Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory Site and Conceptual Design

该提案旨在支持执行概念设计研究，该研究将提交位于SD Lead的Homestake矿山作为深部地下科学与工程实验室（DUSEL）的候选地点，以响应招标# NSF-05-506。Homestake矿山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，可到达地表以下8000英尺的深度，现有的竖井和巷道可以到达。Homestake DUSEL将满足NSF招标过程中所有主要科学领域的地下需求：粒子和核物理、地质学、水文学、地球工程、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，非常适合为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。南达科他州科学技术管理局（SDSTA）的成立是为了监督Homestake DUSEL的发展。虽然使矿井保持干燥的水泵已经关闭，但水位仍远低于4850英尺，计划是尽快开始抽取大部分的水，以便在不久的将来在4850英尺的高度建立一个实验室。然后将制定一项计划，使矿井脱水至8000英尺的高度。目前的矿主巴里克黄金公司（Barrick Gold Corp.）已同意将该矿的所有权转让给SDSTA，相关计划正在推进中。南达科他州采取的行动将允许最早于2006年在4850英尺（英尺深）的深度尽早实施第一套实验。在美国国家科学基金会（National Science Foundation）提供资金之前，该矿井的开发将由现有资金支持。一项由地方机构、学校、学院和大学参与、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场地，跨学科项目应该可以在许多其他地方难以实现的规模上实现。

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.