Ad Hoc Science Committee for the Proposed Laboratory for Science and Engineering at Homestake

September 4, 2003 Jordan Goodman

Ad Hoc Science Committee for theProposed Laboratory for Science and

Engineering at Homestake

•Who am I and what am I doing here?•Goals of the Committee•Selection of the Members•Charge to the Committee•The Process•Discussion


Who am I and what am I doing here?

• I am a experimental physicist in: – HEP

• Fermilab E710, E557– Particle Astrophysics

• Composition work with ground-based EAS arrays• Milagro (Cygnus) Gamma Ray Experiments at Los

Alamos – (spokesperson) (current)• SuperKamiokande• IceCube (current)

• Professor and Chair – Department of Physics University of Maryland

• Organizer of NeSS 2002



• How did I get involved in this?– On the NSF Review panel for the proposal– NY Times – “I was only opponent of the lab”– Was in the wrong place at the wrong time!– Ran NeSS 2002 (luckily in right place/right time)

– Because of this NSF and South Dakota talk to me

• What special talents do I bring to this effort?– None!– David Berley, who is helping, brings significant expertise

• Many years at NSF – HEP, LIGO, etc• Experience in HEP and Particle Astrophysics (+ NeSS)

• What experiment do I want to do in the underground lab?– None – I will be busy with Milagro & IceCube for the foreseeable

future



• Why do I want an underground lab?– I am convinced that the science that can be done there is

really exciting and worth the effort!

• I believe that the science coming from these types of experiments is some of the best and most interesting

• Having a deep lab will stimulate new experiments which push the frontier

• I believe that the time is right for a lab in Homestake now!

– I want to see a strong particle astrophysics program at both DoE and NSF – this will be the flagship of that program

– I want a strong advocate for the PA program (a lab director at the table)


Goals

• First – get the players working together– You, South Dakota, NSF (DoE?)– Encourage (cajole, push, etc.) everyone to come up

with a common plan for the lab

• Get the entire community behind your effort• Solicit input from the entire community on

requirements – starting from your plan• Have a panel of experts review the plans and

community input• Make recommendations to your group


Selection of the Committee

• Look for people who represent the constituencies who will use the lab (my bias – young people)

• Talk to NSF, DoE, HEPAP, NSAC, SAGENAP• Look for experts in the various fields• Look for people with experience running labs

and big projects• People from the various proposing groups• A few engineers from your group and SD• Take suggestions from the community


Charge to the Committee

• Preamble– Several proposals have been made for a new deep underground

science and engineering research facility in the United States. Three such proposals were submitted to the National Science Foundation, each with similar goals but located at three different sites. The NSF decided, based on the status of proposals in May 2003, that the Homestake Mine in Lead SD is the preferred site. Mining operations at Homestake stopped at the end of 2001 and transfer of the mine from the Barrick Gold Corporation to the state of South Dakota is being negotiated. The scientific proponents of the Homestake site submitted a detailed Project Book to the NSF in August 2003. This Project Book describes a base plan for the conversion of the Homestake Mine to a laboratory.

– The purpose of this Committee is to provide a venue for scientific input and discussion regarding the Homestake Mine conversion and the development of a vigorous program of deep underground science and technology.



• Requirements Document – The committee will draft a requirements document,

circulate it broadly in the science and engineering community, and refine the document based on comments received.

– This will be based on your proposal



• Laboratory program. – Comment on the proposed experimental program and

educational and outreach program at the laboratory.

• Scientific Program. – Provide your view of the scope and timescale of programs

needed for the support of experiments, theory, and research and development. Also comment on the support needed for experiments at other underground laboratory facilities.

• National security – National security is expected to be an important activity and is

expected to require secure areas. Provide your view on mechanisms to maintain free and open access by other users to their apparatus, while still meeting the requirements for secure activities.



• Management Plan. – The Project Book contains a suggested management plan for

the laboratory. The committee will be asked to comment on the adequacy of this plan, and to suggest possible improvements. The management plan must define a mutually satisfactory relationship between the NSF, as the responsible federal agency; the scientific manager, which will operate the laboratory under a cooperative agreement with the NSF and a use agreement with the State; and the State of South Dakota, the proposed site landlord. Careful consideration must be given to environmental and safety issues where laboratory manager and state (as guarantor of public safety and as site landlord) responsibilities overlap.

• Other Laboratories. – Comment on the relationship with other laboratories such as

Soudan and WIPP in the US and SNO, Gran Sasso and Kamiokande abroad.


The Process - Committee

• Pick the Committee– Do most work electronically and with conference calls

• Break out the requirements for the labs facilities from your document (we need your help)

• Solicit comments– Use Lead/NeSS lists – Use electronic discussion forums

• Study management and integration plans• Get feedback from you• Write a report with recommendations to you


The Parallel Process

• Homestake Conversion Project– Created by the State of South Dakota

• Dick Gowen heads the project w/a number of working groups – They are negotiating with Barrick for transfer of the mine– Gov. Mike Rounds has proposed setting up a "Authority" to take

over the legal liability issue for the state's ownership of the mine – The conversion project will do the prep work to facilitate the

creation of the Authority by a special session of the SD legislature – liability, safety, environmental, legal, etc.

– Gowen has invited full participation by your group in the project!– They will provide funds for engineering work to study the

infrastructure, dewatering, etc.– They will provide funds (through Maryland) for the committee’s

expenses (phone, travel, web support, etc).


The Process

• What David and I will do– I will organize the effort– I will keep everyone informed of the progress

• What we want– Support from your group– Support from the community– Open communications

• Our Goal:– A proposal from you to NSF that has the

support of the entire community!


What if Things Don’t Work Out at Homestake?

• If legal, cost, other considerations stop Homestake – – The review of the requirements document will still be

useful– The review of issues associated with safety and

management will still be useful– Community support for the effort will still be useful


One more thing

• What if I say/write something you don’t like?– Ask yourself why did I do this?

• I was busy and I didn’t have time to get it completely right?– I am department chair and very busy with 75 faculty

• I am an insensitive lout? – I am a physicist – remember the winning bumper sticker

• I am a moron?– I am a department chair

– Call me or send me a note• If I didn’t mean it, I will change it• If it’s physics and we disagree:

– let’s fight about it – that’s the fun part!

Ad Hoc Science Committee for the Proposed Laboratory for Science and Engineering at Homestake

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Transcript of Ad Hoc Science Committee for the Proposed Laboratory for Science and Engineering at Homestake