Report urges TVA to track protesters, other groups

Report urges TVA to track protesters, other groups
Coalition leader: Agency is trying to silence critics

By Jesse Tinsley
News-Sentinel staff writer

TVA should track groups like- ly to sabotage its nuclear facilities in the wake of a disruptive Earth First protest at the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, an independent TVA report stated.

The inspector general report released Saturday also suggested TVA is unlikely to involve itself in lengthy and costly court proceedings against Earth First, accused of causing nearly $500,000 in damages during the July 11 protest near Spring City.

TVA should "designate an entity in TVA to be responsible for developing and maintaining information about groups who would likely organize protests or other acts of vandalism or sabotage against TVA facilities," the report stated.

The TVA board of directors is expected to decide this week whether to file a civil suit against Earth First, a loose-knit, radical environmentalist group of 15,000 founded in Tucson, Ariz.

Fifty-seven of some 150 Earth First members were arrested by Rhea County sheriff's deputies after the group staged a predawn protest. The report indicated it may be difficult to squeeze damage compensation out of the protesters.

"Our investigation revealed no apparent substantial assets for these (EF) members," the report stated. "To date, we have not identified apparent substantial assets in any organization linked to the protest."

The U.S. attorney has declined to prosecute the protesters for the destruction of government property based on a lack of evidence, according to the report by the Office of Inspector General, an independent investigative division within TVA.

While Steve Smith, executive director of the Tennessee Valley Energy Reform Coalition, played a planning role, the report concluded that the media was not involved in the planning of the protest.

In addition, it suggested that TVA determine whether Smith should continue to participate on TVA's Energy Vision 2020 Review Group, which is studying TVA's future energy needs.

The report said Smith was involved in the planning and implementation of the protest. Investigators tracked long-distance telephone calls made by Smith at 2:56 a.m. and 3:45 a.m. on July 11 from his Sweetwater, Tenn., hotel room.

The hotel is adjacent to the restaurant where the group reportedly met before the 4 a.m. protest, investigators said. One call was made to Smith's cellular telephone and another to a fax machine.

The report states: "We determined that before and during the protest, Smith's cellular phone was used to call various news media agencies. … According to hotel phone records, there were 38 long-distance calls from Smith's room between 6:01 a.m. and 7:43 a.m."

Smith said he was in the area a few days before the protest at the request of Earth First, which was seeking general information on a broad range of environmental issues, some involving TVA.

Smith said he accepted the invitation even though he does not share the group's views on violence and vandalism, adding that TVA is seeking a scapegoat.

"At that time I heard there was a possible demonstration, and I was interested in observing," Smith said.

Smith also is on the board of directors and former president of the Foundation for Global Sustainability, a Knoxville environmentalist group.

Smith and Danielle Droitsch, Smith's assistant at Global Sustainability, were charged with disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace.

"I am a recognized environmental leader in this region, and I have been involved with a number of environmental activities," Smith said Saturday.

"Instead of responding to my criticism, they will try to discredit me. They will take a shot at me because I'm one of the most outspoken persons among environmentalists and a big thorn in TVA's side."

"It has a history of harassing and intimidating its own employees (through the whistle-blowers program) and now it is extending this to the general public. To say I was a central organizer is really reaching."

"TVA is in desperation … trying to silence its critics."

Earth First, which has had brushes with the law in similar cases, practices what it calls the principle of "bio diversity," involving the view that every living thing has an equal, intrinsic right to share the wealth of the planet.