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S.C.R. 5 Enrolled

             1     

RESOLUTION OPPOSING DIVINE STRAKE

             2     
2007 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Gene Davis

             5     
House Sponsor: Lynn N. Hemingway

             6      Cosponsors:
             7      Gregory S. Bell
             8      Curtis S. Bramble
             9      Margaret Dayton
             10      Mike Dmitrich
             11      Dan R. Eastman
             12      Fred J. FifeBrent H. Goodfellow
Jon J. Greiner
Patricia W. Jones
Sheldon L. Killpack
Ed Mayne
Scott D. McCoy
Wayne L. NiederhauserDarin G. Peterson
Ross I. Romero
Dennis E. Stowell
John L. Valentine
Kevin T. Van Tassell
Michael G. Waddoups
Carlene M. Walker              13     
             14      LONG TITLE
             15      General Description:
             16          This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor expresses opposition to
             17      the Divine Strake explosive test to be conducted in Nevada in 2007.
             18      Highlighted Provisions:
             19          This resolution:
             20          .    expresses opposition to the Divine Strake high-explosive test to be conducted by the
             21      Defense Threat Reduction Agency at the United States Department of Energy
             22      Nevada Test Site in 2007.
             23      Special Clauses:
             24          None
             25     
             26      Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
             27          WHEREAS, "Divine Strake" is the code name for a large high-explosive test to be
             28      conducted by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency;
             29          WHEREAS, the Pentagon has stated the purpose of the test is to "determine the
             30      potential for future non-nuclear concepts," such as high-energy weapons or the simultaneous
             31      use of multiple conventional bombs to destroy deeply buried and fortified military targets, as an

             32      alternative to detonating a nuclear device;
             33          WHEREAS, the test was originally planned to take place June 2, 2006 at the site of an
             34      existing underground tunnel in the United States Department of Energy Nevada Test Site, but
             35      was postponed several times due to legal action, then later delayed until 2007;
             36          WHEREAS, the test is scheduled to utilize 700 tons of an ammonium nitrate combined
             37      with fuel oil explosive, which is equivalent to 593 tons of TNT;
             38          WHEREAS, there is concern that the explosion could stir up nuclear particles, left from
             39      previous tests conducted decades earlier at the Nevada test site, into the atmosphere;
             40          WHEREAS, in December 2006, the revision to the Environmental Assessment was
             41      released, and although the study concluded that there are no health risks to persons outside the
             42      blast area, it stated, "Since suspended natural radionuclides and resuspended fallout
             43      radionuclides from the detonation have potential to be transported off of the NTS by wind, they
             44      may contribute a radiological dose to the public";
             45          WHEREAS, on January 22, 2006, the Washington County Commission issued a
             46      statement opposing the federal government's plan to conduct the test which reads in part, "The
             47      City of St. George has a unique history due to its proximity to the Nevada Nuclear Test Site
             48      during the atomic age . . . thousands of early deaths of those living in southern Utah and the
             49      surrounding areas have been attributed to nuclear testing during the 1950s and 1960s at the site.
             50      Many St. George residents and others have suffered incalculable loss as a result of radioactive
             51      fallout exposure from the detonations at the site";
             52          WHEREAS, the Commission added, "To assure the safety and well-being of our
             53      citizenry, these concerns must be carefully studied and evaluated before a decision is made to
             54      proceed with the proposed detonation"; and
             55          WHEREAS, much more needs to be done to assure that there is never a repeat of the
             56      immense suffering endured by citizens of Utah and nearby states due to the nuclear fallout from
             57      past tests at the Nevada Test Site:
             58          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
             59      Governor concurring therein, express opposition to the Divine Strake high-explosive test to be

             60      conducted by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency at the United States Department of Energy
             61      Nevada Test Site in 2007.
             62          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be sent to the Defense
             63      Threat Reduction Agency, the United States Department of Defense, the United States
             64      Department of Energy Nevada Test Site, the Washington County Commission, and to the
             65      members of Utah's congressional delegation.

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