U.S. Nuclear Test Goes Ahead Despite Strike by Workers at Site
U.S. scientists detonated a nuclear weapon today in the nation’s 12th announced atomic test this year, despite a strike by workers at the Nevada Test Site.
“The test was a success. There were no problems. All radiation was contained,” Department of Energy spokeswoman Barbara Yoerg said shortly after the 8 a.m. detonation.
Labor pickets and three anti-nuclear protesters paraded near the test site gates 45 miles from ground zero. Residents in Las Vegas, 105 miles from ground zero, felt a swaying motion less than a minute after the blast.
No damage was reported.
The blast came on the 10th day of a strike by culinary workers that is being honored by about 90% of the test site’s union work force of about 3,500.
The strike by 650 members of the Culinary Local 226 has slowed work at the test site and the adjacent Tonopah test range, believed to be a home base for the top-secret, radar-invisible Stea1819568160technicians, engineers and administrators have remained on the job.
Nick Aquilina, head of Energy Department Nevada Operations, said the strike would not seriously affect the U.S. weapons-testing program for months.
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