Huntsman orders 2 hearings on 'Strake'

Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. has directed the state Department of Environmental Quality to sponsor two public hearings this month on a proposed non-nuclear explosion at the Nevada Test Site near Las Vegas.

The blast, called "Divine Strake," has raised concerns among many Utahns about the possible release of radioactive debris from previous nuclear tests at the site.

The state hearings, one in Salt Lake City and the second in St. George, are designed to counter "public information sessions" scheduled by the federal government. The public will be allowed to submit only written comments at the sessions conducted by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

"What the governor has recognized is the public wants a chance to speak about this issue. They don't want to just submit written comments," said DEQ executive director Dianne Nielsen.

All public comments made during the state hearings will be transcribed and attached to Huntsman's written comments to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the National Nuclear Security Administration.

Utah officials continue to be concerned about the proposed test, although Huntsman has not yet taken a formal position, Nielsen said. The DEQ is in the process of completing a technical review of the government's most recent environmental assessment, which indicates that although there is radioactive material in two locations about a mile from the proposed blast site, it is "extremely unlikely" that the material would become "resuspended" and cause harm.

Still, Divine Strake opponents — and many Utah Downwinders — recall similar promises from previous tests at the Nevada Test Site that ultimately had significant, long-term public health impacts, Nielsen said.

"That's a difficult hurdle to get over," Nielsen said. "It is certainly one that we take seriously, and we think federal agencies need to take seriously."

Vanessa Pierce, director of HEAL Utah, praised the governor for responding to her organization's request for a public hearing. The federal agencies' information ses-

sions are little more than "propaganda events," she said.

"Governor Huntsman has done for Utah what the federal government has failed to do. He's given Utahns a podium and a microphone and a forum to voice our concerns about the test."

Dates for the state hearings have not been set, but Nielsen said she would like to see them take place the week of Jan. 15. The deadline for written comments is Feb. 7.

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Contributing: Lisa Riley Roche

E-mail: awelling@desnews.com