NRC to publicly discuss Watts Bar nuclear plant assessment

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has scheduled a meeting to discuss the annual assessment of the safety of the Watts Bar nuclear power plant's Unit 1.

The NRC assessment shows that the unit operated safely during 2014; the operations neither threatened the wellness of the public health nor the environment.

Under the operation of the Tennessee Valley Authority, this specific facility is based near Spring City, Tenn., just 60 miles southwest of the City of Knoxville.

The NRC inspectors will later evaluate Watts Bar Unit 2, as it is still being built. A meeting concerning Unit 2 will take place at a later date.

“NRC inspectors continually evaluate each nuclear plant’s safety, and each year we take a detailed look at that information to identify any trends and help plan future inspections,” Victor McCree, administrator of NRC Region II, said. “Inspection results are available throughout the year, but these annual meetings allow us to talk to local residents and answer any questions they may have.”

The discussion, which is also an open house and a poster session, will take place on Tuesday, March 17 at 6 p.m. The venue is the Comfort Inn, located at 2811 Decatur Pike, in Athens, Tenn.

There will be staff from the NRC at the meeting, who will answer any questions the public has about the assessment and overall safety of the nuclear plant.