Berkley Grills DTRA Head Over Safety Precautions For 700 Ton Bomb Blast At Nevada

(Washington, DC -- April 6, 2006) Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV) met today in her Washington office with Dr. James Tegnelia, Director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) to discuss safety issues regarding the planned detonation of a 700 ton bomb at the Nevada Test Site. Berkley also received an apology on behalf of Nevadans from Tegnelia for his recent statements about a mushroom cloud being visible over Las Vegas for the first time since the end of nuclear weapons testing.

“While I am glad Dr. Tegnelia took this opportunity to apologize for causing alarm with his mushroom cloud comment, the real purpose of this meeting was to ensure that every precaution has been taken and that there is no safety threat to Southern Nevada residents,” said Berkley.

“I grilled Dr. Tegnelia about why this test was needed and what the impacts would be on the environment, and he personally assured me that the DTRA has looked at the dangers and taken the steps necessary to protect the public,” Berkley said. “Nevadans have a long and proud history of supporting our nation’s defense, but we have also been the victims of nuclear testing, and that is why it is my duty not to just accept what I am told, but to ask tough questions on behalf of those I represent in the Las Vegas Valley. I will not seek to block this mammoth explosion, which will create a plume over the Nevada Test Site, but I will keep a close eye on how the public is being prepared and I will demand full answers to any new concerns that may arise.”

Following questions raised by Berkley regarding planning, notification and outreach surrounding the test, DTRA will be launching an aggressive effort to ensure the public has access to information regarding the blast, including environmental studies, and that the media will be given access to the site prior to the explosion and on the day of the actual test. During the meeting, Berkley was told that the DTRA test was not part of an effort to resume nuclear weapons testing 90 minutes outside Las Vegas, as was alleged this week by the American Federation of Scientists.

“I have been informed that this detonation is not part of a broader plan to resume nuclear weapons testing in Nevada, which I strongly oppose,” said Berkley, who has lived in Las Vegas since the days of above ground nuclear testing.

The June test in Nevada is a part of DTRA efforts to develop so-called bunker buster weapons that can be used to destroy hardened underground facilit

# # #