While the days of a Goshute radiation spa may be as far off as a Goshute nuclear dump, it's Blaine's concern that all the hysteria over the transport of things nuclear — not just here in Utah, but throughout the country — is threatening the future of the nuclear energy industry.

"I think that taking care of the storage of spent nuclear fuel is a paramount problem in the public and political view concerning the future of nuclear energy," he says. "I think the important factor is that we have a possibility of losing nuclear power. There haven't been any new reactors built for many years. And if we don't have this nuclear capability then we're more dependent on foreign oil. We have the capability within our own country of being self-sufficient energy-wise. This is why I feel so strongly to get this false idea of a fear of radiation turned around. I just want to eliminate the hysteria.

"It is not right for the citizens of Utah to believe that they will be harmed by the small amounts of radiation which they may receive from any radioactive material coming into the state. The only effect they can expect is less cancer and longer life."

Once again, a card-carrying physicist has told us so.

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Lee Benson's column runs Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please send e-mail to benson@desnews.com and faxes to 801-237-2527.