LEAD - A camera that was lowered into a shaft at the Homestake mine in Lead has shown that the water level in the mine is not as high as officials thought.

Water has been filling the mine since the pumps were shut off four years ago, and workers have been getting ready to pump out the water so it can be used for a science and engineering lab.

The new director of the Sanford Lab at the Homestake Mine, Jose Alonso, said water has risen to the 5,000 foot level, but won't begin to flood the site of the Sanford interim lab at the 4,850 level until at least late February.

"So that in fact this means we have a little bit more time to work on getting the pumps installed and started so this is very, very good news," he said.