BELLEFONTE NUCLEAR PLANT, THE CONTINUING SAGA OF ZOMBIE NUCLEAR REACTORS - Rockville, Maryland and Scottsboro, Alabama - August 14, 2018 - Meeting Between the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Nuclear Development, LLC Regarding the Bellefonte Nuclear Facility - Who Will Buy The Power? Answer At The End Of This Article - Update on Nuclear Loan Guarantees, August 23, 2018 - UPDATE January 6, 2019; UPDATE - August 18, 2020, Latest Info from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission - UPDATE and Review - May 6, 2021

Bellefonte, from an unrealistic delusional dream, 4 nuclear reactors, to the Zombie Nuclear Reactors.

Photo in TVA, Environmental Assessment documents for Bellefonte Units 3 and 4. Fair Use for non-profit news reporting and commentary. Photo Crop and research provided by G. Morgan

ALL THINGS RELATED TO BELLEFONTE NUCLEAR POWER FACILITY ON THIS BLOG, LINK:

https://arklite.blogspot.com/search/label/Bellefonte%20Nuclear%20Power%20Plant 

 Bellefonte a nuclear zombie!

The Nuclear Zombie by Edwin Vasquez published in The Nation in an article by Christian Parenti on aging nuclear plants https://www.thenation.com/article/zombie-nuke-plants/

Fair Use for non-profit news reporting and commentary.

UPDATES AND REVIEW

MAY 6, 2021 - REVIEW AND UPDATE OF DOCUMENTS AND STATUS OF THE BELLEFONTE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, UNITS 1 AND 2

Documents indicating violations of law, regulation and policy -  

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

 DOCKET NOS. 50-438 and 50-439

Expert Testimony and Declarations (link) 

https://cleanenergy.org/wp-content/uploads/BLN12DeclarationGundersen050609.pdf

Quote Regarding the Bellefonte Nuclear Plant Cannibalization: "Dr. Bob Doggart, a former senior engineering specialist at TVA who now serves as the managing lead assessor for the British Institute of Nondestructive Testing LLC said. “To allow outsiders to come in and remove key equipment for virtually nothing was unbelievably foolish.” Chattanooga Times Free Press on March 29, 2009"

Quote (pg14): ". . . licensure and operation of TVA’s Bellefonte Units 1 and 2 pose a grave risk to public health and safety without an entirely new construction permitting process, Quality Assurance Program, and environmental data analysis. . . "

CURRENT NRC STAUS AND DOCUMENTATION ON THE LICENSE TRASFER

Link: https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactors/bellefonte-constr-permits.html

AUGUST 18, 2020 - CURRENT NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION INFORMATION ON BELLEFONTE

Latest Documents link Nuclear Development, LLC (ND) to Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)       June 16, 2020  (note pages 120-126 of document; pages 211-222 pdf related to Quality Assurance): 

https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2016/ML20168B022.pdf

CURRENT NRC STAUS AND DOCUMENTATION ON THE LICENSE TRASFER, TVA to ND, LLC

Link: https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactors/bellefonte-constr-permits.html

My comments to the NRC:   

 https://www.facebook.com/cleanenergyorg/posts/bellefonte-nuclear-2020later-this-year-the-nuclear-regulatory-commission-will-de/10156747819936961/

December 4, 2019

Activists Denounce Bellefonte Plant as Regulators Consider License Transfer

https://energycentral.com/news/activists-denounce-zombie-bellefonte-nuclear-plant-regulators-consider-license-transfer-new

January 6, 2019

Update on Bellefonte - Court denies request for expedited hearing. https://www.waaytv.com/content/news/Judge-powers-down-request-for-Bellefonte-hearing-503951551.html

December 18, 2018

Federal Court in Huntsville receives update.

 https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/breakingnews/story/2018/dec/18/court-get-update-sale-bellefonte-nuclear-plant/485159/

December 1, 2018 

TVA scraps sale of Bellefonte to Haney

https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/breakingnews/story/2018/nov/30/tva-scraps-bellefonte-sale/484107/?utm_campaign=magnet&utm_source=article_page&utm_medium=related_articles

December 1, 2018

No approval from NRC

https://www.dailymemphian.com/article/1600/TVA-says-Bellefonte-purchase-misses-closing-date

December 1, 2018

Nuclear Development LLC claims TVA illegally blocking deal, TVA says not true.

https://www.apnews.com/090974514c11447086b90991bdbc25bd

November 30, 2018

TVA pulls out of deal.

https://www.waaytv.com/content/news/Tennessee-Valley-Authority-pulled-out-of-deal-to-sell-Bellefonte-Nuclear-Plant-in-Jackson-Co-501666961.html

November 30, 2018

Nuclear Development LLC can't meet deadline requirements

https://whnt.com/2018/11/30/breaking-tva-says-buyer-for-bellefonte-nuclear-plant-cant-meet-contract-deadline-sale-appears-off

November 12, 2018

Sale of Bellefonte extended.

https://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2018/11/12/tva-extends-deadline-for-nuclear-development-to.html

October 19, 2018

Bellefonte Nuclear Deal Collapsing

https://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index.ssf/2018/10/plans_to_finish_bellefonte_nuc.html

Here we are again, a newly formed private corporation states it will purchase the 44 year old Bellefonte Nuclear Plant by early November of this year for $111 million dollars, $22 million dollars has been tendered to the TVA as earnest money toward the pending purchase.  Preston Swafford, previously with TVA, currently the Chief Nuclear Officer with SNC Lavalin, primary nuclear engineering contractor for Nuclear Development LLC, briefs politicians, special invitees and the press on July 30, 2018 in a meeting sponsored by The Jackson County Economic Development Authority. Photo by G. Morgan

UPDATE: August 23, 2018 No Documented Loan Guarantee

No mention of DOE nuclear loan guarantees for Bellefonte in this June 2018 report, 60 days ago.

https://cleanenergyfinanceforum.com/2018/06/12/loan-guarantee-program-fuels-innovative-energy-technology 

FROM CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE REGARDING FUNDING FOR ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, FY 2019 FUNDING AND REPORT, Dated July 17, 2018, 30 days ago. Take note folks, there is no discussion of the Bellefonte project for 2019 appropriations from Department of Energy, DOE, regarding nuclear loan guarantees. https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R45258.pdf

Bellefonte does not meet the requirements of the DOE Title XVII Nuclear Loan Guarantee Program as the Bellefonte Project DOES NOT, quote - 

• "Employ new or significantly improved technologies as compared to commercial technologies in services in the United States at the time the guarantee is issued."  https://www.energy.gov/lpo/title-xvii/title-xvii-project-eligibility

TROUBLE AT BELLEFONTE, POLITICS AND UNSCROUPOLUS FINANCIAL DEALINGS

Congressman Mo Brooks comments on unscrupulous financial activity regarding the Bellefonte Nuclear Construction license transfer - http://www.waff.com/story/38802403/wall-street-journal-connects-bellefonte-project-to-former-trump-attorney

  

9 August, 2018, Wall Street Journal - Prosecutors in the Trump Investigation have called on Franklin Haney to answer questions about the money involvement regarding Trump/Cohen and others in the Bellefonte deal. WSJ article: https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-top-trump-donors-dealings-with-michael-cohen-trigger-scrutiny-1533850870

The political issues involving campaign contributions by the owners of Nuclear Development, LLC, and the structural integrity of the Bellefonte facility were brought forth to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NRC, during the public’s comment and question period.

The NRC gave no assurances or definitive commitments that they could protect the public, which is their mission, from unscrupulous political pressure. Statements that the NRC is an independent agency regarding their political appointed commissioners are not assurances in the current political climate.

The NRC did confirm there are known serious problems with the structural integrity of the former cannibalized nuclear plant. Note: Arnie Gunderson's, Fairewinds Report, video in the right column of this blog regarding the problems of Bellefonte's structural integrity and age related issues.

VIDEOS of Today's NRC Proceedings

Introduction and Tour - Part 1

VIDEO Recording of the meeting, Part 2 (Suggest you turn the sound all the way up, then adjust down if needed.).


ALL THINGS NUCLEAR RELATED TO THE BELLEFONTE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT SAGA  IN THIS BLOG. 10 YEARS OF HISTORY. MANY LINKS, MANY IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS - https://arklite.blogspot.com/search/label/Bellefonte%20Nuclear%20Plant

Bellefonte Nuclear Brief Video from the Bellefonte Nuclear Plant - July 30, 2018

\

An Associated Press News Report Video regarding this activity from July 30, 2016.  Fair use of video for non-profit news reporting and commentary, video available on You Tube public access.


THE QUESTION, WHO WILL BUY THE POWER IF NUCLEAR DEVELOPMENT COMPLETES THE CONSTRUCTION, TVA? MO BROOKS PROVIDES DETAILS. RATE PAYERS SCAMMED ONCE AGAIN SO THAT PRIVATE CORPORATE CONCERNS REAP PROFITS FROM RATEPAYERS. SIMILAR TO TVA VARIABLE INTEREST DEBT, V.I.E, DEBT TRANSACTIONS. BUILD THE PLANT, SELL IT, THEN BUY THE POWER OR THE PLANT BACK.
Trouble in North Alabama, his name is Franklin Haney -  "Franklin Haney - Bible salesman turned billionaire . . . He buys politicians like the latest iPhones, and it doesn't matter their make or model. He slathered money on Barack Obama and Donald Trump ($1million), funded Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley's inaugural and the dark money group that paid his (Bentley's) sweetheart."  https://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2018/08/you_got_trouble_alabama_and_it.html

SHH, WE HAVE SECRETS - CONGRESSMAN MO BROOKS VIDEO

Scottsboro City Council Regular Session, Chamber of Commerce Presentation - "Gateway to the Future," (Updated May 25, 2017) - Bellefonte Nuclear Deception Warning, May 22, 2017

Scottsboro City Hall, photo by G. Morgan

AGENDA

VIDEO - Part 1

             VIDEO - Part 2 Chamber of Commerce Presentation

There is a concern in the Chamber of Commerce presentation regarding the alleged completion of TVA's Bellefonte Nuclear Facility, propaganda versus facts and leading the public to believe Bellefonte will be built, when the facts are presented, that remains speculation and is not a fact. Misleading the public and developers is a dangerous road whose history has demonstrated previous deceptions regarding Bellefonte have cost business developers millions upon millions of dollars. 

Mr. Franklin Haney has struck a deal with the TVA, via an auction bid of $111 million dollars for the $5 billion dollar facility. Haney provided, according to reports, approximately $22 million in earnest money for the facility, There has been no final purchase of the facility by Mr. Haney. Prior to a final purchase a 60-90 day notice must be given. Beginning in November of 2016, Haney has 2 years to complete the deal, the closing must occur before November 2018. 

Whether Bellefonte will be completed is not known, and at best is speculation at this point. Per TVA information, Bellefonte Unit 1 is 55% complete and Unit 2 is 35% complete. Haney says he can complete both Bellefonte Units for $13 billion. Environmental group research, including inflationary costs, indicate the cost will be closer to $15 billion  to complete the two unit B&W 205 design nuclear facility. The design is now owned by Areva, a majority owned (90%) French Government nuclear corporation which has cash problems. It is questionable whether Haney will be able to raise cash from investors for completion of the project, even if you include a $6 billion dollar Federal Nuclear tax incentive (see below article link).

Propaganda, and all is not as it seems, tax issues, disclosures.

At approximately 14:30 seconds in the below video Mr Roden brags about how the Chamber trip to Washington resulted in lobbying regarding a South Carolina's Congressman's bill which would reduce Mr. Haney's tax exemptions. 

There is more to this story and the history behind it, particularly with Mr. Haney, his relationship with our current President and real estate development, which now includes the Bellefonte Nuclear Project. Let's take a look at some of the reasons and legislative agendas of why the Chamber of Commerce would be interested in corporations not paying their fair share of taxes. 

The Chamber of Commerce supports business and corporate business interests, support of the individual citizen is limited to the interaction with business and citizens, which at times is good and times is questionable, in my opinion. 

Disclosures - Links and stories about the issues.

1) Tax rules which allow real estate moguls, such as Mr. Trump and Mr. Haney to pay no federal taxes. "Losses deducted from all income." - http://www.pbs.org/newshour/making-sense/column-tax-rules-let-real-estate-moguls-like-trump-pay-no-federal-income-tax/

2) "Stealthy and Wealthy" - Sunlight Foundation expose on Mr. Haney. "Franklin Haney built real estate empire with government help." Ownership of government buildings, leases to multiple level government entities, former Congressman hired as lobbyist, greasing the palms of politicians on both sides of the isle. - https://sunlightfoundation.com/2012/10/18/dem_super_pac_donor/

3) "Nuke Developer Greases Trump's hand...tax credits worth an estimated $6 billion...;"  Mr. Trump is not the only hands he "greased" with his cash contributions, many politicians, PACS, and lobbyists have been involved. "Nuclear Development paid the two firms a combined $60,000 through the end of last year to lobby Congress and the Treasury Department on tax incentives for nuclear energy production. One of those tax credits is worth an estimated $6 billion to the nuclear power industry."   https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/04/21/nuke-developer-greases-trump-s-palm

Promises made and promises broken in ridiculous proposals by the TVA. 2 B&W 205 Model Nuclear Reactors, $15 billion to complete at this time, and 2 AP 1000 Nuclear Reactors, $24 billion to complete at this time. Expected costs to complete all projects, $39 billion over 25 years, TVA could not afford the cost, nor was there a need for power in the TVA region for one nuclear power reactor, much less 4 nuclear power reactors.

The bottom line: History is revealing in the case of the cannibalized Bellefonte nuclear facility. Don't promise the citizenry and potential developers something you can't deliver. It damages future development for our community.

SHHH - WE HAVE SECRETS, BELLEFONTE - Scottsboro City Council Duel Sessions - Work Session, Part 1; Regular Session Part 2; Solid Waste Authority - No Report, but Speculation and Deceit Regarding the Bellefonte Nuclear Facility

Scottsboro City Hall, photo by G. Morgan

BREAKING NEWS UPDATE- December 14, 2016 I have confirmed from separate sources that officials of Nuclear Development LLC and Mr. Frank Haney met with local political leadership in secret last Thursday at 1:30pm at The Council on Aging to discuss a time frame regarding Nuclear Development LLC at the Bellefonte Nuclear Facility. Members of the Scottsboro City Council, Jackson County Commission and other political entities and the Jackson County EDA attended the December 8, 2016 secret meeting. No local press were invited to this important meeting. According to sources interviewed, introductions were made and Nuclear Development LLC laid out its plans to begin construction toward the end of 2017. Upon contacting TVA it was revealed that no sale has been completed. Before the sale is completed, Nuclear Development LLC must provide a 60 day notice in order that TVA may vacate the premises. TVA will issue a major Press Release once the sale of the Bellefonte Nuclear Facility is completed. Once the sale is completed, Nuclear Development LLC will have to request a change in the nuclear construction license before they may begin any work on the Bellefonte Nuclear Facility, more on that below.

The Deceivers Dreamscape - Bellefonte Nuclear Facility depicting Units 1, 2, 3 and 4. Cost for a 4 unit completion $43 billion dollars; cost of Units 1 and 2  completion $15 billion dollars in today's money. Unit 1 is 55% complete, Unit 2 is 35% complete. The entire facility was cannibalized in the  2006-2007 time frame when the plant's nuclear construction license was cancelled. In 2009, 2010 time frame the plants construction license was reinstated. More from the Chattanooga Times Free Press: http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2016/nov/15/reviving-nuclear-powerhaney-pay-111-millifini/397760/

 

TVA EIS photo, Fair Use for non-profit news reporting and commentary.

TVA further commented in the below linked sale notice/press release, they no longer have a need for power.

 Public Works/Solid Waste Director Director Eddie Blizzard delivered a request for additional vehicles and landfill space based on speculation of growth regarding the Bellefonte Nuclear Facility. According to Blizzard, Bellefonte construction will begin "sometime in 2017,"  based on what the unnamed people from the nuclear plant told him.

"The need is there and it will be coming a lot faster than what we saw back in the 70's, for those of you who remember that far back, when you bring 5000-6000 people into this area, it gets crowded here, we are anticipating a lot of growth..." according to Mr. Blizzard.  

Unfortunately, Mr. Blizzard did not fulfill his responsibilities to provide an annual required Solid Waste Report, instead he provided speculation on the Bellefonte Nuclear Facility.

Many local businesses have suffered because of TVA's failed promises. Local public officials deceiving the public is uncalled for after the financial loss the community has suffered due to bad management of the TVA regarding Bellefonte. The proposal to spend millions of dollars on landfill space and additional vehicles based on a word of mouth notice without any official notice regarding future construction plans of Bellefonte would not be a smart decision by the city council.

 There has been no change in the license status of Bellefonte. Before construction may begin by another nuclear corporation, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission requires a new or amended license application from the new owners. Before any such change takes place a public meeting will be held by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and published in the Federal Register.

  The  official statement of the TVA says in part, "As part of the deal, TVA requires Nuclear Development, LLC to make a $25 million minimum investment in the Bellefonte property during the five-year period following the closing. This minimum investment will promote economic development activities in Jackson County, Ala....Nuclear Development, LLC has up to two years to close on the property. Until then, TVA will maintain the site." More official info on the TVA Bellefonte Nuclear sale may be found at: https://www.tva.com/Newsroom/Press-Releases/TVA-Completes-Bellefonte-Sale

WORK SESSION AGENDA

(click on image for an expanded view)

VIDEO PART 1 - WORK SESSION

                                AGENDA OF REGULAR SESSION

 

VIDEO PART 2 REGULAR SESSION

Bellefonte, Alabama - Stories About Our Nuclear Future - The Bellefonte Saga - May God have Mercy on our Souls

Ghosts of Bellefonte, photo by G. Morgan

$5 Billion of our money spent, sold for $111 million, and who is ecstatic about such a deal?

Franklin Haney-hahaha. If he builds it as a nuclear plant, he will suffer the same fate as TVA who had many more dollars than Haney. But then again , Haney is TVA's landlord. 

WAAY Video

"Sum'n good will come out of it," says current plant manager - Hahaha, what Franklin Haney goes bust and TVA laughs while ratepayers cry?

11-14-16 Sale of Bellefonte – Press Stories

Estimated costs in today’s money for the 55% complete Bellefonte Unit 1, 8-9 Billion dollars; Unit 2, 35% complete, 10-12 billion dollars.

TVA Press Release: HOLLYWOOD, Ala. ― The Tennessee Valley Authority announced today the sale of the 1,400 acre Bellefonte property, near Hollywood, Ala., to Nuclear Development, LLC for the purchase price of $111 million. The sale concludes a six-month competitive auction process designed to promote job creation and investment in northeast Alabama.  http://www.snl.com/Cache/1001216661.PDF?O=PDF&T&Y&D&FID=1001216661&iid=4063363

Clarion, Scottsboro, Al. article: Haney Investments was represented by former Congressman Bud Cramer during the press conference. http://www.theclarion.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10535:bellefonte-auctions-for-111-million-&catid=42:clarion-rotation-stories&Itemid=142

Daily Sentinel, Scottsboro, Al. article: “Today marks the first step of an exciting new journey for the people of Alabama and Tennessee,” said Franklin L. Haney, who established Nuclear Development in 2012. “The Bellefonte Nuclear Station will help transform communities across the region many of which have been hit hard by the forced closure of coal power plants over the last decade. This project will bring new life to the region by creating thousands of jobs while providing assured access to reliable, affordable, zero-emission energy.”

Haney said he also would like to thank the Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer Bill Johnson “for their diligent work in executing this fair and open bidding process. I am grateful for the entire Alabama and Tennessee congressional delegations – especially Senators Shelby, Sessions, Alexander and Corker, as well as Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley – for their continued support of nuclear development throughout this process.”

Chattanooga Times Free Press - HOLLYWOOD, Ala. — Chattanooga developer Franklin L. Haney, who has spent the past decade trying to acquire TVA's Bellefonte Nuclear Power plant, emerged today as the winner at an auction of the abandoned nuclear plant.

Haney, who organized an investment group known as Nuclear Development LLC, agreed to pay $111 million to acquire the abandoned twin-reactor complex and the 1,600 acres it occupies along the Tennessee River here.

Haney said he hopes to finish Bellefonte, creating between 3,000 and 4,000 temporary construction jobs, and an estimated 2,000 full-time jobs once both reactors become operational.  http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2016/nov/14/haney-wins-bidding-contest-abandoned-nuclear-plant/397652/

Nuclear Development LLC — formed by Tennessee businessman Franklin L. Haney and based in Washington, D.C. http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/tva-selling-unfinished-nuclear-plant-northeast-alabama-43521613 Virginia: https://sccefile.scc.virginia.gov/Business/S336227  Secretary of State in Virginia lists the corporate license as delinquent. https://sccefile.scc.virginia.gov/Find/Business?SearchTerm=nuclear+development+llc&SearchPattern=K&as_fid=DqXOVjh-9mgzXgg1_3c-

Al.com press release: An unfinished nuclear power plant in northeast Alabama this morning was auctioned for $111 million. Nuclear Holdings LLC, a Washington D.C. based company, promises in its bid to bring 2,000 permanent jobs to north Alabama and up to 4,000 temporary construction jobs. The company says it plans a $13 billion investment to bring the plant online as an energy producer. http://www.al.com/news/huntsville/index.ssf/2016/11/an_unfinished_alabama_nuclear.html

Nuclear Holdings, LLC https://www5.sos.state.oh.us:8443/ords/f?p=100:7:0::NO:7:P7_CHARTER_NUM:1676058

Haney Bentley Connection-Political Payola

Just the traceable donations from Haney's businesses to Bentley's last campaigns total about $300,000, much of which moved into Bentley's campaign account after the last election was over. Again, that's only what's easily traceable. That campaign account subsequently paid the salary of Rebekah Caldwell Mason, the governor's senior political advisor with whom he is accused of having an affair.  http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/05/after_hefty_campaign_donations.html

Rapid increases in the estimated cost to complete Bellefonte also may have also contributed to the utility taking it out of future plans for new generation capacity.  In 2013 the costs reportedly jumped from about $5 billion to a range of between $7.4 and $8.9 billion.  A private equity effort headed by Franklin Haney, an investor, offered to complete the reactor and operate it for $10 billion.  TVA turned him down saying the plan didn’t have good enough numbers to proceed. http://www.theenergycollective.com/dan-yurman/2216491/tva-backs-away-bellefonte

By 2006, when construction was halted again and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) construction permits were terminated, these completion percentages had been revised to 55 and 35. http://thebulletin.org/delivering-nuclear-promise-tvas-sale-bellefonte-nuclear-power-plant-site9524

The Problem, maybe for Haney

TVA ACT reference Section 10 and Section 15d prohibitions on sale of power outside of TVA area and power producing corporations in TVA’s area:  https://www.tva.com/file_source/TVA/Site%20Content/About%20TVA/TVA_Act.pdf

Historical Stories

1976 Report by the GAO on Bellefonte: http://www.gao.gov/assets/80/78948.pdf

"The Zombie Reactor" - http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/16/business/energy-environment/16nuclear.html

SACE -  Privatizing Bellefonte: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly  http://blog.cleanenergy.org/2013/12/21/privatizing-bellefonte-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/

DELUSION - "TVA Votes to Complete Bellefonte"  http://www.snl.com/Marketing/HTML_Email/Current/12753/GenerationMarkets082311.pdf

BEST-MATRR Videos

SACE - Fairewinds Video

The Bellefonte Nuclear Power Saga 
http://arklite.blogspot.com/search/label/Bellefonte%20Nuclear%20Power%20Plant

TVA, Tennessee Valley Authority, 1st Quarter 2017 Board Meeting, 2016 Financial Overview, Presidents Report, November 10, 2016 at Blairsville Georgia.

TVA graphic, Power Fist, Fair Use for non-profit news reporting and commentary. 

Union County Schools Auditorium

TVA Meeting place, nice facility. Fair Use for non-profit news reporting and commentary, Union County Georgia Schools photo.

             TVA Board Meeting 

                                              Agenda
                                              Presentation

11-10-16 Blairsville, Georgia TVA Quarterly Meeting, Citizen Input from SACE

11-10-16 Blairsville, Georgia TVA Quarterly Meeting. Part 1 is TVA's Financial Report for FY 2016.



11-10-16 TVA Board Meeting Part 2 Blairsville, Ga. - People & Performance Committee Report



November 10, 2016 Blairsville, Georgia TVA Board Meeting, Part 3 President's Report


11-10-16 Blairsville, Ga. TVA Board Meeting, Nuclear Oversight & External Relations Committee

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

TVA Quarterly Meeting in Buchanan, Tn. on May 5, 2016 - More on Bellefonte May 6, 2016

TVA Board Meeting and Financial Report Video Segments

CEO - CFO Segments and media Q&A May 2, 2016 on TVA's FY 2016 Report


TVA Board Meeting, Dus Rogers, CEO Jackson Co. AL. Economic Development Authority


TVA Board of Directors, the vote - as the song says, "Who do you think you're fool'n?"

$4 billion dollars later and a sale estimate of $36.4 million, who was the appraiser?

VA President and CEO Bill Johnson says the 1,600 acre site will be sold at auction to the highest bidder. It has been appraised at $36 million." http://whnt.com/2016/05/05/tva-board-votes-to-sell-bellefonte-nuclear-plant-to-highest-bidder/

TVA Board continues their abandonment of the people of Jackson County Alabama. TVA's debt continues to grow due to nuclear power expansion, Watts Bar Nuclear and a Small Modular Reactor project is another river sinkhole up on the Clinch River near Oak Ridge, Tn.

TVA's decision is the result of gross negligence, debt and waste of ratepayer and taxpayer money for over 40 years. "Today's decision may be challenged by future revisionist” says Mr. Satz, TVA Board  member, I say an excuse for a continuous series of failed nuclear projects never intended on completion - Yellow Creek, Phipps Bend, Hartsville and Bellefonte, but filling the pocket-books of nuclear corporations, resulting in 26 billion dollars of power bond debt for TVA ratepayers. Not counting the potential for a $4 Billion loss in the Bellefonte Plant.

The truth about Bellefonte from a nuclear engineer in 13 minutes. Politicians and appointed officials thinking this cannibalized nuclear plant will ever go critical and produce electricity demonstrates the a failure to accept the reality of facts regarding the Bellefonte Nuclear Facility.  https://youtu.be/OV4KR8GAhTg


BREDL/BEST/MATRR, SACE and the Union of Concerned Scientists have been telling local leaders about the facts for more than 8 years. No one in local political power, elected or appointed, has the good sense to accept the truth. Instead, they buy the nuclear special interests propaganda and deceit. Facts from everyone which have demonstrated the risk of failure is huge - GAO, UCS, Rockbridge, American University School of Communications, GE CEO, NIRS and various news reporting agencies across the U.S. Still they hang on to nuclear promises of deceit. Government officials gross negligence has cost the TVA ratepayers in excess of $50 - FIFTY- Billion Dollars - $50,000,000,000.00, that amount does not reflect the entire future commitments as reflected by TVA's SEC 10-K Report; this also does not include the potential for the $4 billion $4,000,000,000.00 loss of Bellefonte to cover TVA bad management. http://bestmatrrmoneysink.blogspot.com/

Federal elected political and appointed officials in the executive and legislative branch of our Federal government, TVA Executives and Board of Directors have failed the citizens and caused serious harm to TVA itself.

Report on Bellefonte Usage - Public Comments  https://www.tva.com/file_source/TVA/Site%20Content/News/Bellefonte/Bellefonte%20Nuclear%20Plant%20Site%20Comment%20Report.pdf

BEST MATRR's Letter to the TVA

March 17, 2016

Dear Ms. Quirk and the TVA Board of Directors,

The members of BEST-MATRR recommend that you do not sell the Bellefonte property. We  again advocate for developing TVA’s Bellefonte site as a model utility-scale solar power plant,  with back-up generation provided by river turbines, wind, and/or hydro-storage capacity. We emphatically oppose the sale of this valuable TVA asset, because we think that is shortsighted  and would deprive future generation of this asset in order to reduce the debt that TVA has  amassed with its unwise nuclear expenditures at this site and elsewhere in the Valley – thus adding insult to injury for ratepayers in the Tennessee Valley.

TVA has made the proper decision in withdrawing the license applications for Units 3 and 4.  TVA should do the same with the construction licenses for Units 1 and 2.  For a detailed  analysis with the many reasons that Units 1 and 2 should never be finished go to the 2011  report prepared by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and Fairewinds Associates:   http://www.cleanenergy.org/wp-content/uploads/F_SACE_Bellefonte_Rpt_080911.pdf .

TVA was created to improve the well-being of Tennessee Valley residents through flood  control and production of electricity, to provide environmental stewardship for the Tennessee River Basin, and to lead the nation in energy innovation.

Rethinking development of Bellefonte gives the TVA an opportunity to lead this nation in  renewable sustainable energy, by using the installed grid and building on the infrastructure  already invested at the site. Bellefonte is a good location for both photovoltaic (PV) and  thermal solar dish-engine arrays, and could be a model plant for showcasing utility-scale solar  potential in non-desert environments.

Bellefonte is also ideal for providing sources of backup energy for solar from river turbine  generators powered by the swift current there or from pump storage hydro energy from the  mountain plateau directly across the river. There could even conceivably be heat storage  sinks in the existing empty reactor cavities, to store heat energy collected by thermal solar dish arrays for 24/7 heat engine Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) generation.

Thank you for your consideration and for your service.

Sincerely,
Stewart Horn, President
Gretel Johnston, Vice President/Secretary
Garry Morgan, Treasurer
BEST/MATRR
Bellefonte Efficiency & Sustainability Team (BEST)   Mothers Against Tennessee River Radiation (MATRR)   best@matrr.org

Bellefonte Nuclear Plant and Insanity = Are our Political Leaders Stoned?

The Nuclear Zombie by Edwin Vasquez published in The Nation in an article by Christian Parenti on aging nuclear plants http://www.thenation.com/article/zombie-nuke-plants/

Fair Use for non-profit news reporting and commentary.

Insanity - "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." Re: Bellefonte Nuclear Plant Potential Sale https://www.tva.com/file_source/TVA/Site%20Content/News/Bellefonte/Bellefonte%20Nuclear%20Plant%20Site%20Comment%20Report.pdf

The quote (courtesy Quora https://www.quora.com/Did-Einstein-really-define-insanity-as-doing-the-same-thing-over-and-over-again-and-expecting-different-results Fair use for non-profit news reporting and commentary.)  Insanity - "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."  " is generally attributed to Einstein in most online quote collections, however there seems to be significant debate about the authenticity of this attribution. Others like Mark Twain, an old Chinese proverb and Benjamin Franklin have also been suggested as the originators, but general consensus concludes that they have a significantly lesser claim than Einstein."

"The earliest claim is that Einstein used and published the quote in his "Letters to Solovine 1951" however no specific reference has yet been supplied from that source. There is apparently an attribution to Einstein using this quote in a transactions of the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, Volume 71, p. 54, Wildlife Management Institute, published in 1975 although according to Bill Hood's answer, this volume was actually published in 2006."

"Other verifiable evidence of the quote's original authorship come from:

1.Rita Mae Brown's 1983 novel, Sudden Death, published by Bantam Books, New York p.68 (attributed to Jane Fulton)

2.Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) pamphlet - Step 2: A promise of Hope, p10, James G. Jenson, 1980.

3.Narcotics Anonymous - The Basic Text of Narcotics Anonymous which was copyrighted in 1981. It is found on page 11 of the final "Review Form" which was distributed to the fellowship in November of 1981. The quote in that text is "Insanity is repeating the same mistakes and expecting different results". "

It seems our political leadership have been drunk and stoned about the Bellefonte Nuclear Plant for more than 40 years.They succomb to corporate-governmental peer group pressure and are addicted to the drug of government promises and deceit. Unfortunately, they have never learned the lessons of our local history regarding Bellefonte. Such is the story with substance abuse. Shall we send our government's leadership to color code so that they may be tested for addiction?

THE NUCLEAR SCAM - October 10, 2015

Duke Energy's Brunswick Nuclear Power Facility ( Fair Use Rights, Duke photo, for non-profit news reporting and criticism.)

https://www.duke-energy.com/power-plants/nuclear/brunswick.asp 

More on Duke Power's nuclear cancellations - http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/energy/duke-energy-to-cancel-proposed-levy-county-nuclear-plant-fasano-says/2134287

Duke Power's plans include sucking money out of ratepayers and taxpayers for the sole purpose of generating capital, not economical, clean, reliable, safe electrical power. This is the purpose of the nuclear power scam.  http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/energy/after-long-love-affair-with-nuclear-power-duke-energy-hints-romance-is/2249034

Quote from the article about Duke Power’s nuclear scam: "Duke is pursuing the Lee plant just as it did the Levy plant in Florida, spending lots of money (much of it charged to ratepayers) in preliminary work on the planned sites, seeking a federal license, but never officially committing to build the facilities."

Think about it, if a private citizen promised an investment of billions upon billions of dollars, but in reality the citizen never intended on building anything, it was just a scheme to defraud the public for the purpose of receiving tax and citizen dollars, private citizens would be put in prison for each person they committed fraud against; according to our laws, aren't corporations people? Hold their executives and puppet politicians accountable for “ripping off” hard working Americans in the nuclear power fraud scheme.

NUCLEAR STOCK SCAM - One company and its executives pay the price - "Law360, New York (July 17, 2015, 4:30 PM ET) -- An Idaho federal judge on Thursday agreed to drop the remaining charges against an energy company and its CEO two months after finding them liable in a securities fraud case involving the financing of a $10 billion nuclear power plant. . . The SEC said the penalties, including nearly $15 million in disgorgements, imposed by U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge on Alternate Energy Holdings Inc. and its former CEO Donald L. Gillispie when he granted summary judgment to the agency in May are enough punishment." http://www.law360.com/articles/680226/sec-drops-remaining-claims-in-idaho-nuclear-power-co-suit  --- Department of Justice: Eagle Nuclear, stock scam - Former Executives Of Nuclear Power Company Indicted | USAO-ID | Department of Justice

Bellefonte Units 1-4 TVA's Dream and ratepayers nightmare. Fair Use Rights for non-profit news and criticism. TVA photo in Bellefonte's Unit 3-4, Environmental Report

Look across our nation, particularly in the TVA area (Bellefonte, Alabama – Billions of dollars have been sunk into the zombie plant and proposed future construction which will never be accomplished, currently costing TVA rate payers $65 million per year for maintenance. Yellow Creek, Phipps Bend, Hartsville are all nuclear plants partially built without a need for them.  $20 billion dollars of TVA’s $25 billion dollar long term debt is because of the unnecessary nuclear construction.); 97 plus plants listed, this does not count the current ones being planned.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_canceled_nuclear_plants_in_the_United_States

Nuclear Weapons Cost - Today’s report is an update to the cost study that CBO released in December 2013, which put the anticipated price tag for U.S. nuclear forces between FY 2014 and FY 2023 at $355 billion.  https://www.armscontrol.org/blog/ArmsControlNow/2015-01-22/CBO-Nuclear-Weapons-Still-Expensive  Costs of disposal - https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/the-explosive-cost-of-disposing-of-nuclear-weapons/2013/07/03/64f896e0-e287-11e2-80eb-3145e2994a55_story.html

DECOMMISSIONING TAKES DECADES AND EXCEEDS $1 BILLION DOLLARS -- The nuclear power vicious circle, front end costs are extreme - end of cycle decommissioning costs are rising, a vicious circle of continuing expense for taxpayers and ratepayers. Today, decommissioning costs on the downside will be $500 million to over $1 billion dollars to clean up the contamination and secure the nuclear power facilities. http://thebulletin.org/rising-cost-decommissioning-nuclear-power-plant7107   

This fraud scam scenario is repeated over and over again, currently and historically across our nation. In order for the fraud scam to work our government's politicians and officials at all levels must participate. Costing rate payers and taxpayers hundreds of billions, upon hundreds of billions of dollars. Nuclear power and the nuclear weapons death industry is a trillion dollar multinational scheme to provide capital to corporate entities and their political puppets who deceive the public about nuclear reliability, costs, cleanliness and purpose; it is time to end the biggest scam of all time, nuclear power and the international nuclear weapons death scheme madness.