Bill Bennett: “Linton F. Brooks, who is the Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration, wrote me on June 15, and he…”

“Linton F. Brooks, who is the Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration, wrote me on June 15, and he says the following things: . . . let me state unequivocally this Administration has no current plans or requirements to conduct an underground nuclear test. That is important to understand, that the administration has no plans to conduct an underground nuclear test of any kind. With respect to RNEP, he says: . . . I know you are concerned that the ongoing RNEP study could lead to the resumption of underground nuclear testing. The RNEP study will not require an underground nuclear test. That is a very firm, unequivocal statement. He goes on to talk about possibilities, and he says: Should the President support, and the Congress approve, full-scale engineering development of RNEP, the Administration does not intend to conduct a nuclear test. From the beginning, we have operated under the assumption that resuming testing to certify RNEP is not an option. . . . Those are firm assurances from the Department of Energy.”