NRC Fines TVA More Than $900,000 For Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant Violations

3 People Cited For Their Roles In The 2015 Incident

  • Friday, November 6, 2020

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued notices of violation and three civil penalties totaling $903,471 to the Tennessee Valley Authority, and issued violation to two managers and a plant operator for their roles in a 2015 incident. 

 

The enforcement actions are the result of an NRC investigation into events that occurred during and after the startup of Watts Bar Unit 1 following a maintenance outage in November 2015.

During the startup, operators failed to follow plant procedures and subsequently failed to properly document their actions in the control room log. Shift managers also failed to review the logs to ensure their accuracy. 

 

Through numerous inspections, interviews, and predecisional enforcement conferences over more than four years, the NRC identified five TVA violations associated with non-conservative decision making, procedural violations, and incomplete and/or inaccurate information regarding the events provided by the utility to the NRC. 

 

TVA and the three cited people have 30 days to respond to the NRC’s enforcement actions. 

Breaking News
John Shearer: The Story Of The Brainerd High Class Of 1965
  • 7/17/2025

Back in the mid-20th century, the Brainerd area was developing into a very popular Chattanooga suburb. Homes were being built on former undeveloped land in areas like near North Moore Road, ... more

Latest Hamilton County Arrest Report
  • 7/17/2025

Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report. (If your case is dismissed, just email us your name and date we ran it and we will promptly take off. Email to news@chattanoogan.com ) ARNOLD,CODY ... more

Work To Start On 8-Story Drury Hotel; Preservation Group Bemoans Loss Of Old Car Barns
Work To Start On 8-Story Drury Hotel; Preservation Group Bemoans Loss Of Old Car Barns
  • 7/16/2025

An updated design for the new Drury Plaza Hotel Chattanooga Downtown, located between Broad and Market, just south of Third Street, was released Wednesday. The eight-story project will bring ... more