Tag Archives: nuclear issues

The Salt Lake Tribune has published the news that Utah Governor Jon Huntsman wants the Divine Strake Test to be held somewhere else.

“We are downwind,” said Huntsman. “I believe that, obviously, we need a strong national security position, a strong defense position, and capabilities to protect us abroad. But do the testing somewhere else, where citizens aren’t downwind.”

Where would that be?

The remarks came the same day U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson and U.S. Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett demanded, once again, that more basic safety data be made public. The mounting information requests also signal the possibility of a delay in the controversial experiment, an explosion of conventional explosives, not nuclear ones.

No matter where such a blast would be tested some form of life would be affected. Not to mention that fact that analysts say this is a precursor to developing more nuclear bombs – and c’mon……there is no such thing as a “safe” test!

Wake up people!

Other articles:
Deseret News: Huntsman opposes blast test: Governor worries it will stir up past radioactive dust

STOP THE DIVINE STRAKE!

Utah U.S. Senator Bob Bennett is requiring proof of “safety” of the Divine Strake Test, but is not making any efforts to halt the test.

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency held briefings yesterday and took a tour of the place of the blast, Tunnel U16b and its three portals. After the briefings, Bennett’s office issued this statement, according to the Deseret News today:

The senator believes every precaution is being taken to ensure that the test will be carried out safely. “However, before the test takes place, he’s requested a briefing in person by officials from the National Nuclear Safety Administration to review all aspects of the proposed test,” said spokeswoman, Mary Jane Collipriest. “This personal briefing will help him determine whether the test should proceed.”

Stop the Divine Strake!

I have posted information here on the planned “Divine Strake” test, scheduled for detonation at the Nevada Test Site Friday, June 2nd.

This test is a mass of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil ( ANFO or AN/FO). The purpose of the test is to gather sismic data about the effect of this size blast on limestone and granite, and particularly on tunnel structures that lie beneath the blast. As a fellow activist explained it to me, the stated use for this data in the Defense Threat Reduction Agency budget document is to “develop a planning tool that will improve the warfighter’s confidence in selecting the smallest proper nuclear yield necessary to destroy underground facilities while minimizing collateral damage.”

Interestingly enough, U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch has publicly announced that he is “upset” about the test and since he is a great “stopper,” he could get it stopped since he this happens when he wants something stopped. (a couple of weeks ago he was in favor of this test…..)

I am part of a planning team planning an international day of action at the test site on Memorial Day weekend. The coalition involves indigenous groups and other activist and environmental groups. It’s exciting being part of this very huge action which will involved some very internationally recognized activists. I’ll be posting the press release and the details here when we finalize it this weekend.

Nevada has requested proof that the June 2 “Divine Strake” test meets all environmental standards. The Pentagon says it does and will provide that proof to the Nevada Governor’s office.

Despite the Nevada governor’s concerns, the pentagon has not postponed or cancelled the test.

First, a detonation of 700 tons of explosives above a tunnel cannot possibly be “safe”.

Second, this disturbed me even more: Nevada Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. Shelly Berkley, had expressed concern about the test, but after a briefing with Pentagon officials both said they were reassured the test could be conducted safely.

And although Utah Representative Jim Matheson has voice his opposition to the test, he isn’t really taking any drastic measures to stop it. Instead, he states that he recognizes the test “can’t be stopped”, but he can help make it harder to provide proof that this isn’t in preparation for the development of a new line of nuclear weapons.

When will our representatives just plain put their foot down and lead a massive movement to stop this madness?

Today’s Deseret News has published the article, Planned Nevada test blast worries watchdog groups: Detonation could lead to nuclear tests, some fear, referring to the “Divine Stake” test planned for June 2 at the Nevada Test Site. It is indicated that this is part of the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (“bunker buster”) program.

The experiment is called “Divine Strake,” in which 700 tons of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil will be blown up. (A strake is a line of metal plating along a ship’s hull.)
The explosive material, similar to that used by domestic terrorists to destroy the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995, will explode with a force equivalent to 593 tons of TNT. It is expected to raise a mushroom cloud of dust, but officials say it won’t be visible off the test site.
“There is no danger to the population of Las Vegas and the surrounding communities,” says an agency release. “The test does not use a nuclear device, and it does not test a weapon.”

But an environmental assessment has revealed two other compounds will be used: Glo Germ Powder and Fluorescein USP.

Glo Germ Powder would be placed on tarps surrounding the charge hole in order to see how material disperses during the test, says the statement. Glo Germ Powder is “considered to be hazardous if it is burned, and toxic gases can be formed,” the environmental statement says.
“The powder would not be mixed in the . . . blasting agent so it would not be subjected to the oxidizing effects of the detonation.”

The test indicates the Pentagon is determined to move forward with new nuclear weapons development, said Steve Erickson, director of the Salt Lake City military watchdog group Citizens Education Project.