United States conducted 212 atmospheric tests from 1945
to 1965.
Since then, the U.S. government has admitted to the
release of considerable amounts of radioactive debris.
The initial tests sometimes left many people injured.
One test conducted in the Martial Islands, located in the
Pacific Ocean where many of the first tests were con
ducted, left 290 people injured after a change in wind
direction, Allen says.
Much of the total impact of early testing still is unclear,
Allen says, but radioactive debris deposited on the Earth's
surface from those tests still are detectable today.
Allen says radioactive material from a nuclear weap
ons test has a 28-year half-life. Material from a nuclear
power plant has a 30-vear half-life, he says.
Allen says some people believe weapons tests done
today could help scientists learn how to deal with radia
tion from other sources
Every year, he says, people are exposed to more and
more doses of radiation because ot the gradual depletion
of the ozone layer.
"At some point man's going to have to deal with
radiation big time," he savs, and the results irom the
weapons testing could help.
Wayne Bliss, director ot the Office ot Radiation Pro
grams at the site's l.as Vegas facility, savs many other
useful types of research also are done at the test site.
" 1 here is a lot ot research on how to store nuclear waste
at Yucca Mountain, laser research . . . and many things
done under the veil of secrecy," he says. Other research on
medicine, computers, science and drilling technology also
takes place at the site, he says.
'These are all extremely useful things," he says.
Bliss says he thinks people not connected with the site
may be opposed to the nuclear testing, even "though the
risk of being hurt from radiation is infinitely small."
"I am a technician ... the public may not perceive risks
the same as a technician," he says.
The public often responds to the testing emotionally,
and may not understand that from a technical point of
view, the facts show testing is safe.
Allen says that bv dealing with issues like testing
emotionally, people fail to look at an alternative point ot
view.
"You always look at the other direction, otherwise how
do you know?" he savs.
Besides, Allen savs, today's public "demands safetv.'
Activists in the 1970s were conscientious about the
environment and helped bring about satetv changes n
nuclear testing, he snv ,
Hover savs protesters at the Nevada lest Site, who
started showing up about eight years ago, are a dilterent
breed than the protesters ot earlier years
' 1 think a lot oi protesters are just there to give the
authorities a kick," he savs.
Protesters at "Reclaim the Test Site 11" April 7*lt>
presented more of a "picnic atmosphere" than a setting
for "serious concerns."
Boyer says he didn't think the protesters tcxik their
efforts as seriously as others in the past.
"Six people covered themselves with mud and got
down on all fours... w’hat's that got to do with protesting
nuclear weapons?" he asks.
Boyer and others say that today's protests are more
against nuclear weapons than they are against nuclear
weapons testing.
However, he says, maintaining a strong defense makes
sure "nobody picks on you."
"When you were in grade school who got kicked
around? -- the weak ones. People stay a wav from those
who would possibly turn the tables on them
"Since we've had nuclear weapons how many coun
tries have attacked us"*" Bover asks "Having that
strength is a deterrent to war.
Bliss savs he also believes the weapons are a "tru
deterrent" to war. and the* onl\ wav tor them to hi
effective is through testing.
"Just as one cannot depend on their car without
tune-up, he savs, "we cannot depend upon our mu lea
stockpile' unless it is tested
Protesters do not real I v have an el tec tout he test site' o
its workers, Bliss savs
"They're a nuisance to the Department ot 1 merge and
taxpayers, but it s a price we have to p.n tor democ rac \,
he savs.
— Lee Rood
I
Nuclear Test Explosions
Since 1945
U.S. 932 ‘includes
U.S.S.R. 638 .20joint
France 172 ukvus
U.K. 41-Jtests
China 34
_India_1
Total 1,79&
Source DOE, GDI. NRDC.
John Bruce/Daily Nebraskan
Connie Sheehan/Daily Nebraskan
Underground tests since August 5, 1963
that accidentally released radioactivity detectable off site.
Announced Tests I
30--— Detected Off Site I
1u5 z lllilllllllllill
'63 '64 '65 '66 6T '63 '69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 73 "9 '80 81 '81 '83 '84 35 '8o
John Bruce Daily Nebraskan vnfi-< i mirdSuie* Envir< v»umaiPfuuttirm \^tn
A poster taped to the wall of a tunnel beneath Highway 95 recounts the
exposure of the Bulloch Brothers and their 2,000 sheep to extensive
fallout from an atomic test in 1953. At one time, the information was
considered highly classified.