Schwenk Defends TVA, Watts Bar Plant

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A letter to the editor from Nate Schwenk, a Watts Bar employee, defends TVA and the Watts Bar nuclear plant against criticism raised by Steve Smith in a prior column. Schwenk argues that while the plant is behind schedule and over budget, it can operate safely and will eventually pay for itself through electricity generation. He contends that construction delays have been driven by employees seeking job security and opportunistic companies filing frivolous safety concerns.

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Schwenk Defends
TVA, Watts Bar Plant

To The Free Press:
One of the accusations made by Steve Smith in his Nov. 19 Sunday Focus column attacking TVA and Watts Bar was that TVA had made a "material false statement" to the NRC. The truth is that his article is filled with misinformation ...

It is true that Watts Bar is far behind schedule and over budget, which is hardly news. Even though it is about to start paying for itself, crusaders like Mr. Smith would rather it never generate. But we ratepayers (no tax money is involved) will either pay Watts Bar for electricity or pay Watts Bar for nothing.

While many improvements have been made to the plant since TVA nearly requested a license in 1985, it is a crime that most of the expenditures since then have been a waste because the plant could have run safely as it was. In all the thousands of ensuing inspections, no significant flaws have been found in the construction.

We ratepayers have had our pockets looted by some employees who realized that unless they found a way to prolong construction, they would be laid off. So some began to file all manner of "safety concerns" with the assistance of some opportunistic companies, and then they cried foul when their "concerns" were rejected.

(I work at Watts Bar and live very close to it). A welder friend of mine was pressured by one of these companies to state that he knew of the existence of faults when he did not. Unfortunately for us, not everyone values truth over money as he does ...

We know TVA has managed poorly too often. We know Watts Bar is not perfect. We know nuclear power is potentially dangerous. But we also know that with care and vigilance, it can be controlled and used for great benefit. Automobiles have a far worse safety record than do nuclear plants.

NATE SCHWENK

Ann Hempy Praises
Story On Midwives

To The Free Press:
A sincere "Thank you" to Chris Sherrill Vass and the Chattanooga Free Press for the wonderful article about certified nurse-midwives, "Rebirth of an age-old practice" (Lifestyle, Nov. 19). The photography was superb and depicted scenes dear to CNM hearts: the miracle of birth with family participation; excellent prenatal care and education; and a commitment to fostering the normal childbearing process, without unnecessary high-tech intervention, so as to achieve safe and satisfying experiences and outcomes.

Tennesseans should be proud of nurse-midwives, for it is one of their own who started nurse-midwifery care in the United States. American CNMs are the offspring, now 4,500 strong, of Mary Breckinridge, a hidden heroine of Tennessee. Born in Memphis in 1881 into a family of wealth and