No more Nuclear tests vowed

WASHINGTON — Despite reports to the contrary, the Bush administration insisted Tuesday it has no plans to resume nuclear bomb tests in the foreseeable future. Still, Sen. Bob Bennett said he may cement that vow into law to protect Utahns living downwind from the Nevada Test Site.

"The president has made it very clear we have no intention to resume testing," Linton F. Brooks, head of the National Nuclear Security Administration, told the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Bennett, R-Utah, a committee member, grilled him to ensure that nothing is hidden in the promise. Worry arose when Bush's 2005 budget requested money to improve the Nevada Test Site, located about 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas, so tests could resume if needed within 18 months, instead of up to 36 months now required. Also, the government is working on new types of nuclear weapons, which could require testing before they are added to the stockpile.

Linton said the nation must "maintain our ability to carry out nuclear weapons tests in the event of some currently unforeseen problems that cannot be resolved by any other means." Computer modeling is now used to ensure bombs work.

But Bennett asked, "Testing is not imminent, is that correct?"

"That's correct," Linton replied.

"There is no anticipation of testing at any foreseeable time in the future?" Bennett asked.

"None that we foresee," Linton said.

"And testing will not happen unless the president makes a very public finding, and Congress acts in funding that finding?" Bennett asked.

"That's correct," Linton answered.

But Linton added, "I don't want to mislead this committee. If I find a problem that can only be verified through testing, I would not hesitate to recommend to the (energy) secretary and he would not hesitate to recommend to the president that we test.

"I have no reason to believe that we'll find that problem, but it is a hedge against the possibility of finding that problem that we have asked for the money to ensure we're all right if that contingency occurs," he said.

While Bennett said he was relieved to hear such pledges, he may cement them into law by including a ban on nuclear testing in the appropriations bill or passing a stand-alone bill with such a ban (which Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, has proposed).

"He (Linton) was pretty firm and it may not be necessary. But Congress can always hold out the possibility of legislation in order to let the administration know we're serious, and I'm very serious about this," Bennett said.

He adds that while the Bush administration is now on record saying no tests are planned, he wants to ensure that any decision by a future president also to renew tests is "transparent (and) that it must be brought before the Congress for debate."