DATE=3/25/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-39361
TITLE=CONTROVERSIAL BOMB TEST 
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A CONTROVERSIAL WEAPONS TEST (WEDNESDAY) IN A REMOTE PART
OF THE AMERICAN WEST IS SPARKING CRITICISM FROM DISARMAMENT 
ADVOCATES.  THEY SAY THE TEST COULD HARM EFFORTS TO PASS THE 
COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY, OR LEAD TO NEW GENERATIONS OF 
NUCLEAR WEAPONS.  U-S OFFICIALS SAY AS LONG AS AMERICA RELIES ON 
NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR DEFENSE, RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO BE SURE THEY 
WILL WORK AS DESIGNED.  CORRESPONDENT JIM RANDLE REPORTS, THE 
UNITED STATES STOPPED NUCLEAR TEST EXPLOSIONS IN 1992.

TEXT:  THIS TEST, CALLED "STAGECOACH", WAS SET 
SEVERAL-HUNDRED-METERS BELOW THE NEVADA DESERT AT THE TEST SITE 
ABOUT 100-KILOMETERS FROM LAS VEGAS.  THE TEST EXPOSED ABOUT 
ONE-KILOGRAM OF PLUTONIUM TO THE FORCE, HEAT, AND PRESSURE OF 
ABOUT 100-KILOGRAMS OF HIGH EXPLOSIVES.

THIS UNDERGROUND TEST INVOLVED PLUTONIUM AND HIGH EXPLOSIVES, BUT
NOT A NUCLEAR BLAST.  EXPERTS SAY TO CREATE A NUCLEAR EXPLOSION 
IT TAKES AT LEAST FOUR-KILOS OF PLUTONIUM, COMPRESSED WITH GREAT 
PRECISION UNDER TREMENDOUS HEAT AND PRESSURE BY HIGH EXPLOSIVES. 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY TEST SITE OFFICIAL, DEREK SCAMMELL, SAYS 
THIS TEST STUDIES THE CHARACTERISTICS OF AGING PLUTONIUM UNDER 
EXPLOSIVE STRESS.

                   /// DEREK SCAMMELL ACT /// 

         THEY (NUCLEAR SCIENTISTS) ARE NOT TOO SURE ABOUT THE 
         PROPERTIES OF PLUTONIUM.  THEY NEVER HAD TO WORRY IN 
         YEARS PAST THAT PLUTONIUM WAS AGING OR WOULD NOT PERFORM
         AS THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD, BECAUSE THEY COULD ALWAYS 
         BRING A DEVICE OUT TO THE TEST SITE AND BLOW IT UP.  WE 
         CAN NO LONGER DO THAT, WE HAVE NOT SINCE '92. 

                        /// END ACT /// 

MR. SCAMMELL SAYS SCIENTISTS CALL THIS KIND OF TEST "SUBCRITICAL"
BECAUSE THE PLUTONIUM DOES NOT CREATE THE KIND OF NUCLEAR CHAIN 
REACTION NEEDED FOR A NUCLEAR EXPLOSION.  BUT HE SAYS ENGINEERS 
HOPE THIS TEST DATA WILL HELP THEM MAKE MORE ACCURATE ASSESSMENTS
OF THE HEALTH OF THE AGING STOCKPILE OF U-S NUCLEAR WEAPONS.  

THE UNITED STATES PERFORMED MORE THAN ONE-THOUSAND NUCLEAR TEST 
EXPLOSIONS DURING SEVERAL DECADES.  MOST OF THOSE TESTS WENT OFF 
A KILOMETER OR MORE UNDERGROUND AT THE NEVADA TEST SITE, BUT THEY
LEFT THE SITE POCK-MARKED WITH DEPRESSIONS.  FROM THE AIR, IT 
LOOKS LIKE THE SURFACE OF THE MOON. 

DISARMAMENT ADVOCATES, LIKE FRAN TEPITZ OF "PEACE ACTION" SAY 
AFTER SO MANY TESTS, IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE SCIENTISTS NEED STILL 
MORE DATA TO BABYSIT (TAKE CARE OF) NUCLEAR BOMBS. 

                       /// TEPITZ ACT /// 

         NUCLEAR TESTING, HISTORICALLY, HAS NOT REALLY BEEN 
         CONDUCTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING SAFETY.  
         HISTORICALLY, TESTING HAS BEEN CONDUCTED IN ORDER TO 
         RESEARCH NEW NUCLEAR WEAPONS CAPABILITIES. 

                         /// END ACT ///

MS. TEPITZ SAYS OTHER NATIONS THAT HAVE NOT SIGNED OR RATIFIED 
THE COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR TEST BAN MIGHT HESITATE TO APPROVE THE 
PACT IF AMERICAN TESTS, EVEN SUBCRITICAL TESTS, CONTINUE. 

MEANTIME, THE UNITED STATES HAS SIGNED THE TREATY, BUT THE U-S 
SENATE HAS NOT APPROVED AMERICAN PARTICIPATION IN THE PACT.   
(SIGNED)

NEB/RAE

25-Mar-98 3:00 PM EST (2000 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.