BREDL Archive Nuclear

TVA’s unfinished Bellefonte nuclear power plant
Hollywood, Alabama

TVA applied for a combined construction and operating license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to build and operate two nuclear reactors at its Bellefonte site near Scottsboro, AL and on the Guntersville Reservoir. The two proposed reactors, Units 3 and 4, were together to produce 2,234 MW and were projected to come on line around 2018. In 1988, TVA halted construction of Units 1 and 2 nuclear reactors. The construction permits were withdrawn in 2006. In the summer of 2009, the NRC delayed the Draft Environmental Impact Statement on Units 3 and 4 until at least 2011 citing the need for TVA to decide if it will proceed with Units 1 and 2. In November 2016, it looked as though Bellefonte, TVA's nuclear zombie plant, would be resurrected once again in Hollywood Alabama when Chattanooga developer Franklin Haney proposed buying it. He formed Nuclear Development, LLC and made a down payment of $22 million at auction with the rest of the $111 million due by November 2018. However, on the day that the sale was to be completed, the owner, the Tennessee Valley Authority stopped the sale, claiming the buyer had failed to meet federal licensing conditions. Haney has neither been able to secure the Federal loans nor customers.

Activists Challenge Zombie Reactor

Dec. 12, 2019: Today the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League announced the filing of its legal petition opposing renewed construction of the Bellefonte nuclear power plant. The 15-page brief, filed Wednesday, seeks to Intervene to stop the transfer of the construction permits for Units 1 and 2 from the Tennessee Valley Authority to a private firm, Nuclear Development LLC. BREDL's local chapter Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team, or BEST, founded in 2008 to defeat a previous permit, also joined the suit.

BREDL and our chapter Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team/Mothers Against Tennessee River Radiation propose to the TVA Board to direct TVA to withdraw its Combined License Application for Bellefonte 3 and 4 nuclear reactors

Feb. 10, 2016: The Tennessee Valley Authority is wasting tens of millions of dollars annually propping up its twice abandoned Bellefonte plant. Truly, it is a zombie reactor. It is time to face the facts. Today, we presented a fiscal analysis revealing fractured accounting and the staggering debt load which nuclear power has saddled onto TVA, evidence favoring withdrawal of the license application at Bellefonte.

BREDL Statement to TVA Board

The League and 12 other Groups Petition NRC to Suspend Reactor Licensing Decisions at Sequoyah, Bellefonte and North Anna

Feb. 27, 2014: Our motion to stay petitions the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to suspend reactor licensing decisions while the agency considers new information on the environmental impacts of used radioactive fuel storage in reactor pools. This new information was detailed in the Consequence Study of a Beyond-Design-Basis Earthquake Affecting the Spent Fuel Pool for a U.S. Mark I Boiling Water Reactor, Oct. 9, 2013. The NRC Staff found that if even a small fraction of the inventory of the Peach Bottom reactor pool were released to the environment in a severe spent fuel pool accident, an average area of 9,400 square miles would be rendered uninhabitable, and that 4.1 million people would be displaced over the long-term. And the NRC concluded for the first time that the likelihood of spent fuel pool fires could be affected by reactor accidents.

Sequoyah Petition | Bellefonte Petition | North Anna Petition

Group Files New Legal Action Against TVA - Petition Calls for New Environmental Review of Earthquake Impacts

Feb. 27, 2014: Today the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League filed a legal challenge to require a full federal analysis of storage of irradiated fuel at the Sequoyah and Bellefonte nuclear power plants. The petition demands that NRC do a complete environmental impact statement on the effects of accidents and leakage on public health and environment. The League also filed a challenges at a power plant in Virginia.

BREDL Press Release

Motions filed to bring waste confidence contentions at North Anna (VA), W.S. Lee (SC) and Bellefonte (AL)

The July 9 motions to reopen and motions for leave to file a new argument (or “contention”) are legal steps necessary to hold certain electric power company’s feet to the nuclear fire. These actions follow the recent federal Court of Appeals order striking down the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s patently ridiculous “Waste Confidence Decision,” which should now be enshrined in Blackstone’s dictionary along with other “legal fictions.”

North Anna Motion | W.S. Lee Motion | Bellefonte Motion

Fractures, Faults and Fission

Bellefonte is Not Suitable for Nuclear Reactors

The Tennessee Valley Authority’s Bellefonte site near Scottsboro, Alabama is in an earthquake zone. Nuclear Regulatory Commission geologic and seismic regulations detail the requirements for determining whether a proposed site is acceptable for a nuclear power plant.

Bellefonte Earthquake Fact Sheet

Groups Say Nuclear Disaster Can Happen Here
Call For Moratorium On All Nuclear Plans

March 21, 2011: The Bellefonte Efficiency & Sustainability Team (BEST), Mothers Against Tennessee River Radiation (MATRR), and parent organization Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League (BREDL) issued a statement asking for a review of all nuclear power plants as they are not immune to the kinds of disasters or accidents that lead to catastrophic releases of radiation to air, ground, and water.

Group's Press Release

Action Alert: Send a letter to TVA Board of Directors regarding TVA's nuclear plans.

March 2011: An action alert from our chapter Bellefonte Efficiency & Sustainability Team (BEST) and Mothers Against Tennessee River Radiation (MATRR)

View Action Alert

Demand a Better Way from TVA. Use BEST and MATRR voucher to send message

As taxpayers and as rate-payers, we are paying for the most expensive and dangerous form of energy on earth - nuclear power. Please visit the BEST/MATRR website to printout their 'check' voucher then send it in with your electric bill payment.

Joint Petitioners' Respond to TVA's Motion to Strike Supplemental Basis for Contention 6 regarding Bellefonte Nuclear facility

Jan. 25, 2010: Read the Petitioners' Response to TVA filed before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board.

Rust Never Sleeps: Bellefonte Nukes Would Threaten Tennessee Valley

Jan. 11, 2010: Joint Petitioners file Supplemental Basis for Previously Submitted Contention 6 - TVA has not and cannot meet the NRC's Quality Assurance and Quality Control Requirements.

The accident in the nuclear reactor's containment area and the history of prior failures all point to further problems if the Commission were to allow the completion of the virtually moth-eaten 35-year old reactors following years of salvage operations and lack of maintenance and oversight.

View BREDL's latest legal filing. | Read BREDL Press Release

Citizens Groups Claim Victory - Commission Delays Nuclear Plants at Bellefonte

Aug. 6, 2009: Today citizens’ groups claimed a victory in their fight against Tennessee Valley Authority’s drive to build four nuclear power plants in northeast Alabama. According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, further action on TVA’s proposal is halted until at least 2011. Spokespersons for the citizens’ groups see the two-year delay as vindication of their stand against TVA’s plan to complete two nuclear power reactors and to add two more at its Bellefonte site near Scottsboro.
BREDL Press Release | NRC Letters regarding delay

BREDL files legal brief with NRC

June 3, 2009: BREDL files legal brief with NRC. In short, the law does not authorize the NRC to reinstate a construction permit that has been terminated. Therefore, the Commission should vacate its decision and void TVA’s construction permits for Bellefonte Units 1 and 2. BREDL Legal Brief

GROUPS TAKE AIM AT BELLEFONTE 1 AND 2

May 14, 2009: Today three citizens’ groups announced a new lawsuit against TVA’s Bellefonte nuclear site in Alabama. The groups’ effort centers on the mothballed nuclear reactor units 1 and 2. They based their opposition on 14 separate flaws in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s recent approval of a construction permit. The lawsuit was filed by the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, the Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

"NRC’s got the cart before the horse. Contrary to their own procedural requirements, they’re handing out construction permits for reactors on a 40 year old gutted plant site before new reactor designs have been approved and before environmental impacts have been determined." - Sandra Kurtz, a member of BREDL's Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team.

BREDL Press Release | BREDL Petition

GROUP TAKES BELLEFONTE FIGHT TO A HIGHER COURT

March 31, 2009: Yesterday the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League filed a Petition for Review in the US Court of Appeals of the Bellefonte nuclear power plant in Alabama. The League seeks judicial review of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s reinstatement of construction permits for two nuclear reactors, the so-called Bellefonte 1 and 2. BREDL Press Release | Petition for Review | NRC's voting record

GROUP CHARGES NEW NUKES MUST WAIT FOR RADIOACTIVE WASTE SOLUTION

March 10, 2009: Yesterday in a flurry of legal activity the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League filed new arguments opposing nuclear reactor licenses in Virginia, South Carolina and Alabama. The League acted because of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's failure to recognize that high-level radioactive waste storage would pose significant environmental risks at proposed nuclear power plants at TVA's Bellefonte, Duke Energy's WS Lee and Dominion Virginia Power's North Anna stations. Read BREDL Press Release

GROUPS DISPUTE TVA COST FIGURES - NEW LEGAL CHALLENGE AT BELLEFONTE

Dec. 16, 2008: Today citizens’ groups announced new cost arguments in their lawsuit against nuclear power at Tennessee Valley Authority’s Bellefonte site. The December 15th filing charges that TVA provided inaccurate cost information in its environmental report. In an 18-page request to the three-judge licensing board, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, the Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy charged that TVA violated the National Environmental Policy Act. Read BREDL Press Release | Read BREDL, BEST, SACE Dec. 15, 2008 Contention to ASLBP

September 27, 2008 Seminar
Middle Tennessee State University

Know Nuclear in the Tennessee Valley

- Afternoon panels on nuclear waste, nuclear transport, and TVA nuclear reactors Know Nuclear Agenda

Carbon-Free and Nuclear-Free: A Roadmap for U.S. Energy Policy - An evening with nationally-renowned energy expert Arjun Makhijani, Ph.D. Arjun Makhijani Bio

Saturday, September 27, 2008
Middle Tennessee State University
Keathley University Center
Murfeesboro, TN

Know Nuclear in the Tennessee Valley
11:30am - 6:00pm
Room 322
Registration: $10.00 | Students Free

Carbon Free and Nuclear Free
Theater on 2nd Floor
7:30pm
Free and Open to the Public

Legal Brief Calls on NRC to Suspend TVA Actions at Bellefonte

September 11, 2008: The legal brief BREDL filed today calls on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to suspend Tennessee Valley Authority's request to build and operate new nuclear reactors at Bellefonte. Contention Twenty details the total failure of TVA to include Bellefonte Units 1 and 2 with Bellefonte Units 3 and 4 in its application. In the 1970's TVA had planned to build two reactors, called Bellefonte 1 and 2, but abandoned the plan after spending about $4 billion. Earlier this year, TVA requested a license to build two new reactors, designated 3 and 4, at the Bellefonte site in Alabama. Last month, TVA asked the NRC to re-instate the permits for Bellefonte 1 and 2. Our brief details TVA's illegal attempt to circumvent the National Environmental Policy Act by failing to include the impacts of four nuclear reactors at Bellefonte. Read BREDL's Contention

Groups file Motion to NRC

July 25, 2008: The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, its chapter Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team and the South Alliance for Clean Energy (“Petitioners”) hereby file this motion to admit all portions of our reply to NRC staff and the Tennessee Valley Authority filed July 8, 2008. Read July 25 Motion

Groups file response to NRC

July 18, 2008: In accordance with the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel’s Memorandum and Order of July 9, 2008 permitting Joint Petitioners to reply to the NRC Staff’s filing of July 14 regarding the timeliness of intervention petition, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, its chapter Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (hereinafter “Joint Petitioners”) hereby file their response. Read July 18 Response

NRC Response

July 15, 2008: The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission hereby responds to the “Applicant’s Motion to Strike Portions of Petitioners’ Reply” filed on July 11, 2008, by the Applicant (Tennessee Valley Authority, “TVA”). The Motion seeks to strike portions of the “Reply of The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, its Chapter Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team and the Southern Alliance For Clean Energy to the NRC Staff Answer to Petition for Intervention and the Applicant’s Answer Opposing Petition To Intervene, Both Dated July 1, 2008.” (July 8, 2008). Read NRC July 15 response

Petitioners file Reply

July 11, 2008: On July 8, 2008, the Petitioners filed their “Reply of the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, its Chapter Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy to the NRC Staff Answer to Petition for Intervention and the Applicant’s Answer Opposing Petition to Intervene, Both Dated July 1, 2008”. The Tennessee Valley Authority hereby files this motion to strike. Read TVA Motion to Strike

July 9, 2008: Memorandum and Order - (Initial Prehearing Conference Schedule; Schedule for Additional Briefing Regarding Timeliness Issue; Opportunity for Written Limited Appearance Statements) The participants are advised of the following information regarding the schedule for the initial prehearing conference in this proceeding:
Starting Date: Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Starting Time: 9:00 a.m. Central Time, 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET)
Location: Scottsboro Goosepond Civic Center, 1165 Ed Hembree Drive, Scottsboro, Alabama
Read NRC Memorandum and Order

Groups Reply to TVA & NRC

The League wishes to thank to all who contributed their expertise to this reply: Sara Barczak of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and Dr. Shawn Young, Diane D'Arrigo and Mary Olson of Nuclear Information and Resource Service, Dr. Arjun Makhijani of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, Dr. Ross McCluney and Louise Gorenflo of Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team, BREDL's Duke University Stanback Intern Xuan Chi and others who contributed to the original June 6th petition including Garry Morgan of Scottsboro, AL and Dr. Tom Moss of Huntsville, AL.

On July 8, 2008 the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, its chapter Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy filed their reply to Tennessee Valley Authority and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission according to administrative procedure rules seven days after their answer to our petition to intervene in the NRC combined construction and operation license for a new nuclear power plant at Bellefonte in Alabama.

Read the BREDL, BEST, SACE Reply to TVA, NRC

NRC Answers Request to Intervene

July 1, 2008: The staff of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission hereby answers the “Petition for Intervention and Request for Hearing” (Petition) filed on June 6, 2008 by the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League and its chapter Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. Read NRC's Answer

Applicant's answer opposing petition to intervene

July 1, 2008: The Tennessee Valley Authority (“Applicant”) hereby files its Answer to “Petition for Intervention and Request for Hearing by the Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (“Petition”) and “Supplement to Petition of June 6, 2008 Providing Alphanumeric Designation of Contentions” (“Supplemental Petition”), dated June 26, 2008 concerning TVA’s application for combined licenses (“COLs”) for two AP1000 pressurized water reactors at the Bellefonte site in Jackson County, Alabama. Read TVA's Answer

Groups file Petition to intervene

June 6, 2008: Groups file petition for intervention and request for hearing before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission regarding proposed TVA Bellefonte Nuclear Power Plant Units 3 and 4. The petition is on behalf of the Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. Read the Petition

BREDL Files Supplemental Motion to Suspend License Process at TVA's Bellefonte Nuclear Plant

Action supports Bellefonte Efficiency & Sustainability Team

April 2, 2008: Recently, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission stated that is unable to go forward with a key portion of the safety and environmental review required for Tennessee Valley Authority's Bellefonte nuclear power plant license. An inspection by NRC found three violations which TVA must address. Critical information lacking includes data on surface water flow and earthquakes. However, the NRC has not halted the process for approving TVA's license. Therefore, on April 2, 2008 we filed a motion asking NRC to either suspend the hearing process or delay the deadline for the public to intervene.

We believe it would be fundamentally unfair for the NRC to require interested citizens and public interest organizations to review and comment on an incomplete document, an application to build and operate the first nuclear power plant in the 21st Century. On February 29th, Louise Gorenflo of the Bellefonte Efficiency & Sustanability Team, a chapter of BREDL, filed a similar request based on other omissions in the TVA's application. Supplemental Motion

Fact Sheet on Bellefonte

March 2008: BREDL Chapter Bellefonte Efficiency & Sustainability Team (BEST) fact sheet:
No to Bellefonte Nuclear Units, Yes to Energy Efficiency and Renewables

BEST sends letter to NRC

Feb. 29, 2008: BREDL Chapter Bellefonte Efficiency & Sustainability Team (BEST) letter to NRC requesting a suspension of the notice of hearing regarding new nuclear power plants at Bellefonte.

BREDL request TVA Board to abandon Bellefonte

Feb. 15, 2008: BREDL requests Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors to abandon its ongoing effort to open a new nuclear power station at the Bellefonte site in Jackson County, Alabama.
View BREDL's Comments: Janet Marsh's comments | Lou Zeller's comments