IS DIVINE STRAKE CANCELLED, DELAYED OR WHAT?

The test was originally scheduled for June 2, 2006, however a lawsuit (seeking a permanent injunction of the test) filed in a federal court by the Winnemuca Indian Colony (Western Shoshone tribe) and several downwinders from Nevada and Utah - complemented by rallies held in three Western states - forced the Pentagon to delay the test several times. 

Delay #1: On May 8, the Pentagon's Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), which sponsored the Divine Strake test, first announced a delay of the test from June 2 to June 23.

Delay #2: On May 26, DTRA announced an 'indefinite postponement' of the test 

Delay #3: On June 16, DTRA announced the test would happen 'no earlier than September' 

Delay #4: On August 1, DTRA said that the test would not happen until 'at least several months into calendar year 2007.' **

The above delays were partly due to the Pentagon's miscalculation of the lengthiness of lawsuit proceedings and also concern over growing media attention that was being fueled by citizen rallies in three states during May and June.

** DTRA stated in its August 1st press release that the decision to go forward with the test will depend on the following outcomes: 'if it is determined that the experiment can be conducted safely, is in compliance with NEPA, and there is a favorable court ruling.'   

In early November 2006, a U.S. government lawyer said DTRA can 'NOT PROMISE 60 DAYS' notice before conducting the Divine Strake test in mid-2007

On December 13, 2006, the Deseret News (Utah) reported that the government was pledging a 30-days notice of the test after it issues a Finding of No Significant Impact statement (sometime after February 1) 

Divine Strake was cancelled on Feb. 22, 2007.

Indiana and New Mexico

In early August, when DTRA announced 'Delay #4' the agency also mentioned that they were considering other locations for the mega-explosive experiment. Two locations mentioned were a limestone quarry in Indiana and a test range in New Mexico. Quickly following the August announcement, Indiana citizens began protesting the Pentagon's plans. Their rallies and petitions, which attracted media attention during several hot weeks in August, forced the Pentagon, on August 29, to yield, stating that the agency ' has no plans to conduct Divine Strake in the state of Indiana.'  On November 15, 2006, Pentagon planners announced that, after weighing alternative sites in New Mexico, Utah, California and Indiana, they decided to put the Nevada Test Site back on track for testing Divine Strake in 2007.