[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22788]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



         INTRODUCTION OF HOMESTAKE MINE CONVEYANCE ACT OF 2001

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                           HON. JOHN R. THUNE

                            of south dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 15, 2001

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill very 
important to the world of science, our nation, and my state of South 
Dakota.
  Thirty years ago, the Homestake Mine was host to pioneering research 
about neutrinos; particles with virtually no weight and possessing no 
electrical charge that are everywhere around us. Scientists believe 
these mysterious particles hold secrets that can provide us with 
important insights into the fundamental nature of the universe.
  This legislation, which I will introduce today, envisions an 
underground neutrino telescope that extends pioneering research begun 
three decades ago.
  While the potential scientific benefits of studying neutrinos is 
clear, this agreement is also vital to the economies of South Dakota, 
the Black Hills and the city of Lead. If Homestake were to close, its 
absence would have a tremendous economic and cultural impact on our 
state. The Mine has been an integral part of the Hills culture since it 
opened over 125 years ago. The miners and their families have 
contributed so much to the area.
  However, with the cost of mining gold increasing, Homestake has 
decided to terminate its operations in Lead. The introduction of a 
national physics laboratory is a fitting substitute. The lab will 
employ a number of the current Homestake employees to maintain the 
integrity of the mine and to make improvements to the structure for the 
siting of the lab there. Additionally, the lab will employ many 
scientists and support staff bringing new diversity to the South Dakota 
economy.
  The legislation I will introduce today is a companion bill to S. 
1389, introduced by Senator Tom Daschle and is the result of months of 
negotiations between the Homestake Gold Mine, the State of South 
Dakota, the South Dakota congressional delegation and others. Recently, 
those negotiations were concluded, and late last week this bill was 
completed.
  The purpose of the bill is to set the terms of land conveyance from 
Homestake to the State of South Dakota for the establishment of a 
National Underground Science Laboratory. The Homestake Mining Company 
would turn over portions of their property, including a nearly 8,000 
foot mine shaft and equipment that together likely will be worth 
hundreds of millions of dollars saving taxpayers hundreds of millions 
of dollars in construction and developmental expenses.
  In addition to the land conveyance, the bill also addresses current 
and future environmental remediation and reclamation concerns. The bill 
accomplishes this through three main mechanisms. First, it requires an 
independent evaluation of current and future environmental risks on the 
site. This evaluation would be conducted under the auspices of the 
Environmental Protection Agency and would be subject to public review 
and comment. Second, it establishes an environmental trust fund. 
Contributions to this trust fund would be calculated as a part of the 
cost of constructing and operating the lab and the experiments that 
would take place there. Third, it requires insurance coverage by the 
State of South Dakota, which would be the managing entity, and any 
group conducting experiments in the mine. These provisions will provide 
the needed protection of the environment and the taxpayers that I 
believe is necessary for this agreement.
  This legislation is one piece of the puzzle that will make this lab a 
reality. I look forward to working with the House leadership, the 
Committees of jurisdiction, my colleagues in the House and Senate and 
the Administration to see this bill enacted into law.

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