The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Thursday issued "a chilling effect letter" to the Tennessee Valley Authority after determining that a "chilled work environment" exists within the operations staff at the Watts Bar nuclear power plant near Spring City, Tenn.
An NRC review into the Watts Bar work environment found that some operations employees may not have felt free to raise safety concerns, and some licensed operators may have been unduly influenced and directed by sources external to the control room.
The NRC held a meeting with TVA officials in Atlanta last Tuesday to discuss the agency's concerns and TVA's corrective actions.
"While we believe TVA management understands these issues, the chilling effect letter documents the NRC concerns and our expectations that TVA fully address them and ensure that all plant employees feel free to raise any safety problems," said NRC Region II Administrator Cathy Haney.
TVA spokesman Jim Hopson said TVA already is implementing corrective actions at Watts Bar, and there's been no evidence of retaliation against employees.
"It's something we take seriously," he said.
TVA officials must respond to the letter within 30 days with a plan describing how the work environment concerns will be addressed.
About two weeks after the TVA plan is received, the NRC will schedule a public meeting with TVA to discuss its plan as well as NRC monitoring and inspection of corrective action.