Government withdraws environmental finding, Divine Strake test delayed
Andrew Lichterman
The National Nuclear Security Agency (NNSA) announced today that it is withdrawing its Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the massive Divine Strake high explosive test, originally slated to be conducted at the Nevada Test Site on June 2. The NNSA press release announcing the FONSI withdrawal mentioned no new date for the test, which apparently has been delayed indefinitely.
Divine Strake has sparked widespread opposition in the region, based in part on worries that it could mobilize radioactive materials at the site, which was used to conduct both above ground and underground nuclear explosive tests for four decades. Many also oppose the test as unnecessary and provocative, because government budget and planning documents show that one of its main purposes is to simulate the effects of low-yield nuclear explosions on underground structures.
The NNSA press release fails entirely to mention that Divine Strake would occur at a test range where the United States conducted the vast majority of its nuclear tests– 100 above ground tests and over 800 underground tests:
“This action is being taken to clarify and provide further information regarding background levels of radiation from global fallout in the vicinity of the Divine Strake experiment. Atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons by several countries in the 1950s and 1960s resulted in the dispersion of radioactive fallout throughout the northern hemisphere. The efforts of the Nevada Site Office are focused on explaining, in a means clearly understandable to all, what background radiation from this fallout means with respect to the contemplated DIVINE STRAKE experiment.” NNSA Press Release, “NNSA Withdraws FONSI for Divine Strake Experiment,” May 26, 2006.
For more on Divine Strake, see the previous entries on the topic on this site.
UPDATE: Associated Press story in the Las Vegas Sun on the test postponement and the status of the Divine Strake lawsuit.
May 27th, 2006 at 3:53 pm
The 26 May 2006 press release (PR), by the NNSA Nevada Site Office announcing the withdrawal of its FONSI for the massive Divine Strake high explosive test, clearly demonstrates that the office is clueless regarding the opposition’s claims that the testers can’t be trusted with properly informing the public. As they have done in the past their PR attempts to attribute fallout in the Divine Strake staging area to global atmospheric nuclear explosives testing which includes the testing done by the former U.S.S.R. The Divine Strake site lies in the middle of the primary U.S. nuclear weapons site and the bulk of the radioactive fallout there is likely due to the 100 atmospheric and dozen, or so, vented underground nuclear nuclear detonations conducted in the past at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) which remains under the control of the NNSA Nevada Site Office. Clearly, an attitude, that the public requires deceptive information feeds, remains deeply entrenched in this institution responsible for the U.S.’s continuing massive nuclear weapons arsenal. A key reason the opposition gained an upper-hand on this Divine Strake test issue was that large segments of the surrounding populations have learned, sometimes via painful personal experiences, that the “civil service” testers are untrustworthy.
June 18th, 2006 at 10:15 pm
Are we to really believe this? I don’t think so. Isn’t it “we’ll placate those people and do what we want when we want”? Sounds childish I know but kids in adult bodies are more manipulative, controlling and conniving only to amass more “stuff” (money) and will go to any length to get what they want. We better watch out, we better not pout (dissent). Remember Halliburton has that $300 million contract for construction of “detention camps” for terrorists. It isn’t too far fetched that dissenters could be considered “terrorists”.
September 1st, 2006 at 6:40 am
NEWS ADVISORY
David Sanders— David Sanders—Democratic Candidate for US Representative (4th District) and the Mayor of Mitchell, Butch Chastain, Discuss Opposition to a Proposed Massive Explosion Near Mitchell
Contact: david@sandersforcongress.org; 765-714-8870
Wednesday, August 30,2006–Dr. David Sanders, candidate for the office of U.S. Representative for the 4th Congressional District of the State of Indiana, and the Mayor of Mitchell, Butch Chastain, appeared at a press conference at 10:00 AM Wednesday, August 30, 2006 at the Mitchell City Hall, 407 S. 6th Street in Mitchell.
“It was reported in the Las Vegas Review Journal that it was proposed that Indiana become Ground Zero for the testing of a massive explosive. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is planning an explosion called “Divine Strake”—the detonation of one million four hundred thousand pounds of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil. It was originally scheduled for the Nevada Test Site. After protests from residents and questions from members of Congress from both political parties, it was indicated that the test would be postponed and probably held elsewhere. A quarry near Mitchell and Bedford was suggested as the new potential site.
“Here is the description of the aftermath of the explosion from the head of DTRA, ‘it is the first time in Nevada that you’ll see a mushroom cloud over Las Vegas since we stopped testing nuclear weapons.’
“A spokesman said, “The dust cloud … may reach an altitude of 10,000 feet.”
Dr. Sanders stated, “Detonating this explosion here would have been completely unacceptable. If it is not safe for the middle of the desert in Nevada, it is not safe for a populated area like Bedford. Negative impacts on the highly valuable limestone of the area and upon groundwater have been discussed.”
“We have been informed that the site here in Lawrence County is not under consideration now. Why it was initially mentioned by a DTRA spokesperson is still a mystery. I believe that we should regard this settlement as a victory for community activists. I was proud to be a part of the opposition. I applaud Mayor Chastain and his efforts. In my judgment ongoing vigilance is nevertheless necessary.
“It is astounding that the incumbent Congressman for this district was apparently not aware of Bedford’s identification as a possible test site despite mentions of this fact in the media. It is even more incredible that his highly condescending response to concerns about the explosion was that Indiana ‘needs to be educated about this project and its possibilities.’
“The people of Indiana did not need to be ‘educated’ about the ‘possibilities’ of Divine Strake. We have been educated about the fact that, according to the owner of the quarry, a spokesperson for DTRA apparently identified a quarry in Mitchell as a potential test site for Divine Strake without notifying the quarry owner. We have been educated about the fact that there were previous DTRA explosives tests at the quarry without any public notification. We have also been educated that Congressman Buyer does not care about the people of Lawrence County. It is evident that Congressman Buyer needs to be ‘educated’ about his responsibility to defend the interests of his constituents. Actually, it is not surprising that a Congressman who wanted to use nuclear weapons in Afghanistan (“Put a tactical nuclear device in and close these caves for a thousand years,” said Buyer in a 2001 interview with Indianapolis television station WRTV) did not oppose a massive explosion in a part of the district he almost never visits and takes for granted. It is time that the people of the 4th District use their votes to “educate” the incumbent about the proper role of a United States Representative.”
Dr. Sanders is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Purdue University. His expertise concerns gene therapy, cancer research, biodefense, and pandemic influenza. His research on the Ebola virus led to his participation in a United States Biological Weapons Proliferation Prevention Program. His responsibilities included inspecting a formerly secret bioweapons laboratory in Siberia.
http://www.sandersforcongress.org
Dr. Sanders’ connection with Purdue University is mentioned for identification purposes only and does not imply University endorsement.