Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory Site and Conceptual Design

本建议书旨在支持开展概念设计研究，该研究将提交位于南达科他州铅市的Homestake矿作为深部地下科学与工程实验室（DUSEL）的候选场地，以响应NSF-05-506号招标。Homestake矿是一个巨大的地下结构，因此该计划将提供一个安全，先进，专用，多功能的DUSEL，深度达8000英尺以下，通过现有的竖井和巷道。Homestake DUSEL将满足NSF招标过程中包括的所有主要科学领域的地下需求：粒子和核物理学、地质学、水文学、地球工程学、生物学和生物化学。Homestake是北美最深的矿井，有8000英尺深的房间，非常适合DUSEL指定的实验，岩石的特征也很好。这是一个两层的设施，一套公用设施在4850英尺，另一套在8000英尺。南达科他州科学和技术管理局（SDSTA）已经成立，以监督Homestake DUSEL的发展。虽然保持矿井干燥的水泵已经关闭，但水仍然远低于4850英尺的水平，计划是尽快开始抽大部分水，以便在不久的将来在4850英尺的水平上建立一个实验室。然后将制定一项计划，将矿井降低到8000英尺的水平。现在的矿主巴里克黄金公司南达科他州的行动将允许早在2006年就在4850（英尺深）水平进行第一组实验。在国家科学基金会提供资金之前，现有资金将支持在4850英尺水平上开发该矿井。一项涉及当地机构、学校、学院和大学以及少数民族广泛参与的教育和推广计划也将尽快生效。由于Homestake DUSEL将是一个单一的校园网站，跨学科项目应该是可能的规模，将难以实现在许多其他地方。

This proposal is for support to perform a conceptual design study that would submit the Homestake mine in Lead, SD as a candidate site for the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) in response to solicitation # NSF-05-506. The Homestake mine is a huge underground structure, so this plan will provide a safe, advanced, dedicated, versatile DUSEL down to a depth of 8000 feet below the surface, reached by existing shafts and drifts.The Homestake DUSEL will address the underground needs of all of the major scientific fields included in the NSF solicitation process: particle and nuclear physics, geology, hydrology, geo-engineering, biology, and biochemistry. Homestake is the deepest mine in North America with rooms at 8000 feet, well suited for the experiments specified for a DUSEL, and the rock is well characterized. It is a two-level facility, with one set of utilities at 4850 feet and another at 8000 feet.The South Dakota Science and Technology Authority (SDSTA) has been created to oversee the development of Homestake DUSEL. Although the pumps that kept the mine dry have been turned off, the water is still well below the 4850 foot level, and the plan is to begin pumping most of the water as soon as possible so as to develop a laboratory at the 4850 foot level in the very near future. A plan will then be developed to dewater the mine down to the 8000 foot level. The present mine owner, Barrick Gold Corp., has agreed to transfer ownership of the mine to the SDSTA, and plans for that are moving ahead.Actions by the State of South Dakota will permit early implementation of a first set of experiments at 4850 (foot depth) level as early as 2006. Development of the mine at the 4850 foot level will be supported by existing funds in advance of funding from the National Science Foundation.An education and outreach plan, involving local institutions, schools, colleges, and universities, and with broad involvement of minorities, will also take effect as soon as possible. Because Homestake DUSEL will be a single campus site, interdisciplinary projects should be possible on a scale that would be difficult to achieve in many other places.