Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of Science, Vol. 89 (2010) 25 OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES: EXPERIENCES IN PERFORMING RESEARCH AT THE SANFORD UNDERGROUND LABORATORY AT HOMESTAKE Jason Van Beek 1,2 *, Jaret Heise 2 , William Roggenthen 1 , and Larry Stetler 1 1 Geology and Geological Engineering Department South Dakota School of Mines and Technology 501 East Saint Joseph Street Rapid City, SD 57701 2 Sanford Underground Laboratory at Homestake 630 East Summit Street Lead, SD 57754 *Vanbeek.jason@gmail.com ABSTRACT Te former Homestake mine in Lead, SD, has been chosen by the NSF as the location for the proposed Deep Underground Science and Engineering Labora- tory (DUSEL). Prior to the establishment of the federally-funded facility, an in- terim early science program is being facilitated by the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority, which currently operates the Sanford Laboratory. Many unique opportunities are associated with early access to the Lab site as well as a number of challenges, including access to services such as power and commu- nications and reconciling desired experiment locations with the approved safely -accessible laboratory areas. Experience gained from observing and participating in research has led to an understanding of best practices for safely and efectively utilizing the Sanford Laboratory area and resources. Keywords DUSEL, Homestake, South Dakota Science and Technology Authority, San- ford Laboratory INTRODUCTION Te art and science of gold mining were studied by geologists and miners for 125 years at the Homestake mine in Lead, SD, until the mine was gener- ously transferred by Barrick Gold Corporation to the state of South Dakota for the development of an underground laboratory. Te recent conversion of the mine into a deep underground science laboratory has brought a new generation of miners to Lead—physicists, engineers, biologists, and geologists—seeking to uncover details about the nature of the universe, the earth, and the limits of life.