"The history of prior blasts reflects that it is not possible to predict where or in what concentrations the deadly alpha emitters will be deposited," he said. Wherever they end up, Hager warned, "the population will suffer increased incidents of cancer, disproportionately borne by children."

Meanwhile, two activist groups are protesting public information sessions scheduled in Utah and Nevada about the tests, calling for hearings instead. They also want the meetings to be held in more localities.

Downwinders United, a group of citizens from seven states who believe they have been injured by the nuclear testing in the past, and the Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah joined in saying the open house plans aren't good enough. The sessions won't seek public input "but instead are designed to convince the public that the test will be safe," the Downwinders charged in a press release.

J Truman, a resident of Malad, Idaho, who heads Downwinders United, said that the Pentagon simply plans a dog-and-pony show. "In our book, that's pure propaganda," he said in the statement.

"Three town hall meetings with PowerPoints and a poster board are not acceptable, in view of the past legacy of fallout deceit and lies."

The groups insisted that hearings are necessary, if the public is to have a chance to speak out. "This isn't the '50s," Truman said. "The public won't tolerate radiation without representation."

Additional hearings should be held on the Navajo Reservation; in Kingman, Ariz.; and in Idaho, Montana, southwestern Colorado and northwestern New Mexico, according to the statement from Downwinders United.

Mary Dickson of Downwinders United added that the group's members don't believe the federal government when it says Divine Strake is safe. "We've heard these assurances before, and experience has taught us to be very skeptical of anything the government says concerning what happens at the test site."

She called federal statements "eerily reminiscent of the hollow assurances we heard throughout the years of atomic testing."

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E-mail: bau@desnews.com