About 30 scientists and engineers from institutions around the country are attending a workshop today to discuss proposals for the deep underground laboratory at Lead's former gold mine.

Andre Petukhov, head of the physics department at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, will lead the sessions at the school's Surbeck Center. The programs are not open to the public.

The deep national laboratory would be in addition to the state's Sanford Underground Science Laboratory at Homestake.

Both operations depend on the state emptying the mine of water that has flooded the mine since it turned off pumps in 2003. Spokesman Bill Harlan said the water is at 4,650 feet, 200 feet above the 4,850-foot level, where the first experiments are planned.