TVA Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant - The continuing Saga: When did the NRC and the TVA Know about the Defective Valves and Management Failures? Did the NRC Intentionally Deceive the Public

 

When and how long had the Tennessee Valley Authority's, TVA, Browns Ferry been experiencing degraded conditions as a result of failed valves? Was there an intentional cover-up by the TVA and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NRC? Do nuclear Peer Review organizations such as WANO, World Association of Nuclear Operators, or INPO, Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, have a moral, ethical and legal responsibility to disclose the existence of serious issues which may jeopardize public health and welfare of the public relating to nuclear power operations?

 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

 

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (NRC) 

BRIEFING ON BROWNS FERRY UNIT 1

OCTOBER 18, 2011

9:O0 A.M.

TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS

Public Meeting

Link: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/commission/tr/2011/20111018.pdf

 

All the players were present, the NRC Commissioners and TVA Senior Executives. Quote from page 1 of the report -

"CHAIRMAN JACZKO: Good morning, everyone. The Commission meets today to discuss the safety challenges experienced by the Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant and the steps being taken to strengthen safety at the plant.  In particular, in May 2004, Brown's Ferry Unit 1 was placed in Column IV of the  Reactor Oversight Process Action Matrix after it received a "Red" finding when a  reactor core cooling valve failed." Is that an error?

 

In the next paragraph Commissioner Jaczko goes on to say:

"This is not the only significant issue the Browns Ferry plant has experienced in recent years. In 2003, all units at Browns Ferry were placed in Column III after receiving a "Yellow" finding for fire protection issues. Given this recent history of issues, I'm sure that we can all agree that we want to see the plant perform more safely. To achieve that, there needs to be a strong commitment from the licensee’s entire organization, from its senior leadership to its frontline engineers to do what needs to be done for safety."

 

Had the plant actually received "Red finding" in 2004, or was this an error on the part of the NRC Chairman, Commissioner Jaczko? Attention to detail is important for the nuclear industry. The report continues; BILL BORCHARDT's comments on page 4 of the PDF linked: "...Browns Ferry Unit 1 entered Column IV of the Action Matrix in the fourth quarter of 2010." VICTOR MCCREE's comments on page 5: "...Unit 1 was assessed as being in the multiple repetitive degraded cornerstone, or Column IV, of the Reactor Oversight Process Action Matrix. Unit 1 was placed in this cornerstone column due to a "Red" finding in the mitigating systems cornerstone...On October 23rd, 2010, operators of Browns Ferry Unit 1 attempted to place Loop II of the residual heat removal low pressure coolant injection, or, RHR LPCI system in service to support refueling activities."

 

Maybe Commissioner Jaczko misspoke about the 2004 "Red Finding. Meanwhile, according to the NRC, the "Red Finding" is lifted and Browns Ferry Unit 1 is returned to the "Green" operating column stating, "The results of the inspection indicated that Browns Ferry was being operated safely." NUCPRO's listing of the Browns Ferry Assessment Letter: March 10, 2014 http://www.nucpros.com/content/browns-ferry-annual-assessment-letter

 

When did TVA and the NRC know there were valve problems at Browns Ferry?

Nuclear facilities have the privilege of receiving Peer Review Inspections by two separate groups of nuclear engineers. One of the groups is WANO, World Association of Nuclear Operators. Another group is INPO, Institute of Nuclear Power Operations. Unfortunately for the public, when the INPO or WANO reports are issued  they have a statement that they are restricted from public view.  The TVA claims that the public is not entitled to see the reports nor entitled to a copy of the report for proprietary and financial reasons. TVA's position is highly suspect and reflective of TVA's attempt to continue with cover-ups and secrecy involving its nuclear program failures. However, the WANO and INPO groups themselves mark the reports as restricted.

 

The restrictive markings, when covering up serious safety issues which reflect negligent actions on the part of management of nuclear power plants, are effectively covering up issues which are of grave public concern. In the case of the Browns Ferry GE Mark 1 Nuclear plants the issues covered up, if not corrected, place the public at a higher risk of physical injury as a result of TVA negligence and a failure to correct the negligent actions by the regulator, the NRC.  

 

The WANO and INPO reports contain information that should be and must be made public. There is an ethical, moral and legal responsibility of the government agencies and the professional nuclear engineering organizations to make public those defective items identified which may in fact cause a catastrophic failure thus endangering the public. Such is the case of multiple defective valves which insure a nuclear reactor is cooled properly in the course of normal operations and emergency events.

 

The reports contain information regarding the safety of operating nuclear reactors. In the case of the Browns Ferry Nuclear Facility the INPO report dated July 2010 indicates the TVA, and presumably the NRC knew of the repetitive valve failures at all of the 3 Browns Ferry Units going back to 2006. On pages 30 and 31 (of 83pages) all 3 Browns Ferry Units experienced various valve failures.

The following photo of the pages are hereby listed as news, criticism and educational use, this posting is a not for profit listing under the Fair Use Rule of Section 107 of United States Law.

 

This listing also casts grave doubt on the inappropriate classification of such documents and the Federal Government's and the INPO/WANO institutions responsibilities to divulge such information to the public. The INPO report discloses long time safety failures at Browns Ferry and brings to light the regulators failure, NRC, as well as the TVA's failure as to safety culture and executive management. This failure extends to the NRC having access to such reports and keeping the reports restricted. The restriction of the reports are immoral, unethical, and possibly illegal, as they disclose serious public safety hazards regarding nuclear reactors at the TVA Browns Ferry nuclear facility. 

 

Nuclear Power Plant Safety and the protection of the publics health and welfare should be a TEAM PROCESS to protect the public. Not a process of cover-ups and secret documents to protect the nuclear power industry, executives, defective systems and incompetent managers. 

 

The INPO report began its description as Follows for the defective valves at Browns Ferry on page 28: "High and Low Pressure Injection systems have experienced repeat and age related failures." It goes on to describe management failures and "insufficient actions to prevent reoccurrence of equipment failures." The exact findings are hereby submitted as a "Fair Use Right" for the purpose of news reporting, education, criticism and the exposure of systemic negligence in a safety culture involving nuclear power use by the TVA.

 

Click on images for an expanded view.

 

 

Due to the seriousness of the issues involved and the appearance of a cover-up and or negligent activities on the part of the NRC and the TVA in this matter, the INPO report relating to valve failures at the TVA Browns Ferry GE Mark 1 Nuclear Facility is disclosed.

 

The July 2010 INPO report goes on to describe other equipment failures as a result of a failed safety culture and management neglect.

 

Nuclear Engineer Henry Jones discusses the existence of Peer Review Reports and their implications.

The Saga of a Defective Nuclear Reactor System and Negligent Managers

THE BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT NEAR ATHENS AND DECATUR, ALABAMA HAS BEEN OPERATING UNSAFELY (TVA photo)

TVA's largest nuclear facility at Browns Ferry, Alabama has been operating unsafely according to multiple sources: NRC, TVA and a TVA Engineer who specializes in "root cause analysis" of nuclear plant malfunctions. Yet, the unsafe Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant has been allowed to continue operations with unsafe systems, antiquated electronic parts and negligent management.

Browns Ferry has a dubious history as this PBS video explains.




MANAGEMENT DISCONNECT REGARDING SAFETY AND CORRECTIVE ACTIONS

There appears to be a large TVA management and NRC disconnect relative to safety and corrective actions programs for the flawed and defective GE Mark 1 Browns Ferry Nuclear Reactors. The three Browns Ferry Nuclear Reactors are the same type which melted down at the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Reactor site and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of citizens surrounding the highly contaminated nuclear facility.

A "station blackout" scenario at Browns Ferry Alabama similar to the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear reactor station blackout and subsequent meltdowns could make the areas of Athens, Decatur, Madison and parts of Huntsville, Alabama a "no mans land." Depending on the wind direction, over 250,000 citizens could be left homeless, never to be able to return to their homes due to area radiation contamination. In the case of a reactor disaster the food chain in the area would be contaminated up to 100 miles and greater from Browns Ferry depending on wind direction. Cancer risks would sky rocket for citizens residing in areas greater than 100 miles of Browns Ferry.

After the fiasco with the January 2012 control room fire at Browns Ferry it became apparent the NRC and the TVA were intentionally covering up failures which could compromise the safety of North Alabama citizens. http://blog.al.com/breaking/2012/07/browns_ferry_nuclear_plant_had.html

The control room fire revealed: 1) an inoperative corrective actions program; 2) TVA management failed to implement corrective actions identified multiple times for several years; 3) TVA management failed to replace antiquated electrical components throughout the Browns Ferry facility; 4) the TVA and NRC have attempted to cover-up the extent of management failures relative to corrective action programs (CAP) and the existence of antiquated analog electrical components in critical safety systems throughout the plant. 

REGULATORY FAILURE OF THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION, NRC
On March 4, 2013 the NRC stated in its Annual Assessment Report on Browns Ferry that the TVA at Browns Ferry has problems identified as "Significant Cross cutting Issues, SCCI," which after several notices of violations were not corrected. The report stated specifically that management at Browns Ferry did not take “appropriate and timely corrective actions," notified in 5 different letters, nor did they conduct a "thorough evaluation of identified problems," notified in 7 different letters.  The March 4, 2013 NRC letter contains dates and facility areas for the increased inspection programs out to June 2014. http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/LETTERS/bf_2012q4.pdf   


WHISTLEBLOWER REVEALS FLAWED SAFETY CULTURE
Yesterday, July 7, 2013 the Huntsville Times released an expose on "Browns Ferry: Shrinking the safety margin at Alabama's largest nuclear plant" - http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/07/browns_ferry.html ; and a story revealing a "flawed safety culture" and accusations of nuclear safety shortcuts being taken: http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/07/browns_ferry_engineer_never_ex.html  The expose also reveals serious allegations of sexual harassment pointed at the female engineer whistleblower.

Aging nuclear plants corrode and all nuclear facilities release highly radioactive nuclear contaminants into the water, land and atmosphere surrounding the nuclear facility. After 8 months of investigations concerning radiation levels surrounding the Browns Ferry Nuclear Facility a Radioactive Emissions and Health Hazards report was issued by the BREDL Chapter BEST/MATRR on June 6, 2013 revealing  there are radiation levels greater than 40 times background levels present in downwind areas of Browns Ferry.


DOWNWIND RADIATION - ADULT and INFANT DEATH RATES INCREASE
An Epidemiology study of the North Alabama areas downwind of the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant reveal a steady increase of Adult Death Rates greater than 20% of the U.S. Death Rates and an Infant Death Rate greater than 21% of the U.S. Death Rates since the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant has been in operation.
This report may be viewed at http://bredl.org/pdf4/AL_BFN_Report_2013-final-digit.pdf or our BEST/MATRR web site at http://www.matrr.org .

Because of the failed safety culture, management neglect and the defective antiquated reactor's systems it is time to close the three TVA, defective and unsafe GE Mark 1 nuclear reactors at Browns Ferry Alabama.

A concerned citizens  video report about BEST/MATRR's report.

TVA Quarterly Board Meeting, Apr. 18, 2013 at Columbia, Tn. - Special Disclosure on TVA Nuclear Decommissioning Fund Status

 

AGENDA

 

BEST/MATRR short video of Listening Session




BEST/MATRR short video of the Board Meeting, Finance highlights



TVA's videos and presentation of the Apr. 18, 2013 Quarterly Board Meeting
Links:
News Release
TVA Presentation (PDF)
Video of listening session (Windows Media)
Video of meeting (Windows Media)
Video shown at meeting (Windows Media)

TVA Privatization
The TVA has been ablaze with discussion as of late concerning President Obama's budget proposal concerning the TVA. Bloomberg on the issue: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-11/obama-mulls-sale-of-tennessee-valley-authority-in-budget-plan.html "President Barack Obama is considering the sale of all or part of the Tennessee Valley Authority (3015A), the largest publicly owned U.S. power company, in a deal that may raise as much as $35 billion as the administration seeks to reduce the national debt."

"A potential sale is part of a “strategic review” of the Knoxville, Tennessee-based nonprofit, which faces increasing capital costs, according to the administration’s fiscal 2014 budget proposal released yesterday. A sale may yield $30 billion to $35 billion in cash and reduced government debt obligations, said Travis Miller, a Chicago-based analyst for Morningstar Inc. (MORN) "

TVA leadership welcomes debt review: http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2013/apr/19/tva-leaders-welcome-debt-review/  "President and CEO Bill Johnson and board Chairman Bill Sansom said they believe TVA is "a good business model" that is funded totally by ratepayers, not taxpayers.
"We'll cooperate and participate, and we're glad to see the review. In the meantime, we've got to focus and direct management's attention on running the place right," Sansom said at a board meeting Thursday in Columbia, Tenn."

Nuclear Decommissioning - NRC's out of date plan and policy: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/decommissioning.html

TVA Funds - Nuclear decommissioning trust fund balance at the end of fiscal 2012 (Sept. 30, 2012) $1,165,216,096;  2011 was $945,961,913; 2009 was $660.5 million. Information provided via request to TVA.

TVA's Nuclear Decommissioning Fund status in its annual SEC 10K report will not be found and the report listing is confusing. TVA's 2012 10K Annual Financial Report reflects deferred costs, page 98. No where in the financial report are the actual decommissioning funds on hand listed. Pg 73 contains a discussion. http://investor.shareholder.com/tva/secfiling.cfm?filingID=1376986-12-43

 

"GAO investigated 12 reactors’ trust funds, comparing company-prepared site-specific decommissioning cost estimates to NRC’s formula. For nine reactors, NRC’s formula resulted in funds below the companies’ estimates. In one case, a company believed it needed $836 million, which was $362 million more than NRC’s formula figure. GAO also noted NRC’s funding formula was more than 30 years old." http://cen.acs.org/articles/91/i13/Nuclear-Retirement-Anxiety.html

"Decommissioning a Nuclear Plant Can Cost $1 Billion and Take Decades:" http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/13/idUS178883596820110613

TVA's nuclear decommissioning funds on hand are not sufficient and rely on NRC's 30 year antiquated policy. Current TVA nuclear plant decommissioning fund status below as reported to the NRC.

Nuclear decommissioning trust fund balance at the end of fiscal 2012 (Sept. 30, 2012) $1,165,216,096.

Current long operating nuclear plant decommissioning costs per plant are estimated to be $800-$900 million per reactor. TVA is seriously lacking in their decommissioning fund.  (Decommissioning Trust Fund Balance provided by TVA. The table reflects the official report provided the NRC.) 

Silly "AFP" - here is the You Tube address: http://youtu.be/paxDogM6MjU they post this video on You Tube, a Google entity, but AFP will not allow a You Tube video to be played on Google Blogger?

TVA and NRC Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioning Fund Negligence

 

A picture of TVA negligence, the Kingston Coal Ash Dam Collapse

 

TVA's nuclear power plant decommissioning fund reflects negligence and mismanagement on the part of TVA and the requirements of the regulator, the NRC.

 

TVA's Nuclear Decommissioning Fund status, 2012 Annual Financial Report, page 98, concerns deferred costs only. No where in the financial report are the actual decommissioning funds on hand listed. Pg 73 contains a discussion.  http://investor.shareholder.com/tva/secfiling.cfm?filingID=1376986-12-43 TVA officials report the 2012 fund status as $1.165 billion as reflected in the required report to the NRC.

 

"GAO investigated 12 reactors’ trust funds, comparing company-prepared site-specific decommissioning cost estimates to NRC’s formula. For nine reactors, NRC’s formula resulted in funds below the companies’ estimates. In one case, a company believed it needed $836 million, which was $362 million more than NRC’s formula figure. GAO also noted NRC’s funding formula was more than 30 years old." http://cen.acs.org/articles/91/i13/Nuclear-Retirement-Anxiety.html

"Decommissioning a Nuclear Plant Can Cost $1 Billion and Take Decades:" http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/13/idUS178883596820110613

 

 

Who manages TVA's nuclear decommissioning fund? Students at 25 of the Southeast's Universities manage TVA's Nuclear Decommissioning funds - in part. http://www.tva.com/investmentchallenge/pdf/ic_brochure.pdf

 

"As a public entity, TVA has an inherent duty to accurately and plainly inform its stakeholders about its financial condition. This entails more than merely doing what the law requires in the way of disclosures to potential investors. In our view, most members of Congress and the general public do not have the time to decipher TVA's 10Q to the SEC. Our report is intended to make TVA's finances more transparent to the Congress and the general public."

TVA OIG INSPECTION 2007-11399 – REVIEW OF TVA'S FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

http://oig.tva.gov/PDF/09rpts/2007-11399.pdf

 

Summary: TVA's nuclear decommissioning fund is seriously underfunded. The current estimated cost to decommission a nuclear power plant is reflected in the "Chemical & Engineering News" article, $840 million.

 

 

The nuclear decommissioning under-funding status is reflective of negligence on the part of several parties, TVA & the NRC, who are the decision makers and regulators in this matter. To decommission 3 of TVA's 6 current operating nuclear power reactors would cost over $2.5 billion dollars. If we utilize TVA's financial figures they have a serious deficit for the decommissioning fund, $1.165 billion funded (Sep 2012). TVA needs over 4 times that amount for 6 plants. This deficit stands to significantly effect TVA ratepayer electricity costs in the future if TVA and/or the NRC does not take appropriate action to correct the seriously underfunded status of TVA's decommissioning account.

 

 

The NRC must bear part of this negligent action due to their failure to update the 30 year old decommissioning fund requirement. Information from the NRC site regarding decommissioning sums up this problem: OIG/95A-20 - NRC's Decommissioning Financial Assurance Requirements for Federal Licensees May Not Be Sufficient - "We found that NRC's decision to allow Federal licensees to use a statement of intent to meet decommissioning funding requirements for their nuclear power plants was based primarily on the assumption that the Federal Government would pay the financial obligations of the lone Federal licensee, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), should it be unable to do so. However, based on our review of the U.S. Code and discussions with officials from the Department of Treasury, the Office of Management and Budget and TVA, we believe NRC's assumption is questionable. We also believe the NRC staff responsible for developing and reviewing the rule did not conduct sufficient analysis to determine whether allowing Federal licensees to use a statement of intent was appropriate."

"We also found that, although not required, TVA has established a fund dedicated to meet its decommissioning obligations. However, because this is an internal fund it can be used for other purposes. In fact, TVA had at one time temporarily depleted its decommissioning fund." http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/insp-gen/1996/95a-20.html

GAO Report Recommendation on Nuclear Decommissioning Funds: "To further strengthen NRC’s oversight of decommissioning funding assurance, the NRC Commissioners should better ensure that licensees are providing reasonable assurance that they will have the necessary funds and improve the consistency of information the agency collects by continuing these reviews of fund balances in a way that is most efficient and effective for the agency." http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-258

Shh, TVA nuclear power plant secrets - The Browns Ferry Nuclear Reactors

 The Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, 12 air miles southwest of Athens, Al. and 30 air miles west of Huntsville, Al.

The General Electric Mark 1 series of reactors like the ones at Browns Ferry and 20 other sites across our nation.  http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/GE-reactors-Japan-UnitedStates/2011/03/14/id/389407  The most serious problem, as Mr. Gunderson explains in the video below, is the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) failure to regulate and provide safety measures for the protection of citizens. The NRC is more concerned with protecting the financial interests of the nuclear industry rather than citizens. This type of nuclear reactor is a catastrophe waiting to happen!

The Browns Ferry nuclear reactors are flawed. Nuclear Engineer Arnie Gunderson of Fairewinds Associates ( http://fairewinds.com/ ) tells why these reactors are disasters waiting to happen.
Fairewinds Introduces a Japanese Language Edition and Identifies Safety Problems in all Reactors Designed Like Fukushima from Fairewinds Associates on Vimeo.

NEPA Scoping Deceptions, AREVA-DOE-TVA Browns Ferry Plutonium Concerns

Huntsville Times article with my comment: http://blog.al.com/breaking/2010/08/safety_dominates_meeting_about.html

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Concerns from Decatur leaders: http://decaturdaily.com/detail/65777.html

Civilian contractors were misrepresenting themselves with the blessings of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) http://nnsa.energy.gov/ . Areva-Shaw contractors wore identification name tags of the Department of Energy (DOE) NNSA. Many of the alleged federal employees, DOE-NNSA, present were civilian contractors who stand to gain billions of dollars from the plutonium-MOX program. http://www.wise-uranium.org/epdcs.html

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All civilian contractors of Areva ("The French State owns more than 90%.")-Shaw should have been identified properly as civilian contractors, this was not the case. The failure of proper identification casts a shadow of doubt over a program which must be free from deception. Areva: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Areva Shaw-Areva-MOX=SHAM: http://ir.shawgrp.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=61066&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1150039&highlight=
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In another disclosure at last evening's meeting, the TVA has been involved in Secret negotiations with the NRC, Nuclear Regulatory Commission (The NRC was not present at last evenings meeting.), to relax security of shipments concerning Plutonium-MOX fuel due to costs of security. This disclosure was revealed in recent Freedom of Information Act disclosures which the TVA Public Relations representative denied in last nights meeting. Mr. Terry Johnson, Public Relations-TVA, seemed shocked at the FOIA disclosure at last nights meeting. Mr. Johnson denied any knowledge of the NRC-TVA negotiations, stating when asked about the secret negotiations, "I find it doubtful TVA would do such a thing." Dr. Edward Lyman, Union of Concerned Scientists disclosed the documents to Mr. Johnson with me present.

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I expressed concern to Mr. Johnson that deception from the TVA can not be tolerated in the NEPA, National Environmental Protection Act, process concerning disclosing to the public necessary information related to public safety of nuclear materials.

Radioactive Atomic Reactor Leaks; The Corporatocracy, Bellefonte, Destruction of the Middle Class. (Are there really any Conservatives in the U.S.A?)‏

Just say no to a radioactive atomic reactor at Bellefonte.

The TVA stripped radioactive atomic reactors at Bellefonte, Alabama.

Is this the outcome Scottsboro's leadership wants for our corner of God's Good Earth? Leaking radioactive elements such as strontium-90, cesium-137, zinc-65, cobalt-60 and tritium at 100 times more than the EPA's safety level, does that equate to a safe and clean power source? http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iTZh7xBg_qjTHzwhDIzy1Mzq3EEgD9G1C1300 http://popularlogistics.com/2010/02/vermont-senate-voted-to-shutdown-vermont-yankee/

The TVA and radioactive atomic power proponents have stated to the citizens of Scottsboro that "nuclear power is clean, safe and cheap," their statements are false. Review of the NRC Event reports will disclose mounting mechanical failures, contamination events, fires, security violations and frequent reactor scrams at nuclear reactors. Contamination events, safety equipment failures and loss of controls at atomic fuel fabrication facilities are just some of the problems at atomic fuels facilities. http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/event-status/event/2010/index.html

When billions of dollars are involved is lying permissible? The Deep Water Horizon explosion and environmental disaster is proof that money of the corporatocracy is far more important than citizen lives or regulatory action of government in the Republic. http://thecorporatocracy.com/

Is the Nuclear Regulatory Commission part of a lying corporatocracy? In reinstating Bellefonte's cancelled construction license the Chairman of the NRC described their action as "unprecedented." http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2009/mar/29/alabama-salvaging-bellefonte/ The reinstatement of a cancelled atomic power license for Bellefonte went beyond the scope of nuclear regulatory safety guidance. The reinstatement action on the part of the NRC was not for the consideration of public safety but to circumvent newly instituted atomic power construction guidelines. By reinstating Bellefonte's old construction license the old rules apply, not the new rules concerning atomic power facility construction. Economic expediency, not citizen safety was the underlying reason for the reinstatement of Bellefonte's construction license.

If you claim to be a conservative and support nuclear power, you are in fact supporting growing the national debt and socialism, not a very conservative approach to our Republic. http://www.heritage.org/research/testimony/nuclear-power-federal-loan-guarantees-the-next-multi-billion-dollar-bailout

The Destruction of the Middle Class. http://www.mybudget360.com/the-corporatocracy-systematically-destroying-the-american-middle-class-in-40-years-the-corporatocracy-has-shifted-americans-from-a-sustainable-middle-class-to-a-perpetual-cycle-of-debt-serfdom/

garrymorgan.icopyright.com

Bellefonte,Unit 1 Containment Structure Failure, The Continuing Saga of TVA Mismanagement and NRC Deception

The Containment Buildings are the small cylinder type buildings slightly left of center. The cooling towers are the large concrete structures slightly right of center in the picture. > The TVA has plans to finish 1 reactor at Bellefonte, or do they? There has been no approval from the TVA Board to complete the project. However the TVA in its infinite lack of wisdom and bureaucratic inefficiency is spending millions of dollars at the facility. The TVA has not made any decision they will complete or build any reactor at Bellefonte, they talk much about it and spend millions of dollars of rate payer money in the process.

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The TVA is in deep debt as a result of its ventures into nuclear power construction. The 2009 TVA Financial Report may be viewed at this link. http://www.tva.gov/finance/reports/index.htm

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The TVA cancelled its Construction Permit on April 6, 2006, stripped Units 1 and 2. Two years later, after stripping the Bellefonte Nuclear Plants, the TVA reapplied for the construction permit to the NRC, Nuclear Regulatory Commission. TVA Senior Vice President Ashok S. Bhatnagar comments, "after parts removal...the units are probably only about half complete since some of the original equipment would now have to be replaced or upgraded to meet today’s standards. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2009/mar/29/alabama-salvaging-bellefonte/

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The NRC, in support of the Nuclear Construction industry, granted a construction license even though there was not one vote of approval from the NRC Commissioners. The Commissioners voted, 3 votes jointly approved-disapproved and 1 vote disapproved. This vote has resulted in a Federal Court Case in the District of Columbia Federal Circuit Court. http://www.bredl.org/press/2009/Bellefonte_highercourt.htm The NRC Commissioners called the vote, "unprecedented."

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NRC link regarding their voting record on Bellefonte's Construction License Reinstatement from a no construction license status. http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/commission/comm-secy/2008/ Scroll down the list to "COMSECY-08-0041," this is the NRC voting record in regards to the reinstatement of Bellefonte's construction permit. Included in the voting record is the Commissioners reasons for their actions Please note the dissenting comments of Commissioner Jackzo. "[At Bellefonte] the certification and pedigree of any QA system have been lost. Although records may remain, the NRC can no longer be assured of the quality of the equipment since the QA program was halted. The potential that undocumented work activities, introduction of unapproved chemicals, corrosion and other unknown degradation may have occurred calls into question the integrity and reliability of safety related structures, systems and components." (A structural failure of the Containment Building for Unit 1 has occured, event description below.)

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It is significant to note that not one NRC Commissioner, who voted in the unprecedented approve-disapprove combined vote, mentioned in their decision of the "so called approval" about the TVA stripping the plant of parts crucial to the reactors design and operation. The NRC subsequently issued a press release failing to mention any fact that the TVA had stripped Bellefonte Units 1 & 2. The NRC in their Press Release linked below intentionally misleads the public concerning the status of the Bellefonte Facility. The NRC states in part in the Press Release: " The agency granted construction permits for Bellefonte’s two pressurized water reactors in 1974. By 1988, when TVA deferred completion of the plant, Unit 1 was approximately 88 percent complete, and Unit 2 was approximately 58 percent complete." The press release does not state the full facts, the Bellefonte Reactors are less than 50% complete, there is no mention of the stripping of the reactor facilities and crucial equipment, the public is lead to believe a false picture of Bellefonte. http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/news/2009/09-035.html I believe this is an intentional misrepresentation perpetrated on the public in support of the nuclear construction industry and not in support of public health and safety of the public as required, Atomic Energy Act (NUREG-0980), 42 USC 2013, Sec 3, d.

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>>BELLEFONTE'S UNIT 1 CONTAINMENT BUILDING STRUCTURE FAILURE<<

On December 10, 2009 this report was submitted to the NRC in regards to the structural failure of part of the containment building housing Bellefonte's Unit 1 Reactor. (update, Chattanooga Times Free Press} http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2010/jan/06/bellefonte-reactor-cable-break-holds-work/ http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/event-status/event/2009/20091211en.html

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Event Number: 45559: CONTAINMENT VERTICAL TENDON FAILED "Inspection of failed Unit 1 Reactor Building Containment Vertical Tendon V9 coupling indicates a potential for an unknown common mode failure mechanism for BLN (BLN-TVA's abbreviation for Bellefonte) Containment vertical tendon rock anchor couplings.

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Unit 1 Reactor Building Containment Vertical Tendon V9 experienced a failure of the rock anchor/tendon anchor coupling on August 17, 2009 at approximately 1400 CDT. The time of failure was identified based on a loud noise bang reported by several individuals. Initial investigation failed to reveal the source of the noise.

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The failed tendon was discovered on August 24, 2009 during a tour of U1 Tendon Gallery, elevation 607. Unsafe conditions previously precluded an inspection of the failed coupling for proper installation or component specific damage. The failed tendon coupling was inspected on 11/23/2009 and showed no signs of component specific damage or improper installation creating the potential for an unknown common mode failure.

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"Safety significance: Until the mechanism of failure is identified the extent of condition will not be known. If multiple containment tendons are found to be losing the capability to carry tendon design force and this condition was left uncorrected, this could jeopardize the ability of the containment structure to perform its design function.

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"Causes of deficiency: The cause of this deficiency is unknown at this time. Further analysis is in progress and when completed, an update to this report will be provided.

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"Interim progress: Grease from the lower anchor head can has been analyzed for moisture content. Results were within vendor specifications. Additional samples have been sent for further analysis as described in Regulatory Guide 1.25 'In-service Inspection of Ungrouted Tendon in Prestressed Concrete Containments.'

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"After successful safe securing of the tendon load, the failed coupling was visually inspected. The visual inspection of the failed coupling did not indicate a component-specific failure mechanism or indication of visually apparent common mode failure mechanism. Based on this inspection visual inspection of additional tendon coupling tendon couplers is not warranted at this time. The coupling has been removed from both the tendon anchorhead and the rock anchor tendon anchorhead and sent to the TVA Central Lab for metallurgical analysis.

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"Records are being reviewed to identify previous non-conformance reports and certificates of compliances for the coupler. An extent of condition and extent of cause investigation will apply to vertical tendons similar in design, these tendons do not utilize an anchor head coupler in the design. However, these tendons will be considered in the analysis.

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"Future updates: TVA plans to provide an update to this report by March 31, 2010 following the completion of the metallurgical analysis."

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Important Questions: Why is the TVA not inspecting all Tendon Couplers and tendons? Why did the TVA not report this failure immediately, why did they wait nearly 4 months before reporting this structural failure to the NRC? Answer to last question: To avoid reporting of this serious structural failure in the Annual Financial Filing Statement, SEC Form 10K.

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The NRC had tentatively scheduled a hearing this Friday concerning Bellefonte's Construction Permit but appears to be cancelled as the NRC's current meetings schedule does not list the Bellefonte Meeting. http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/public-meetings/index.cfm

SUNSHINE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETINGS: Nuclear Regulatory Commission DATE: Week of January 4, 2010 PLACE: Commissioners' Conference Room, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland STATUS: Public and Closed ADDITIONAL ITEMS TO BE CONSIDERED: Week of January 4, 2010 Thursday, January 7, 2010 12:15 p.m. Affirmation Session (Public Meeting) (Tentative) c. South Carolina Electric and Gas Co. and South Carolina Public Service Authority (also Referred to as Santee Cooper) (Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station, Units 2 & 3), LBP-09-2 (Ruling on Standing and Contention Admissibility) (Tentative) d. Progress Energy Florida, Inc. (Combined License Application for Levy County Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2), LBP-09-10 (Tentative) e. Detroit Edison Co. (Fermi Power Plant Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation), LBP-09-20 (Aug. 21, 2009), Docket No. 72-72-EA. (Tentative) f. Southern Nuclear Operating Co. (Early Site Permit for Vogtle ESP Site), Docket No. 52-011-ESP, Petition for Review of LBP-09-7 (Tentative) g. Tennessee Valley Authority (Bellefonte Nuclear Power Plant Units 1 and 2) (Statutory Authority to Reinstate Construction Permits). (Tentative)

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Bellefonte is a continuing saga of government bureaucracy, non-accountability and a waste of taxpayer and ratepayer funds. Nuclear power is not safe, it is not clean and it is certainly not cheap.

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Although TVA will not release any actual cost of the project, citing "Commercial Privilege" as a reason not to honor Freedom of Information Act requests for cost disclosures it is estimated that completion of Bellefonte's Unit 1 Nuclear Reactor will cost between $4 Billion and $6 Billion dollars. A cost which could build 5-6 880 mega watt combined cycle natural gas plants generating more electricity at less construction cost. http://www.tva.gov/news/releases/julsep09/ne_tenn_cc.htm http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/jun/04/tva-build-gas-plant-east-tennessee/

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Energy efficiency projects and upgrading of TVA's hydroelectric generation equipment and all power generation and distribution equipment will provide the necessary power generation for the citizens of the TVA area into the 21st century. There is no reason to build any new nuclear plants. Nuclear plant construction drains available funds from the TVA for the upgrade of its antiquated power generation and distribution equipment. Nuclear plant construction also drains money from energy efficiency and sustainable energy projects.

Bellefonte Nuclear, Suit Filed in Federal Court-Press Release, Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League

GROUPS TAKES BELLEFONTE FIGHT TO A HIGHER COURT

Yesterday the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League filed a Petition for Review in the US Court of Appeals of the Bellefonte nuclear power plant in Alabama. The League seeks judicial review of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s reinstatement of construction permits for two nuclear reactors, the so-called Bellefonte 1 and 2.

The League’s petition relies in part on a statement from a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission who voted against the Bellefonte Construction Permit. In January Commissioner Jaczko wrote, “There is an inherent danger in ignoring this obvious fact. Licenses exist for a purpose. We use them to fulfill our statutory mandate of protecting the public health and safety.”

Local residents supporting the League’s petition criticized the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s action. Louise Gorenflo, of the Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team in Chattanooga, said, “NRC’s mission is to protect public health. But they’re bending over backwards to accommodate TVA and ignoring their role as regulators.”

The League’s Science Director, Louis Zeller, said, “TVA has cannibalized its original plant, rendering it useless. The off-again, on-again history of this plant, the uncertain management, and the unprecedented reinstatement add up to a situation which is both dangerous and illegal.”

James B. Dougherty authored the March 30th petition to the court. This month the League hired Mr. Dougherty to work with them on the Bellefonte challenge.

The Bellefonte construction permit was first issued in 1974; construction was halted twice, in 1985 and 1994, before the permit was withdrawn in 2005. Since then, salvage operations have removed valuable components such as stainless steel pipes.

Points of Contact:
Louis Zeller (336) 982-2691 office, (336) 977-0852 cell
Louise Gorenflo (931) 484-2633
James Dougherty (202) 488-1140

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Update April 1, 2009:
Interesting Article in this mornings Scottsboro Daily Sentinel newspaper. Headline Reads: "Group Tries To Block Bellefonte," true. What is not true is this statement in the article, refering to Units 1 & 2 Construction Permits, "The Commission voted 3-1 in February to reinstate construction permits..." that is not true and reflects the continuing stream of propaganda being pandered to the citizens about this project.
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The truth is, not one, none, zilch, zero, -0- votes of approval were given to reinstate the construction permits. The vote results of the 4 NRC Commissioners were: 1-disapproved and 3 voted both disapproved and approved. There was NO VOTE OF APPROVAL. The single disapproved voter stated, "...there is an inherent danger in ignoring the obvious fact. Licenses exist for a purpose. We use them to fulfill our statutory mandate of protecting the public health and safety." This statement was made due to the NRC's policy concerning terminated and deferred status which states, "... a terminated plant is a nuclear power plant at which the licensee has announced that construction has been permanently stopped, but which still has a valid construction permit." There is no valid construction permit for Bellefonte Units 1 & 2, it was cancelled by the TVA. This policy statement was highlighted in COMMISSIONER SVINICKI's comments and rulings. The Commissioners which voted with Commissioner Svinicki's "disapproved-approved" vote each stated an agreement with her position.
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It is significant that the NRC Staff Reviewer noted there could be no return to a terminated or deferred status of the Construction Permit as there is no Construction License in existence as required by NRC Policy as it was cancelled by the TVA.
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However, the NRC Staff and the 3 Commissioners voting "approved-disapproved," with no single vote of approval, went ahead over the objections of the Senior Staff Reviewer and Commissioner Jaczko's protest and moved to reinstate a non-existing construction permit and placed the TVA's non-existant, previously cancelled permit into a terminated status in violation of the NRC's Policy and Regulatory Guidance.

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This is the reason this case will be heard in the Federal Court System. It is also the reason the 3 Commissioners voted "approved-disapproved." There was no legal form or fashion they could vote Approved as there was no Construction Permit/License in existence, it had been cancelled.

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The 3 errant Commissioners schemed to violate NRC Policy and circumvent procedures in the Nuclear Licensing Process. The question now arises, did the 3 Commissioners actions violate the Atomic Energy Act?

Maskirovka

But not just any Vodka, Stolichnaya Vodka, as Russian as the Maskirovka.

Our President whooshed out of the sky and landed on the carrier deck and declared, "Mission Accomplished." Meanwhile, 5 years later, the mission is not accomplished. An example of failed maskirovka ? It would seem our nations politicians and bureaucrats are attempting to apply this Russian tactic, some successfully some not so successful.

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One may ask, what is the maskirovka, it is Russian for the masquerade. I'm not talking about a masquerade ball, but there are similarities. Disinformation, misinformation applied as a strategic and tactical plan of action. The maskirovka is a Russian tried and true military principle of warfare and politics. Not many articles are wrote about this tactic and principle, however it is applied frequently and practiced widely. In simple terms, it is the masquerade, what seems to be the case, is not, what seems to be the truth, is not, what seems to be situational reality, is not. It is a strategy and tactics of a principle to deceive in order to win a battle, to win a strategic or tactical advantage in war or a political contest. True or false, an article about the maskirovka as it applies to Russia. http://www.qi.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=7495&start=0

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Military and political application of the tactic, http://wheretheresawilliam.blogspot.com/2007/10/maskarovka.html pictures and article, http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/26/africa/26syria.php . What you see in the later article's pictures and words are purposeful and deceitful, the maskirovka applied. Can you spot the mask, the deceit? It is there, and it is very revealing militarily and politically if you take into context what allegedly occurred to this nuclear complex in Syria and the implications on world politics and stability. Is the building allegedly bombed camouflaged in the right picture? Was the site actually attacked? How many large bunkers do you see and was equipment moved into the bunkers?

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Our nation applied the principle of maskirovka in their justification for the invasion of Iraq and in subsequent occasions concerning the issue of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). The true story of the WMD in Iraq is not what most think, it is a lie upon a lie upon a lie, the WMD were in fact found and are documented, but not "yellow cake uranium." A Tom Clancy thriller could be wrote about the application of the strategy, tactics of this principle and the subsequent results. The facts concerning the strategic application of the maskirovka are very chilling, taking into consideration our current world situation and the historical events of the past 2 decades and particularly the past 8 years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7xyd_IRgGs&feature=related

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Most Americans have been lead to believe that Russia's Army is demoralized and its equipment rusty, falling apart and no match for our superior fire power and technology. Is that true, is this a case of Maskirovka, but from which side? Watching the state of readiness and the technology depicted within this You Tube Video and the several other videos leads one to wonder about the state of military readiness and combat equipment of our old adversary, Russia. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEGr4QXHJG4&feature=related I wonder who is applying the maskirovka?

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The maskirovka was and is alive and well in Alabama with the Don Siegelman affair. Fortunately our Republic is alive and well and Mr. Siegelman is a convicted felon. Regardless of the attempts of the Democrats at implementing the strategy of the Russian Maskirovka.

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It appears the TVA and now the NRC are applying the concept of the Maskirovka to facilitate the construction of the Bellefonte Nuclear Power Plant and provide the nuclear power construction industry the billions and billions of government dollars a Bellefonte Nuclear project will cost.

NRC, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Violating Own Rules and Proceedure??

TVA's $20 Billion Bellefonte Dream, 4 Reactors. Seems the safety of radioactive waste storage and enforcement of NRC's current licensing requirements has been called into question along with allegations the NRC is circumventing the legal process of licensing thru secretive process.

"Yesterday in a flurry of legal activity the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League filed new arguments opposing nuclear reactor licenses in Virginia, South Carolina and Alabama." Part of the brief filed on March 9th read, “The NRC’s secrecy is unnecessary, corrosive to the NRC’s system of accountability through open decision-making, and potentially dangerous because the decision-making process was not only secret but was restricted to the NRC and a limited group of individuals with a vested interest in minimizing the cost of mitigative measures, i.e., reactor licensees”

A sub-title, when will bureaucrats learn they have a responsibility to the law and their own policy. Press release from the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League. http://www.bredl.org/press/2009/newnukesmustwait031009.htm

More on Bellefonte

TVA's big dream, 4 nuclear power units at BLN, Bellefonte. The TVA is near their Congressional mandated debt cap of $30 Billion. In last weeks TVA Board Meeting it was announced there has been a "serious reduction in load," decreasing electrical sales, demand is way down except during historical peak load times where peak load is increasing. The TVA's liabilities are increasing while sales are decreasing. The Chief Financial Officer of the TVA reports, (1) "we have a serious economic situation due to low sales, (2) the Kingston Disaster, up to $825 million cost, (3) a $3 Billion Dollar loss in Retirement Funds and Nuclear Plant Decommissioning Funds from the Stock Market loss....(4) the North Carolina legal action concerning air pollution could cost the TVA $1 Billion...(5) a settlement was reached with Areva for cancelled fuel assemblies for Bellefonte from units 1&2, Areva sued for $47 million, TVA and Areva settled in arbitration for $8 million." Total debt was not revealed in the Quarterly Meeting. Last quarter debt disclosure reflected a debt of $25 Billion plus. Link to viewing TVA's February 12, 2009 Board Meeting in Knoxville, TN On-Demand Video Stream (Windows Media)

TVA's Bellefonte Units 1 & 2, 3 miles from Scottsboro, Al. at Hollywood, Al. on the Tennessee River.

If the TVA is to continue with the nuclear project they must stop the lies being pandered on local citizens by TVA's Officials and local politicians. Unfortunately our elected leaders and governmental officials can't seem to figure out there are citizens who will not tolerate the continuing stream of lies and deceit pandered by elected officials and governmental bureaucrats in relationship to the Bellefonte Nuclear Project. It is the lies and circumvention of laws and policy in building this power plant that causes the delays. The bureaucrats and the propaganda machine of the nuclear industry attempt to blame delays on "environmental activists." When in fact the delays are created by propaganda artists and downright lies on the part of governments officials. The TVA, politicians and bureaucrats can't seem to bring themselves to tell the truth concerning Bellefonte, not to mention a continuous stream of lies about other energy issues and national problems. How will a broke TVA pay for Bellefonte? TVA refuses to discuss or disclose that information.
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Once again we read in this mornings newspaper about the deceit of Bellefonte and how the political powers lie to citizens.

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First off let me say I appreciate the Daily Sentinels reporting of this continuing saga. Thank God we have a newspaper that does report the story instead of hiding it.
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In this mornings weekend edition of the Daily Sentinel another story attempting to clarify yesterdays story about the Nuclear Plant Construction. There is much that is not said and lies that are being told, once again. It is very disappointing to see a recently elected Federal Official in the name of Parker Griffith "lie thru his teeth."
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Mr. Griffith states in this mornings D.S. about Bellefonte, "We have been waiting for this day for quite a while. (Meaning the alleged reinstatement of the construction permits for Bellefonte.)Bringing down the cost of energy has always proven to be a big shot in the arm of a failing economy, and I am proud to say we are one step closer to that."
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Mr. Griffith, I am shocked and ashamed to say that you are this areas political representative in Washington. You are not telling the truth and are pumping the areas residents full of more Washington political B.S. Nuclear power is not cheap and it will not bring down the cost of energy. Your statement is nothing more than a political feel good story that does not reflect the truth. You Mr. Griffith continue the Washington tradition of lying to the public.
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NRC's comment about reinstating a defunct, expired, cancelled construction license, permit: ""The request to reinstate construction permits for Bellefonte is unprecedented," according to NRC spokesman Ken Clark." Article in the Knoxville News: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/aug/28/tva-considers-project-bellefonte/?printer=1/

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Fellow citizens, "if you can't do it right you ought not do it at all." An old adage that holds much weight. The NRC in this case has violated their own policy and the law in this matter. The Bellefonte license was withdrawn, it is no longer a valid license. There is no reinstatement of a defunct, not valid construction license-permit, the NRC is making up the story as they go, they admit it, "unprecedented" is their statement. The TVA and area politicians are attempting to peddle political influence in attempts to circumvent law and NRC policy, they are being successful, for now.
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If Bellefonte is to be built this type of political and bureaucratic deceit only hampers the process and will result in legal action being filed against the parties involved. From NRC official documentation, "BLN Unit 1 was approximately 90% complete and Unit 2 was approximately 58% complete." Unfortunately those figures do not hold weight, the reactor vessels and operating controls were stripped many months ago. Why not do it right instead of making it up as you go? Toshiba, Westinghouse, Bechtel getting nervous for their billions of dollars promised?

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NRC Official Press release: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/news/2009/09-035.html

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Isn't it wonderful, we as citizens and rate payers are still paying on a defunct Bellefonte Nuclear Plant, Areva and TVA settled for $8 million in a $47 million suit Areva filed against the TVA for cancelling the nuclear fuel assemblies for Bellefonte Units 1&2.

Once Again the Media Tyrants and the local Alabama Bourbon Democrats at Work, Non-Accountable Government and a Story of Army Medicine

Bourbon Democrat Central Committee of the North Alabama Socialist Supreme. Ms. Bias excepted from the Bourbon tyrants. She was polite and joined them when requested but had no comment about the Aquatic Weed deceit orchestrated by Sen. Barron's squad of tyrant Bourbons. What about those misdirected, $200,000+ education funds from Jackson County Board of Education to a non-existant Henager Town School System Mr. Barron?

Mr. Roden, CEO Chamber of Commerce. What role does the Chamber of Commerce play in these schemes of Bourbon Democrat Censorship. The Chamber of Commerce does support the non-accountable, irresponsibility of the TVA continuing with Bellefonte. So does our newly elected Mayor. Mayor Potter has pledged his support to TVA increasing their debt to build a nuclear plant they can't afford. TVA Debt is at $25 billion +, and growing. Rapidly approaching TVA's $30 billion Congressional Debt Cap. And now, the NRC has been caught violating their own rules in the channeling vast sums of tax payer money into flawed reactor plans and approval process. The AP1000 Reactor Design is not approved. They should not have proceeded with any action until the Reactor Design was approved. This has resulted in vast sums of lost tax payer revenue. Vast sums, millions upon millions of tax payer revenue going to nuclear reactor contractors and TVA's attorneys without formal approval of the reactor design by the NRC, the U.S. Governments nuclear regulatory authority. The Chamber of Commerce and Mayor Potter should be supporting Business growth, not irresponsible, non accountable government and Bourbon Democrat Deceit.

State Rep. Mclaughlin (right), one of the North Alabama Bourbon Democrats. Unfortunately Ms. Bias (photo left), recently elected Moderate Democrat, Jackson County Commission Chairwoman, will have to manage her existence in the local deceitful Bourbon's self centered, egotistical power structure.

Once again the political censors take their toll on Scottsboro's "al.com" message board. Link: http://www.al.com/forums/scottsboro/ Where did all the posts go? Where have all the posters gone? Tyrants in action, discussion, truth and debate is not wanted by the power hungry egotists of the Socialist Bourbon Democrats.

State Sen. Mitchum (right) and State Rep. Taylor, 2 power hungry Bourbon Democrats from this area. Alabama Political History about the Bourbons below.

Two members of Jackson County's Bourbon Democrat Legislative Delegation, State Rep. Robinson (left) and State Sen. Barron (right).

Bourbon Democrat Dr. Parker Griffith, our Federal Congressman elect, "Smil'n Bob" he ain't, but there is a similarity to a opossum.

Alabama " Goat Hill" Statehouse, a place of deceit and power hungry Bourbon Democrats plying their trade of scamming Alabama's Citizens out of more money. Soon they will return to the scene of their continuing treachery of non-accountable irresponsible government Stewardship. Thank goodness we have an opposing party Republican Governor such as Bob Riley who has accomplished more than any Governor, Democrat and Republican, for many many years.

WE Dare Defend Our Rights is the Alabama Motto on the State Seal. A motto that our local Bourbon Democrat tyrants make a mockery thereof.
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The local Scottsboro message board, al.com, moderators erased my political postings and that of others concerning the demand for accountable government. Seems the local Legislative Bourbon Democrats do not like the truth. Their control of local discussion media is tyrannical, atrocious and just plain anti-American. It would seem the band of Bourbon Democrat Tyrants hold true to their historic description, http://www.alabamamoments.state.al.us/sec37det.html, a white supremacist attitude of control. They don't discriminate by race any longer as that would place themselves in the grips of Federal Control. Their current tactic is to censor private citizens with the assistance of their media accomplice, Advance Media's "al.com." Control over the content of al.com media reaches new heights of tyrannical repression by these local Democrat Legislators. It seems they have formed an allegiance of tyrany against opposing political positions expressed through responsible, challenging political speech. Whether the local populace gives a darn about the political control of local Internet Discussion media is another story all together. Citizens seem to fail to grasp the idea that it is the express purpose of these political tyrants to eliminate the discussion capabilities of any opposing political opposition. This was the reason for the continuing disruption antics of the troll al.com employee and political representative of the Local Legislative Delegation. This is the reason for the latest round of political censorship of al.com's Scottsboro discussion Board. This is the reason this blog was formed nearly 1 year ago. These tactics , I believe are orchestrated by and within Jackson County's Legislative Delegation and carried forth by the news organizations controlling editors at the Huntsville Times thru political influence of Mr. Barron himself as the leader of these Bourbon tyrants. They still attempt to practice their tyrany of a Plantation Master attitude of the White Rooster wing of the Democrat Party, the Bourbons. They just ain't happy unless they can discriminate against folks by showing their egotistical penchant for power and control. If they would concentrate half the effort to offer responsible, accountable examples of leadership we would all be much better off.

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Here is a story from the Huntsville Times that discusses Medical Care at Redstone Arsenal and the Wounded Warriors program:http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/local.ssf?/base/news/12270033628870.xml&coll=1 I would have entered a discussion on the Huntsville Message Board but my forum name has been banned, account eliminated. This message pops up:
"OOPS! You have entered an invalid nickname or password. Please try again." Link to Scottsboro Board: http://www.al.com/forums/scottsboro/index.ssf Enter lost1gained2 on the "Search the Forum Keyword Search" the old "OOPS" message will be the return.

>>>About the Army Medical Care Story

This story fails to mention the direct medical care involving physicians. The story also fails to mention if Col. Mark Smith is a Medical Corp Officer or MSC, Medical Service Corp Officer. The MSC Officer would not necessarily be a patient care provider. Although it used to be AMEDD's, Army Medical Department, policy to assign only Medical Corp Officers, Licensed Certified Physicians to Command positions. The article is a feel good political article and does not express the quality of direct Medical Care provided by this facility.

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I am a U.S. Army, Retired AMEDD Administrator and one of many founding members of the AMEDD Regiment. The real question is not answered, what is the quality and frequency of Direct Physician care and adjunct treatment for these Wounded Warriors.

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Another fact not stated, the U.S Army's comprehensive Medical Care System of Major Medical Centers has been practically eliminated. Whose fault is that, not the Army, but Congress. Funds for the AMEDD were reduced due to cuts in force reduction during the Clinton Administration. AMEDD has not recovered due to those funding cuts.