TVA, Tennessee Valley Authority, construction photo on the Watts Bar Unit 2. (TVA Contractor Photo)
TVA Photo of Watts Bar Nuclear Plant
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Masoud Bajestani, former Vice President of Nuclear Construction at Watts Bar, TVA bestows the title of Vice President to many senior TVA project managers, has apparently been terminated from his job. The TVA at this point is being very hush, hush about the reasoning's for the termination. Press reports are circulating that Bajestani withdrew $1.5 million from a TVA deferred compensation account and sent much of the money to Iran. In a Chattanooga.com report filed on February the 1st Bajestani is quoted, "...I had this opportunity that I discussed with (wife) to invest some money outside the U.S. and specifically buy some property back in Tehran, Iran. So I decided to withdraw that money and invest it outside the U.S."
http://chattanoogan.com/articles/article_193558.asp.
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In true TVA style conflicting press releases were provided by the TVA as indicated in this AP News release posted in Scottsboro's Daily Sentinel.
http://thedailysentinel.com/news/region/article_ccc5d6c8-2e5e-11e0-aa55-001cc4c002e0.html The article in part states, "TVA spokesman Scott Brooks said Tuesday that Bajestani's departure was not related to a Thursday letter from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, first reported by WTVC-TV in Chattanooga, that cites TVA "errors and omissions" in a Watts Bar project fire protection report and excessive delays in providing information."
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Others are asking questions and display great concern, as they should. Earnest Norworthy asks the question. "Has TVA reported this matter to the NRC, SEC, Homeland Security and the FBI for possible further investigation?" A very valid question, there is concern at the NRC concerning shoddy management at the Watts Bar nuclear facility.
http://norsworthyopinion.com/TVAs_latest_nuclear_disaster.aspx .
Serious issues as to "timeliness and quality" of the required documentation submitted to the NRC for the appropriate licensing. A sloppy TVA Nuclear Division, is not an acceptable trait for managers in assuring the safety of citizens in the TVA operating area.
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UPDATE: February 4, 2011, Article by Anne Paine of The Tennessean. The article begins- "Masoud Bajestani, who until a week ago headed the $2.5 billion nuclear building project at TVA's Watts Bar plant, has, according to court documents, told lies both on personal financial matters and in dealings with a contract employee who reported safety problems on another nuclear project."
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110204/NEWS21/102040381/2275/RSS05.
