WWIC was formed in July of 1971 after the Pinedale Roundup published a letter from the El Paso Natural Gas Company to U.S. Congressman Teno Roncalio indicating that Congress would give twelve million dollars to El Paso Gas towards the eventual firing of underground nuclear devices 20 miles south of Pinedale, Wyoming. The test was scheduled to be conducted in the early 1970s. The objective was to study the effectiveness of nuclear power to break up sandstone in this area to release an estimated 300 trillion cubic feet of natural gas at depths between 10,000 and 18,000 feet. By summer 1975 the Atomic Energy Commission dropped Project Wagon Wheel for a number of practical and political reasons, including the work of the WWIC in opposing the project.
Additional content for this collection can be found in the "Inventory for collection.”
Transcript of oral history interview with WWIC member Daphne Platts
Interview conducted by C.L. Rawlins, 1994
Transcript of interview with WWIC member Doris Burzlander
Interview conducted by C.L. Rawlins, 1994
Transcript of interview with WWIC member Floyd Bousman
Interview conducted by C.L. Rawlins, 1994
Transcript of interview with WWIC member Mary Ann Steele
Interview conducted by C.L. Rawlins, 1994
Transcript of interview with WWIC member Sally Hill Mackey
Interview conducted by C.L. Rawlins, 1994
Transcript of interview with geologist Kenneth Perry
Interview conducted by C.L. Rawlins, 1994
Transcript of interview with WWIC member John Perry Barlow
Interview conducted by C.L. Rawlins, 1994. John's mother Miriam Barlow is also included in the interview.