Chamberlain's group is concerned that with the Trident nearing the end of its intended life span, British scientists — if the Mutual Defense Agreement is extended — may tap into the development of smaller more usable weapons such as the mininukes and bunker-busters receiving early study now by the Bush administration.

Although Britain has not yet decided to replace its Trident missiles, officials have said it is keeping open a wide range of options "for maintaining a nuclear deterrent capability."

The Mutual Defense Agreement, which President Bush sent to Congress on June 15, is expected to pass Congress fairly easily. "Realistically, politically, it is going to be renewed," Erickson said. "But in the context of what it does to nuclear proliferation, it should be examined closely — and not just rubber-stamped."

All that is among many signs worrying Utah politicians and activists that more nuclear testing upwind could be around the corner. Others include that President Bush's budget called for upgrades at the Nevada Test Site to a readiness level so that testing, if ever needed, could resume within an 18-month period.

Budgets also beefed up work on the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator, a nuclear bunker-buster, and employment at Energy Department labs. Some legislation in the House stripped funding for the bunker buster, but competing legislation in the Senate retains it.

Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, during debate on the Defense Appropriations Bill last week, presented letters from the Defense and Energy departments saying the Bush administration has no plans to resume underground nuclear testing.

The letters, and dialogues on the Senate floor with leaders of the Armed Services Committee, also said current law would require a vote by Congress before any testing resumes.

Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, is pushing a bill to make that requirement more clear and to require detailed environmental studies before any testing could resume — and close, independent tracking of resulting radiation if it does.

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E-mail: lee@desnews.com