Watts Bar Nuclear Plant contract worker sentenced for falsifying records

photo This file photo of April 2007, released by the Tennessee Valley Authority, shows the cooling tower of the single operating reactor at the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant in Spring City, Tenn. (AP Photo/Tennessee Valley Authority, File)
photo Matthew David Correll, 31, of Hixson, was charged with two counts of making false statements in connection with the construction of Watts Bar Unit 2. Contributed Photo

A former Watts Bar Nuclear Plant contractor was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty in October to falsifying work records at the new reactor now under construction near Spring City, Tenn.

U.S. District Judge Curtis Collier told Matthew Correll, 31, of Hixson, that he must serve two years of probation and perform 100 hours of community service, according to a court spokeswoman.

As part of the plea agreement, Correll stipulated that in August 2010 he completed TVA forms purporting to state micrometer readings of cables installed to provide energy to equipment, including safety equipment, inside the containment structure of the Watts Bar Unit 2 reactor.

Correll made about 200 inspection entries. After the entries were submitted, they were discovered to be either inaccurate or to be measurements of cables that did not in fact exist.

When questioned, Correll admitted he falsified all of the entries.

Correll's indictment and guilty plea were the result of a 13-month investigation conducted by the TVA Office of the Inspector General.

TVA spokeswoman Barbara Martocci said TVA supports the work of the court in this decision.

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