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WASHINGTON - Utah residents deserve the credit for derailing Divine Strake, state leaders said Thursday after the Pentagon announced it was scrapping plans for the giant explosion in Nevada.

"I think the decision is the result of thousands of Utahns who stood firm to make sure we don't repeat the mistakes of the past," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency said the decision was not prompted by any potential risk to the public from the test, but would not elaborate on what changed the agency's mind.

"I have become convinced that it's time to look at alternative methods that obviate the need for this type of large-scale test," DTRA Director James Tegnelia said Thursday.

The detonation of 700 tons of explosives at the test site was supposed to help measure the ground shaking caused by such a blast and damage done to an underground tunnel so the agency could build computer programs to model different blasts. The agency said it would look for other ways to gather the computer data.

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., who organized public hearings where Utahns for the most part spoke in opposition to the test, said the clarity of the message the state sent "would have been unavoidable in the halls of Washington."

"This is really a time to thank the thousands and thousands of people who were willing to participate," Huntsman said. "This is a very instructive example of how the voice of the people does still matter in the political process."

Also key to the effort was a lawsuit filed by Nevada attorney Robert Hager on behalf of American Indian tribes in Nevada and a group of Utah Downwinders, individuals suffering illnesses as a result of exposure to fallout from Cold War atomic tests. Steve Erickson, a Downwinder activist and one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit seeking to stop the blast, said the lawsuit put the brakes on a test and forced the government to take another look.

"It put the test on hold, allowed for a more in-depth review and it allowed the public to organize an opposition to Divine Strake, and people did a fine job of making their heartfelt feelings known," he said.

Hatch also made clear to the Pentagon that nominees to prominent positions, such as Michael Burns' selection as assistant secretary for nuclear, chemical and biological defense programs, may face a hard road to Senate confirmation if plans for the test proceeded.

"This is a welcome relief for the thousands of Utahns with serious concerns about Divine Strake," said Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah. "When I asked the Pentagon to move this test out of southern Nevada, I also suggested that they explore other methods - besides testing - to obtain the needed data. I am pleased they now plan to go that route."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said tests like Divine Strake are important from a military standpoint, but the Pentagon failed to do the work to show the project was safe.

"There were still many questions left unanswered, including the possible environmental effects. Taking these factors into consideration, I support the Defense Department decision to play it safe by canceling Divine Strake," Reid said.

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* JUDY FAHYS contributed to this story.