Senators discuss better security at Test Site

Tuesday, Feb. 24, 1998 | 10:04 a.m.

Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Pete Dominici, R-N.M., toured the Nevada Test Site Monday as a place that could play a bigger role in securing both nuclear weapons and national security.

As Senate Budget Committee chairman, Dominici said he was interested in ensuring that the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile was safe.

Dominici said he had never been to the Test Site, 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas, until Reid invited him.

That was before two men were arrested Wednesday on charges of possessing anthrax, a deadly biological warfare agent. The charges have now been dropped but the FBI is still investigating the case.

Reid said he has been concerned about the lack of U.S. counter-terrorism programs in recent years.

Dominici agreed. "There is a growing threat," he said.

Reid serves with Dominici, who is also chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, on the subcommittee where Reid is a ranking member.

This year Reid secured $5 million for emergency crew training at the Test Site. He says the site is perfect because of its maze of tunnels, which could be used to simulate an emergency in a subway system. The Test Site has been inactive since President George Bush imposed a moratorium on nuclear testing in 1992.

This year, Congress approved $20 million for counter-terrorism programs nationwide.

"The Nevada Test Site is an extremely integral part of the budget approved by the committee," Reid said.