Divine Strake resolution fast-tracked

By Judy Fahys
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 02/07/2007 03:05:42 PM MST

Posted: 2:13 PM- State senators took a step today in passing a joint resolution that denounces the federal government's Divine Strake experimental blast at the Nevada Test Site.

The 26-3 vote sent the simple resolution to the House.

The deadline is today for comments to the federal government agencies behind the test, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the National Nuclear Security Agency. The agencies are taking public comments on their environmental assessment of a detonation of 700 tons of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil, a conventional explosive.

Utahns are among the 3,000 people and organizations that already have sent in comments. Many residents of the state are opposed to the test because they blame fallout from atomic tests at the Nevada Test Site for cancer, health problems and death.

The tests took place from 1951 to 1992, and debris from the mushroom clouds they sent skyward rode on air currents that dispersed the radiation-tainted fallout on people hundreds and even thousands of miles away.

The federal government has admitted there will be a mushroom cloud and contaminated debris with Divine Strake, but they say there will be no harm to Utahns.

Many senators who commented on the bill said they knew or were related to people affected by the past fallout, and they doubted the federal government's assertion this test poses no risk.

"The folks in my area are very concerned about it," said Sen. Bill Hickman, R-St. George.

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http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_5176893

We're ALL downwinders

lived in Overton NV in 50's... fire dept would hose off our roof and car to take off "pink dust"

entire family went through fed background checks (with a few red flags) in order for husband to hunt big horn sheep on test site property. We had to attend "briefing" by military telling us what areas were not safe...one area was totally off limits as had open ports from below ground testing spewing radiation still....and they tell Las Vegas there is radiation but "safe".

Am confident Harry Reid will fight it again?

helderheid...my Mom actually taught him in high school...he took a bus ride every day for an hour each way from Searchlight NV (after his Dad had committed suicide from the mines shutting down and no work)...he stood out as a stranger in high school and yet elected school body president. I can't say enough wonderful things about him. Have very good friends on his staff who validate my feelings every day.

He stopped the test last June and truly believe he will again.

didn't even see your hair...(cute btw)

:P :blush:

I prefer my wedding pic:

Do you know why this thing is called "Divine Strake?" I mean, Strake? It's a shipbuilding term, the planking along the hull. And, for Pete's sake, why "Divine?"

Actually, it reminds me of the Reagan era's evolution of the MX Missile designation to the "Peacekeeper." I was an editor at Thiokol at the time and a sketch of a missille flying through the air towards Russia was being circulated around the offices with the caption, "Peacekeeper: When you care enough to send the very best."

Great pic of the Divine Trio, too. I'd like to drop the three of them in the middle of the Nevada desert without any shoes.

Tee hee!