation. Part Two will include underground work, creating safe access and re-commissioning the existing water pumping system. Part Three will entail operating the pumping system and infrastructure.

2007

A Conceptual Design Report was submitted to the NSF by the Homestake Collaboration by the January 9, 2007 deadline.

On July 10, Governor Rounds announced that the National Science Foundation selected the Homestake site to be developed as the proposed Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) The NSF indicated its intention to provide $5 million a year for the next three years to develop a more specific technical design for the laboratory.

The NSF Science Board, Congress and the President must approve the DUSEL project, estimated at ~$500 million, half of which would be used to develop scientific instrumentation for the laboratory

2008

The Homestake Collaboration continues to receive Letters of Interest for possible experiments.