DEADWOOD, S.D.--The company that owns the old Homestake gold minetemporarily has backed off plans to turn off pumps and let the 8,000-foot-deep shafts and tunnels flood, an official said Thursday.
Scientists want to turn the mine into the world's deepestunderground laboratory for a variety of experiments that need to beshielded from cosmic rays by dense layers of rock. A proposal beingreviewed for consideration by the National Science Foundation wouldestablish a series of laboratories in mine tunnels.
Opponents of the company's plan say the water that naturally seepsinto the mine will endanger the hoists, pumps, power station andother essential maintenance equipment, said Tom Nelson, mayor ofLead, where the mine is located.
The mayor obtained a preliminary court order Monday that preventedthe Canadian firm Barrick Gold Corp. from turning off the pumps.
A hearing on a permanent order was scheduled for Thursday, butJudge Warren G. Johnson dismissed the case after learning thatBarrick would meet with Lead officials.
Nelson said he would talk privately with Barrick officials nextweek. A message left with the company Thursday evening was notimmediately returned.
Before it shut down in 2001, the mine had operated almostcontinuously since 1876, producing 10 percent of all the gold everfound in this country.
Barrick has said it no longer wants to maintain the mine becauseit costs $300,000 a month. Although Congress has provided $10 millionfor that purpose, a Barrick official has said the company is notinterested in federal assistance.
Alfred Mann, a University of Pennsylvania physicist who traveledto Lead on Tuesday to protest Barrick's decision to turn off pumps inthe mine, was pleased that the firm has changed its mind. MichellePercy, Lead city attorney, said court action could be resumed if nextweek's talks do not go well.
AP
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