Under the Cap of Invisibility: The Pantex Nuclear Weapons Plant and the Texas Panhandle by Lucie Genay (review)

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• Under the Cap of Invisibility: The Pantex Nuclear Weapons Plant and the Texas Panhandle by Lucie Genay
• Terry Furgerson

Under the Cap of Invisibility: The Pantex Nuclear Weapons Plant and the Texas Panhandle. By Lucie Genay. ( Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2022. Pp. 304. Illustrations, map, notes, bibliography, index.)

As the Cold War recedes into the past, it increasingly falls under the purview of historians. This includes author Lucie Genay, a professor at the University of Limoges in France. In this book, Genay examines the controversies surrounding the Pantex ordnance plant, located near Amarillo, Texas. Established in 1942 to build conventional bombs, during the 1950s it began to assemble atomic weapons. The plant was an economic boon for the area, creating large numbers of jobs in a location where employment opportunities were limited. However, the secretive nature of the work meant that the public knew few details about the facility. Some residents felt uncomfortable with the fact that nuclear weapons were being built nearby, while others believed that the plant was a likely target for an attack by the Soviet Union. But economic benefits combined with a sense of patriotism to sustain local support for the plant. Panhandle residents treated Pantex like the elephant in the room; ever present but seldom discussed. Genay refers to this as a "cap of invisibility," a phrase she credits to Grace Mojtabai, who authored an earlier work about Pantex. (p. 7)

This cap was maintained for decades, but public discussion of Pantex increased during the 1980s. Debate over the proposed production of the neutron bomb led to protests outside of the Pantex facility. From there the arguments continued. The winding down of the Cold War led to a consolidation of weapons facilities, and Pantex faced the possibilities of either closure or expansion. The former would harm the local economy, while the latter might boost employment. But an expansion would involve the dismantling of nuclear warheads and the recycling of the plutonium within them, with the accompanying hazardous waste. Battle lines were soon drawn between those who favored expansion and those who had environmental concerns, such as the possible contamination of the underground aquifer that sustained local agricultural.

These controversies are the focus of this social and intellectual history. In nine chapters this book explores the motives of various groups and their positions on the possible expansion of Pantex. For religious leaders it was a debate on morality, while farmers were anxious over environmental issues. Local business leaders looked through an economic lens, while workers worried about safety and health issues concerning hazardous materials. Each chapter focuses on a particular group, allowing the reader to understand the arguments involved. The downside to this method is that chapters move back and forth chronologically, leading to repetition of key events. Another failing is that some of the illustrations are of little actual value to the narrative. [End Page 374]

Despite these weaknesses, the book achieves its intended purposes. The prose flows well and the author mostly avoids the scientific jargon that can accompany such a technical subject. Genay also offers political, religious, and cultural explanations of the differing viewpoints regarding Pantex. This reviewer disagreed with some of these interpretations but found them thought-provoking, making the book a worthwhile read for those attracted to the subject matter.

Terry Furgerson Collin College Copyright © 2022 The Texas State Historical Association ...