EDITORIAL: Weapons test a concern for southern Utah

Posted: 1/18/07

In the summer edition of the University Journal, we shared our concerns about the proposed Divine Strake test set for June 2, 2006. More than seven months later, the test is back on the menu and public concern must be rekindled.

Fear of nuclear weapons and nuclear proliferation ought to continue to weigh heavily in public concern, although it's been nearly 20 years since the end of the Cold War.

Fear of nuclear weapons led the United States to invading Iraq. Fear of nuclear weapons has strained Western relations with Iran. Fear of nuclear weapons has caused residents of southern Utah to protest and speak out against a repeat of weapons testing at the Nevada Test Site.

But what does a conventional weapons test have to do with nuclear weapons? The U.S. Department of Energy's proposed Divine Strake has stirred memories of the nuclear testing that irradiated a generation of southern Utah residents. Ask any resident with any ties to this area, they'll be able to list family members who died from cancer contributed to from living "downwind" of the test site.

While Divine Strake isn't nuclear, the bomb does consist of 700 tons of ammonium nitrate fuel and is expected to send a dust cloud a mile or more into the air. Many residents fear radioactive remnants of former atomic testing will be spread downwind all over again.

Others fear that the blast, intended to simulate a low-yield, tactical nuclear "bunker busting" bomb the Bush administration has sought, will provide opportunity to prove the safety of continued testing. In the worse case scenario, an end of the moratorium on nuclear testing might reignite an arms race and will destroy the current moral high ground the U.S. maintains in pooh-poohing North Korea's testing and Iran's supposed nuclear ambitions.

The similarity between the ammonium nitrate bomb and proposed low-yield nuclear weapons blast is disconcerting. If the intent is to indeed pave the way for a continuation of nuclear testing, not to mention the concern of spreading old atomic material, the planned test is unacceptable.

The government has lied to the people of southern Utah before, and there is no reason to think it couldn't happen again.

We applaud the efforts of Utah congressmen, especially Rep. Jim Matheson, for fighting the issue of resumed nuclear testing so ardently and persistently. We also support the residents who are actively protesting the planned test and who are, at the very least, bringing much-needed public exposure and scrutiny.

The Journal starts a series on Divine Strake today and encourages everyone to stay on top of current plans, opinions and open houses on the proposed test and its possible repercussions.

The opinions expressed above are the collective perspective of the University Journal editorial board. The editorial board meets every Monday at 5 p.m. and Thursday at noon in room 176C of the Sharwan Smith Center. Readers are also welcome to comment online at suujournal.com/messageboard.