New generation of NTS bomb tests to be discussed

Friday, Feb. 21, 2003 | 9:06 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Defense and weapons officials plan to hold a conference this year to examine reinvigorating the U.S. nuclear weapons program, including a possible new generation of bomb tests at the Nevada Test Site, a watchdog group said.

The Los Alamos Study Group last week released minutes from a Jan. 10 meeting at the Pentagon in which 32 U.S. nuclear weapons managers and other officials tentatively scheduled the conference for August at U.S. Strategic Command in Omaha, Neb. The officials want to discuss what new nuclear weapons to build and how they might be tested.

President Bush has called on the National Nuclear Security Administration, which manages the Test Site, to make the site capable of resuming nuclear tests within 18 months. Currently it would take two to three years to resume tests.

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