7/20/2011 Whistleblowers "terrified" at TVA nuke plants?

Source: CBS "The Early Show"
Date: July 20, 2011 7:52 AM


(CBS News) In the wake of the Fukushima disaster in Japan, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has released a task force report on the safety of America's 104 nuclear reactors.

And on "The Early Show" Wednesday, CBS News Chief Investigative Correspondent Armen Keteyian offered Part Two of his investigation into one troubled nuclear power plant, in Spring City, Tenn.
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Read full article here

For part 1 and a map of Watts Bar click here.

7/19/2011 Shocking: Nuclear Industry Whistle-Blower Grandma Says Life Threatened for Speaking out Against Watts Bar Nuclear Generating Station

Date: 7/19/2011

CBS "The Early Show": Fukushima-type disaster inevitable in U.S.?


Watts Bar Nuclear Generating Station, which is operated by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), has been plagued with past safety concerns and whistle-blower lawsuits. Nuclear engineer and consultant Arnie Gundersen called the May 13, 2011 post-Fukushima NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) report for Watts Bar "appalling" giving it a grade of D-.  Another nuclear engineer David Lochbaum sited 40 "disturbing findings" with the report. [Video, 1:50]

Ann Harris, the 71 year old great grandmother who has won 6 whistle-blower lawsuits against the TVA, says executives at TVA threatened to end her career back when she was a nuclear instrumentation engineering clerk because she would not sign off on a multimillion-dollar construction contract full of errors.  According to Harris, "the books are being cooked. People are saying things, they swear under oath it’s been done, and it hadn’t been done." [1]  For 28 years hence, Ms. Harris has been fighting the TVA and NRC with the goal of ensuring accountability and preventing a nuclear accident:

...
Harris said, "You can see a Fukushima happening here in the U.S."

So it's not a matter of 'if,' it's a matter of -

"When," Harris finished the sentence.[1]
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What is most shocking, however, is that as a result of her activism, Ms. Harris has received threats and her car has even been sabotaged (basically it appears to be attempted murder):

...
There have certainly been attempts at intimidation, recrimination and really, threats on your life?

Harris responded, "Yes. They ran me off the road. They wired my car for firebombing. They dropped the universal joint out of my car." [1]
 ...

Read more from CBS "The Early Show" here

Map showing Watts Bar Nuclear Generating Station

View Live Ustream Radiation Detectors in a larger map

Sources:
[1] Fukushima-type disaster inevitable in U.S.?, CBS "The Early Show"