TVA Watts Bar Nuclear Plant - A Chilled Work Environment - Failed Safety Culture or NRC Lip Service? UPDATE - November 10, 2016 Falsification and Destruction of Fire Watch Records at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant - NRC Says Low Severity? Retaliation??

TVA, Tennessee Valley Authority, has boasted about the first new nuke plant in many a year. Actually it isn't new and it cost about 7 billion dollars to complete over 43 years. There are other costs, a "chilled work environment," contributing factor, STRESS to get the plant on line. The question - has safety been compromised? Photo by TVA - Fair Use for non-profit news reporting and commentary.

UPDATE - NOVEMBER 10, 2016

FALSIFICATION OF RECORDS, NRC SAYS LOW SIGNIFICANCE?? WATTS BAR NUCLEAR PLANT - NRC INTEGRATED INSPECTION REPORT 05000390/2016003, 05000391/2016003 AND NOTICE OF VIOLATION AND OI REPORT NUMBER OI-2-2015-039

ADAMS Accession No. ML16315A344 (It will take a few days for this document to be posted on the NRC's info library.) ADAMS Reference link: http://adams.nrc.gov/wba/  or http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/

Document Date: November 10, 2016

This report released today after the "Chilled Effects" meeting last Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016 regarding the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant. Low significance?? Notice of Violation for willfully falsifying Fire Watch Records and destroying said records.  There may have been retaliation by a contractor involved in this incident regarding an employee refusing to sign a falsified report.

Quote: "Severity Level IV. The NRC identified a Severity Level IV violation of 10 CFR 50.9 "Completeness and Accuracy of Information," for the failure to maintain continuous compensatory fire watch information that was complete and accurate in all material respects. The licensee’s actions of creating falsified fire watch completion records...(from page 6 under Findings) "According to the testimony received by the NRC OI, on the morning of April 28, 2015, the licensee contract fire watch foreman attempted to persuade four fire watch laborers to sign fire watch records indicating that they performed the missed fire watch from the day before. Three of the individuals each signed the fire watch turnover records. However, one fire watch laborer refused to sign the fire watch turnover records. A meeting was held with the contract fire watch foreman, the contract fire protection specialist, and the TVA fire protection foreman. When it became clear that one individual would not sign the fire watch turnover record, the contract fire watch foreman disposed of the paperwork. The missed fire watch was reported to management, prompting investigations about the root causes of the missed fire watch. The licensee initiated condition report 1019953. The falsified fire watch record was never recovered." 

The NRC fined TVA $70K for falsifying Fire Watch Records at the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, op-ed from Pam Sohn back in April of this year.

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/opinion/times/story/2016/apr/08/sohn-regulators-ice-tvchilling-effect-letter/359272/ 

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NRC, March 23, 2016

NRC to TVA

As discussed during the public meeting held on March 22, 2016 in the RII office(ML16083A403), we initiated a review in late 2015 at the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant into the environment for raising and addressing safety issues. We began this review in light of information received through our inspection and allegations process associated with the Safety Conscious Work Environment (SCWE) within the Operations Department and its influence onthe safe operation of the plant. Our review includes information received through allegations, inspections, and interviews of your staff over the past few months. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NRC, has concluded that a Chilled Work Environment exists in the Operations Department because of a perception that operators are not free to raise safety concerns using all available avenues without fear of retaliation. We have not identified any serious safety violations or instances involving significant plant safety issues, but the information gathered has led to concerns about the impact the work environment is having on plant operations raises

questions about your commitment to emphasize safety over competing goals to ensure protection of people and the environment. We want to ensure that TVA has a clear understanding of the scope of our concerns and to communicate specific requests and expectations for your response.

The Safety Culture Policy Statement (76 FR 34773; June 14, 2011) sets forth the Commission's expectation that licensees establish and maintain a positive safety culture commensurate with the safety and security significance of their activities and the nature and complexity of their organizations and functions. The NRC defines nuclear safety culture as the core values and behaviors resulting from a collective commitment by leaders and individuals to emphasize safety over competing goals to ensure protection of people and the environment. A safety conscious work environment is defined by the NRC as an environment in which “employees feel free to raise safety concerns, both to their management and to the NRC, without fear of retaliation” and is one trait of a strong safety culture. NRC Regulatory Issue Summary 05-018, “Guidance for Establishing and Maintaining a Safety Conscious Work Environment,” dated August 25, 2005, further describes the NRC’s expectations in this area. More on this letter: http://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1608/ML16083A479.pdf

News Links and Reports

1) March 2016  "TVA addresses ‘chilled’ work environment at Watts Bar" http://archive.knoxnews.com/business/tva-addresses-chilled-work-environment-at-watts-bar-2ea58296-1aaa-7e48-e053-0100007f1279-373126401.html

2) April 2016  "Watts Bar received more safety complaints from employees this year than any other U.S. plant" http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2016/apr/06/watts-bar-faced-more-safety-complaints-employees-2015-any-other-us-plant/359170/

3) May 2016  "TVA vows to thaw chilled atmosphere, better handle employee safety concerns" http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2016/may/25/tvtries-thaw-chilled-atmosphere-employee-conc/367469/ 

4) September 2016  "TVA OIG Report on Work Environment for Nuclear Oversight"  The bottom line of the OIG report regarding nuclear oversight -  Employees should "feel free to raise concerns without fear of retalliation." http://oig.tva.gov/reports/16rpts/2016-15398.pdf

5) Public Meeting Scheduled in Athens, Tn. regarding the Chilled Work Environment at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant on November 3, 2016, videos listed below.

The Problem With The Regulator, NRC, and the Nuclear Industry

Failures of nuclear safety culture are not enforceable actions. Comprehensive report on Safety Culture: 

http://allthingsnuclear.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/20130900-blanch-regulatory-compliance-report-.pdf

"Nuclear professionals, members of the public, Congress, Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), and concerned non-industry stakeholders agree on one issue: nuclear plant safety is paramount and must be the number one priority. However, the actions, and inactions, of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), and nuclear plant owners, have led to financial considerations taking priority over nuclear safety. The current focus on nuclear safety via what the industry and its regulator call “safety culture,” unless redefined and clarified, is a dead end. To truly achieve nuclear safety, “regulatory compliance and enforcement ” must be the frame used to gauge Nuclear Safety Culture." Paul Blanch (PE) Energy Consultant, author of the linked report.

Part 1 Selected Citizen Comments - The NRC would not disclose any retaliation events or occurrences. An employee states she has witnessed retaliation in the work place and discriminatory activity. Ann Harris, Retired TVA Employees who worked at Watts Barr for many years, describes her experiences in this video.  

Part 2 All Worker and Citizen Comments


Part 3 NRC Opening and Comments


Part 4, TVA Comments


Part 5 NRC Closing

NRC Public Meeting at Athens, Tennessee, March 26, 2015 on TVA's Watts Bar Nuclear Power Reactor Unit 2

TVA Watts Bar (photo by TVA, fair use rights for non-profit news reporting)

 Info on Watts Bar Unit 2

This writer and others, including scientists, engineers and health care professionals believe that TVA's claims that nuclear power is clean, safe and reliable is not true. It is important to point out that Watts Bar is not the 21st Century's first "new" reactor. It is TVA in the 21st century's completing an old mid 20th century's nuclear project with a 300% plus cost over-run, continuing to place the TVA in a precarious financial situation. Total cost of the Watts Bar Unit 2 - 40 year plus construction will be over $7 billion, $7,000,000,000.00. Including the interest on this amount will bring the total costs near $13 billion dollars.

TVA LINK to  INFO & SPURIOUS CLAIMS on WATTS BAR UNIT 2

http://www.tva.gov/power/nuclear/wattsbar_unit2.htm

Athens, Tennessee March 26, 2015 - NRC Public Meeting on the Watts Bar Unit 2 nuclear reactor at the McMinn County High School in Athens, 22 miles from Watts Bar, located in Rhea Co. Tn, TVA and NRC makes their presentation with public input. Our environmental groups participated in a one and a half hour discussion on items of  concern with the NRC prior to the public meeting.

TVA's and NRC's summary is presented with BEST/MATRR's expressed concerns about cancer as a community health issue and how radioactive emissions effect community health.  

CART BEFORE HORSE RELIABILITY FAILURE - ACRS ( Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards) RECOMMENDS ISSUING OF LICENSE WITH INCOMPLETE INSPECTIONS AND THOROUGH SAFETY REVIEW, NO CONSIDERATION TO PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS. THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO RUN A REGULATOR AND INDICATES A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THE APPROVAL PROCESS -  A HUMAN RELIABILITY FAILURE. 

There are concerns and positive points to be made - TVA and the NRC at this point refuses to consider community health relating to high cancer incidence rates in Rhea County Tennessee. For more info on hazards of ionizing radiation go to http://radioactivepoison.blogspot.com/ It is also apparent that the NRC is not paying attention to the lessons of Fukushima and reactor aging issues regarding Watts Bar. Unit 2, now 42 years of age, even with updated systems. These issues were brought forward in a private meeting with the NRC prior to the public meeting. Information on Cancer Incidence Rates is taken from the National Cancer Institute's, part of the CDC, state cancer maps and tables.  Health concerns video - https://youtu.be/V8rtl2SFsNQ

Dave Lochbaum,Director of Nuclear Safety, Union of Concerned Scientists comments in "All Things Nuclear - What I saw during the plant tour was impressive. But what I’ve seen during the CAP meetings has been far more impressive. TVA has been exceedingly forthcoming. CAP members can propose items to be discussed during the next meeting and can (and do) ask questions during the meetings."  http://allthingsnuclear.org/watts-bar-community-action-panel/  Mr. Lochbaum expressed concerns to the NRC regarding the aging of structures on the 40 year plus Watts Bar Unit 2  nuclear reactor.  https://youtu.be/VJlFRpA2wOY

All video links to this series as shown below: 

1) Dave Lochbaum - https://youtu.be/VJlFRpA2wOY

2)  Don Safer- https://youtu.be/YGSkeEAMEOI

3) Sandy Kurtz and, Sara Barzack - https://youtu.be/0R8Jk-VWFOA

4) Garry Morgan - https://youtu.be/V8rtl2SFsNQ

5) TVA - NRC Summary - https://youtu.be/fJ1CQnzs5QY

VIDEO PRESENTATIONS

TVA's and NRC's summary with BEST/MATRR's expressed concerns

Dave Lochbaum, Director of Nuclear Safety, Union of Concerned Scientists


Don Safer, Tennessee Environmental Council, BEST/MATRR, discusses nuclear waste and nuclear system resilience. 

Presentation of  Sandy Kurtz, BREDL/BEST/MATRR, and Sara Barzack, SACE - phone webinar participant, discussion on earthquakes and nuclear system resilience.


 Presentation by Garry Morgan Director of the BEST/MATRR Public Health and Radiation Monitoring Program.


SACE Blog articles on the issue of licensing TVA's Watts Bar Unit 2 Nuclear Reactor
TVA’s Watts Bar — the last old reactor of the 20th Century  and  What have we learned in the four years since the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan?

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Annual Assessments Videos for TVA's Sequoyah and Watts Bar Nuclear Plants

TVA SEQUOYAH NUCLEAR PLANT

 

Sequoyah Videos

Part 1

                               Part 2 with citizen comments

TVA WATTS BAR NUCLEAR PLANT

Watts Bar Video with citizen comments

Whistle Blower Actions Correct TVA Flooding Issues at Watts Bar and Sequoyah - NRC Regulatory Performance Inspection Reports and Citizen Comments

 

How resilient are TVA nuclear plants? Are they susceptible to flooding which would cause a non-design basis disaster such as occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility in Japan?

This is what the recent inspections were about.  Flooding is an issue, according to the TVA and the NRC inspectors, deficiencies have been corrected.

During the Watts Bar meeting the NRC was asked about the reason we are having this issue about flooding. They were reminded that the reason the flooding issue is an issue is because an NRC whistleblower came forward. NRC Region 2 Officials deny that ever happened and stated it was their senior resident inspector at Watts Bar who brought the issue forward.

Union of Concerned Scientists on the NRC, Flooding Issue and Whistleblowers: "Dam failures are common..."  http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/nuclear_power/floods-from-dam-failure-10-19-12.pdf

 

VIDEO

                                            Dam Failure Incident Map

 

BACKGROUND ON THE ISSUE

October 2012 - "NRC Whistleblowers: Risk of Nuclear Melt-Down In U.S. Is Even HIGHER Than It Was at Fukushima...Massive Cover-Up of Risks from Flooding to Numerous U.S. Nuclear Facilities...Numerous American nuclear reactors are built within flood zones" http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012/10/nrc-whistleblowers-higher-risk-of-nuclear-melt-down-in-u-s-than-fukushima.html

 

REACTOR MELTDOWN IS ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY

An engineer with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) … Richard Perkins, an NRC reliability and risk engineer, was the lead author on a July 2011 NRC report detailing flood preparedness. He said the NRC blocked information from the public regarding the potential for upstream dam failures to damage nuclear sites...Perkins, in a letter submitted Friday with the NRC Office of Inspector General, said that the NRC “intentionally mischaracterized relevant and noteworthy safety information as sensitive, security information in an effort to conceal the information from the public.” The Huffington Post first obtained the letter.

 

Huntsville Times, al.com - "A tornado or a ravaging flood could just as easily be like the tsunami that unleashed the final blow at Fukushima." http://blog.al.com/times-views/2011/03/editorial_mother_nature_not_ea.html

As a result of the NRC Engineer's disclosure improvements are made. What is wrong with a regulatory system where it takes brave individuals who must file complaints about their bosses supporting the nuclear industry instead of protecting the public's health and welfare?

ISSUES CORRECTED SAYS NRC -
"Regulators remove negative findings against TVA nuclear plants...TVA's nuclear power program, rated among the country's worst two years ago after regulators discovered safety problems at all three of the utility's plants, is on the mend.The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is lifting negative findings against each of TVA's operating nuclear plants this month after inspections late last year showed TVA has resolved questions over potential flood risks to the riverfront power plants."
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2014/feb/06/tva-nuclear-program-improvesregulators-remove/

SEQUOYAH


NRC Inspection Report - Public Session


Sequoyah Public Comments Make Radiation Visible


WATTS BAR
NRC Inspection Report - Public Session



Watts Bar Public Comments
 

"TVA board approves billions more to finish Watts Bar reactor." TVA Board Meeting Report

TVA Board Meeting at Greenville, Tn. The Board Meeting for November 2012 is tentatively scheduled for Scottsboro, Al. (photo by G. Morgan)

WATE-TV Knoxville interview with former TVA Board Chairman David Freeman: (link}  TVA board approves billions more to finish Watts Bar reactor  "Former TVA Board Chairman David Freeman said after the meeting he finds it disgraceful that the current board is going to continue to fund and construct the Watts Bar reactor. Freeman said, "TVA is building yesterday's technology tomorrow," and places the blame on the board.


TVA Meeting report by Gretel Johnston & Garry Morgan
"TVA voted to continue with Watts Bar, basically committing another $2 billion of our dollars to nuclear. The TVA Board rubber stamped the staffs recommendation again, but were extremely defensive and for the first time my sense was that there were cracks in their consciences. Chairman Sansom said, more that once, "we have been beat up in the press, and the TVA staff gets beat up - who do not deserve it."  

 TVA ranks 47th in industrial rate charges amongst the top 100 utilities in the nation.  TVA's expansions into nuclear power will result in higher industrial power rates. Historically, this has been a problem in the TVA region. Several large industrial concerns have moved or closed their doors due to TVA industrial rate increases. This includes Aluminum mills in Scottsboro and other southeastern locations.


The Listening Session began with former Chairman David Freeman making a very strong case for TVA to end their nuclear power expenditures. He stated,  "TVA tried it before, it didn't work and it is not working now," making reference to TVA's out of control debt as a result of nuclear power construction. The former chairman stated, "I thought I was Rip Van Winkle and just awoke from a bad dream," referring to TVA's continued construction on the Bellefonte nuclear plant.  Freeman also made the point that TVA led the nation in energy efficiency in 1978. Currently the states of the TVA region rank near the bottom in the nation for energy efficiency savings. Energy Efficiency = Energy Production and financial savings!  In closing the former chairman stated, "y'all remind me of the mother who reviewed a parade of marching soldiers and wondered why all are out of step except her son." 

 Fiscal year 2012 finances for the end of FY2012 - $27.018 billion debt, this does not include the debt interest. TVA has a Congressional mandated debt cap of $30 billion. TVA has sold and leased back its John Sevier Combined Cycle Gas plant for $1 billion dollars. It proposes to sell and lease back its Bull Run coal plant to pay for emmissions scrubbers and Watts Bar nuclear plant #2 once complete. All costing the TVA rate payers an additional $3.5 billion over a 30 year period. The sale lease scheme avoids the Congressional debt limit but will increase TVA electric bills for residents, business and industry. Because of costs involved in building Watts Bar the TVA does not have the money for completing Bellefonte Unit 1. (Photos of TVA slide presentations by G. Morgan, click on photo for an expanded view.)

The TVA displays a $296 million loss for the 2nd Quarter of Fiscal Year 2012.

Dr. Kathy Ferris, member BEST/MATRR, End Nuclear Waste in Tennessee and other groups, made a courageous stand for accountability concerning the $2 billion 'mistake' at Watts Bar, and finally spoke the unspoken - that Tom Kilgore should be replaced because of his adherence to nuclear power and the fact that he is on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the lobbying group known as the NEI, Nuclear Energy Institute. NEI lobbies Congress, the NRC and the TVA.

LACK OF CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT-An executive level federal official serving as an executive agent of a lobby organization which lobby's the Federal Government appears to be a conflict of interest and an ethics problem. In a normal federal situation where Congress offers oversight this would not be tolerated and possible criminal charges would be levied. The Tennessee River Valley Caucus of Congress is more interested in campaign contributions they receive from nuclear industry contractors than accountability. The insider stock trading of nuclear industry stocks on "capital hill" is also a sign of lacking accountability of Congress.

Louise Gorenflo, Sierra Club - TVA Committee, said they (TVA) didn't have a clue what is happening in the real world and cannot make long range plans until they get a grip. She also said that increasing energy efficiency by 1% per year would save the equivalent of 4 Watts Bars.

Dr. Steven Smith, Director of the Southern Alliance of Clean Energy said, "someone needs to be accountable for this $2 billion mistake, and the board should rethink the changing world and reconsider your (TVA's) high risk energy decisions.

Brian Paddock, an attorney from Jackson County Tn., and member of the Sierra Club asked the TVA to review the need for nuclear power and justify the nuclear construction expense with accurate power needs projections. Mr. Paddock indicated TVA's current power needs projections are not accurate. Mary Mastin, Sierra Club Attorney and law partner of Mr. Paddock asked for a definitive reply from the TVA concerning a request provided to the TVA at their last board meeting relating to expanding Energy Efficiency and Renewable-sustainable Energy resources. Ms. Mastin stated she had received a short form letter type of reply and did not adequately address the need for a higher commitment to renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Garry Morgan of the Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team, BEST a local chapter of BREDL-Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, quoted George Santayana, "...those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it...," and added, "everyone else knew the cost of a nuclear reactor, including  Watts Bar 2, why didn't you (TVA)?" Morgan also discussed the possibility of a political agenda to end the TVA due to its irresponsible and costly moves into nuclear power with its massive cost overruns. The TVA has over $27 billion in debt. Its long term commitments includes short and long term debt, debt interest, fuel contracts and leases exceeds 60 billion dollars.

Gretel Johnston spoke about energy efficiency and savings the TVA and its rate payers would receive from 'building' an Efficiency or Conservation Power Plant like Chairman Freeman did in the 1970's when TVA led the nation in energy efficiency. Ms. Johnston included educational materials from Dr. Marilyn Brown, a TVA Board Director. saying in one decade in the south alone, efficiency can save $41 billion in lower utility bills and create 380,000 new jobs. "In just the electric utility industry, cost-effective energy efficiency measures could reduce U.S. [electrical energy] consumption by an astounding 30 to 75%." Reference: "A Source of Energy Hiding in Plain Sight," by Dr. Marilyn Brown & Benjamin Sovocool in Yale Global, and "Energy Efficiency in the South," a Marilyn Brown study with Gerogia Tech and Duke University. THE POINT- WE DO NOT NEED NEW NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS!  

Previous TVA Board Chairman David  Freeman discusses issues with current TVA Chairman. Other current board members listen to the discussion. (photo by G. Morgan)

TVA Board listening session and Board meeting:  http://www.tva.com/abouttva/board/index.htm  scroll down to the listening session link on the board page, 2 people from the Scottsboro area spoke. David Freeman - past TVA board chairman led the Listening Session presentations. Many concerned citizens spoke about the TVA, voicing their concerns. The TVA Board Meeting video is also listed at the above TVA link.


Links on area press articles concerning the TVA Board Meeting: Chattanooga Times Free Press with voting link -http://timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/26/former-board-member-told-tva-board-stop-building-n/?breakingnews


Cost over runs and mismanagement - "Former TVA Chairman S. David Freeman calls for end to agency's nuclear building program" http://timesfreepress.com/news/2012/apr/27/former-chairman-s-david-freeman-blasts-tva/?print#>


"Rate Payers on Hook for TVA Errors"      http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120427/OPINION01/304270034/Ratepayers-hook-TVA-errors


Scottsboro's Daily Sentinel (cut & paste) - http://thedailysentinel.com/news/article_ace96eae-9001-11e1-970e-001a4bcf887a.html   

Bellefonte delayed again - The Daily Sentinel: News

Watts Bar Completion Date now estimated to be 2015 (Photo TVA-Watts Bar) TVA CEO Tom Kilgore blames failed leadership on delays.

Bellefonte delayed again - The Daily Sentinel: News:  "Tennessee Valley Authority officials Thursday confirmed that construction of one reactor at the Bellefonte Nuclear Power Plant near Hollywood would be delayed yet again."

The Tennessean, contractor conflicts - Bechtel: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20080429/NEWS0201/109180005/1911/GREEN0201

More on Bechtel's conflict from TMC: http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2007/10/16/3018625.htm

Chattanooga Times Free Press:http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2009/jul/20/tva-moves-toward-2012-startup-of-watts-bar-ii/?print