1. Opportunities for Geomicrobiological Characterization and Experimentation During DUSEL Site Selection and Development “ProtoEarthLab”? Tom Kieft, New Mexico Tech Tommy J. Phelps, ORNL

2. Drilling and coring at undeveloped candidate DUSEL sites Opportunity for detailed characterization of –Stratigraphy, rock mechanics –Mineralogy, groundwater chemistry –Biodiversity, biomass, metabolic activities Targets: –maximum depth, ancient groundwaters –heterogeneities: geological contacts, interfaces, fractures Need tracers for QA/QC (modest additional cost): –Solute: e.g., LiBr, perfluorinated hydrocarbons, fluorochromes –Particulate: e.g., fluorescent microbeads Borehole can also be used for geophysical characterization Data can be used to inform site selection and development

3. Opportunities at sites with existing underground infrastructure Horizontal coring into “green fields”, rock volumes that may be targeted for infrastructure development Sample from existing flowing boreholes Deep coring through the 121°C isotherm - to probe the limits of the biosphere Coupled transport experiments in mines with extensive tunnel systems Geomicrobiological studies can start in the near term at modest cost. Opportunities at sites with existing underground infrastructure

4. Funding mechanisms? S2 And S3 Individual NSF grants Institutions associated with candidate sites –Boreholes already planned or proposed Piggy-back onto exploratory boreholes other?