From the Office of Utah Congressman Jim Matheson

MATHESON NEWS
Second Congressional District

For Further Information
Alyson Heyrend: (801) 455-5593 (cell)
www.house.gov/matheson

May 26, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Matheson: Decision to Delay Bomb Test Is Right Move

More Health Data Needed

Salt Lake City, UT-Congressman Jim Matheson said today's decision by the Nevada Test Site Office to delay its planned 700-ton conventional explosion-named "Divine Strake"-is in keeping with his request to federal officials for more research into potential environmental hazards that may pose a risk to Utahns.

The National Nuclear Security Administration announced today it is withdrawing its Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) related to the environmental assessment for the non-nuclear, open air test.  The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) had set the test of June 2nd, but then postponed it for three weeks following questions from Matheson and other Members of Congress about the purpose and possible health risks.

"After reading comments about 'mushroom clouds' and 'low yield nuclear weapons', I was greatly concerned, and expressed as much to the director of DTRA," said Matheson.  "I advised them to put all the health and safety data out on the table so that people's fears about being once again exposed to radioactive contamination could be addressed.  I am very pleased to see that these agencies have acted on my advice."

The news release issued by the Nevada Site Office says it will use the delay to "clarify and provide further information regarding background levels of radiation from global fallout in the vicinity of the Divine Strake experiment." 

Both open air and underground nuclear tests were carried out in areas surrounding the location selected for the upcoming blast.  Nevada environmental officials have refused to issue air quality permits required before its detonation, saying it has not finished analyzing the information provided by DTRA.

#  #  #

Alyson Heyrend
Communications Director
240 East Morris Ave. #235
South Salt Lake, UT 84115
(801) 486-1236 (phone)
(801) 455-5593 (cell)
(801) 486-1417 (fax)