[CPEO-MEF] "Divine Strake" canceled

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Defense agency kills Divine Strake test explosion

By Robert Gehrke
The Salt Lake Tribune (UT)
February 22, 2007

WASHINGTON - Breaking under a flood of public opposition to Divine 
Strake, the Pentagon announced Thursday that it would scrap plans to 
conduct the massive blast at the Nevada Test Site.

Some 10,000 Utahns and Nevadans expressed fears that the detonation of 
700 tons of explosives could spew debris into the air, carrying 
radiation left over from Cold War nuclear weapons tests at the test site.

"I have become convinced that it's time to look at alternative methods 
that obviate the need for this type of large-scale test," Defense Threat 
Reduction Agency Director Dr. James A. Tegnelia said in a statement 
announcing the cancellation of the test.

The agency said the decision was not a result of any information that 
indicated the test might harm workers or the public.

Divine Strake touched a raw nerve with Utahns, still deeply distrustful 
of government assurances on testing at the Nevada Test Site. Thousands 
of Utahns suffered from cancer and other illnesses as a result of the 
radioactive fallout. The test was opposed by members of Utah's 
congressional delegation, the state Legislature, the governor, activists 
and others.

...

For the entire article, see
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_5281799

--


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org


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