An occasional series of opinions on issues of interest to Utah County residents.

A spectacular Fourth of July

Congratulations to America's Freedom Foundation for presenting one of the most warm and fulfilling Fourth of July celebrations in recent memory. Actually, it was more than warm on Wednesday -- it was just plain hot, and we're talking about the program, not just the weather. From the traditional balloon launch to the parade, to Colonial Days at the Crandall Historical Printing Museum and Stadium of Fire, this was a grand success by any standard. The day was capped by a fabulous stadium event, broadcast to U.S. troops around the world. Radio and TV personality Glenn Beck was in great voice at the microphone. Patriotic feelings then carried over to the trademark fireworks. With the bombs bursting in air after an uplifting program, whose heart could fail to be stirredfi The Country-Western music of Brooks & Dunn was fine, and Gov. Jon Huntsman and musician-turned-auto-magnate Brent Brown were entertaining. But what we took home was the fundamental message of our common heritage as Americans.

Geneva Road key piece of road plan

We're glad that Orem is looking to the future of transportation.

The City Council recently approved recommendations from its transportation advisory commission for improvements, such as accepting the state's Interstate 15 plan and making Geneva Road a seven-lane highway.

The Geneva Road plan is long overdue, and well worth consideration. It is a natural alternative to I-15. The problem is that it's not up to the task right now, and hasn't been for years.

The road is fairly narrow and, when Geneva Steel was operating, its railroad crossings made it a less-than-efficient way to get around. For many drivers, only a catastrophic traffic jam on I-15 would get them to consider using the alternative.

But Geneva Road is now a vital piece of the local transportation network. When the Utah Department of Transportation starts reconstructing I-15 in the next 10-20 years, Geneva Road is going to have to carry more traffic. It will be the one of the few ways to effectively get around the construction site.

Orem's proposal would widen the road to seven lanes, which will help relieve I-15 congestion and improve traffic flow throughout the area.

However, for the plan to work Orem's neighbors will have to make similar changes. This is something that should not take a lot of thought.

PFS nightmare ends for Utah

In case anyone was worried, a federal judge has pretty much driven the final nail into Private Fuel Storage's plan to bring nuclear waste to Utah.

Judge Merrick B. Garland of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals dismissed Utah's challenge of a federal license for PFS's proposed waste storage depot in Skull Valley because it is highly unlikely that the project will ever be built. There's just no point in proceeding.

In September 2006, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management rejected PFS's transportation plans to bring the waste into the facility, while the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs rejected a lease with the Skull Valley Goshutes.

Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said the appellate court decision is further proof that the state's long-running battle to keep spent nuclear fuel rods out is finally over.

PFS had sought to bring 4,000 casks of high-level nuclear waste to Skull Valley for "temporary" storage while waiting for the federal repository at Yucca Mountain, Nev., to be constructed. Skull Valley would then have functioned as a regular waystation. The district court's decision is a clear signal that this nuclear nightmare is finally over.

Unfortunately, Utah suffers from serial nuclear nightmares. The terror goes on. So long as EnergySolutions has ambitions to expand its dump in the West Desert, we can't afford to let down our guard. Once Gov. Jon Huntsman is out of office -- be that sooner or later -- EnergySolutions will have a new opening because of a shift of responsibility away from elected officials to state bureaucrats.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A6.