From Deseret News archives:
Bennett seeks blast briefing
The briefing was held at the NTS Wednesday about the explosion, planned for June 2.
Bennett sent staff members to the test site and other members of the Utah congressional delegation have expressed interest in the session.
Briefings were carried out Wednesday by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, which is behind the planned detonation. Tours were to be held of Tunnel U16b, subject of the experiment, and its three portals.
The site is on the Nevada Test Site, about an hour and 45 minutes' drive from Las Vegas.
Divine Strake is to explode 700 tons of explosive ammonium nitrate and fuel oil on the surface of the desert above an existing tunnel, according to the National Nuclear Security Administration. "The experiment is designed to assess the capability of computer codes to predict the ground-shock environment and associated tunnel response to the detonation," the group says in a press release.
After the briefing, Bennett's office released a statement saying the senator believes every precaution is being taken to ensure that the test will be carried out safely.
"However, before the test takes place, he's requested a briefing in person by officials from the National Nuclear Safety Administration to review all aspects of the proposed test," said spokeswoman, Mary Jane Collipriest.
"This personal briefing will help him determine whether the test should proceed."
