This document is an update to the proposal PR12-16-001 Dark matter search in
a Beam-Dump eXperiment (BDX) at Jefferson Lab submitted to JLab-PAC44 in 2016
reporting progress in addressing questions raised regarding the beam-on
backgrounds. The concerns are addressed by adopting a new simulation tool,
FLUKA, and planning measurements of muon fluxes from the dump with its existing
shielding around the dump. First, we have implemented the detailed BDX
experimental geometry into a FLUKA simulation, in consultation with experts
from the JLab Radiation Control Group. The FLUKA simulation has been compared
directly to our GEANT4 simulations and shown to agree in regions of validity.
The FLUKA interaction package, with a tuned set of biasing weights, is
naturally able to generate reliable particle distributions with very small
probabilities and therefore predict rates at the detector location beyond the
planned shielding around the beam dump. Second, we have developed a plan to
conduct measurements of the muon ux from the Hall-A dump in its current
configuration to validate our simulations.