Suits Over Watts Bar May Fly Both Ways

Suits Over Watts Bar
May Fly Both Ways

By VICTOR MILLER
Free Press Staff Writer

TVA's lawyers are preparing a lawsuit against what the agency is calling a "radical group," Earth First!, as well as individual protesters who vandalized TVA facilities and blocked the entrance to the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant.

But the lawsuits may be flying both ways.

TVA is working with Rhea County officials in prosecuting about 50 protesters on state charges of criminal trespassing, and is investigating whether federal offenses might have occurred during Monday's protest.

The agency will decide on filing the lawsuit after its three-man board of directors reviews the results of an investigation being conducted by the TVA inspector general.

Dr. Steven Smith, a Knoxville veterinarian who is serving on a review group working with TVA as it develops its energy future for the next 25 years, was among those arrested.

And he's not happy about it.

Dr. Smith said Wednesday, "Those charges (for inciting a riot and disturbing the peace) are going to be fought and there's the potential for a suit against the Dayton County Sheriff's Department about what they did."

He said, "I'm not going to back away from the fact that I completely support the rights of those protesters to demonstrate. I strongly believe in this country that that's a right and they should do it."

However, he said, "I'm not saying necessarily it was handled right. I don't necessarily agree with defacing property and those kinds of things."

TVA estimates such vandalism caused about $8,000 in damage to TVA buildings and other facilities.

But, Dr. Smith said, "I certainly don't agree with some redneck — and you can quote me on this — some redneck sheriff in Dayton, Tenn., illegally arresting non-violent individuals who were basically trying to understand what was going on in the parking lot (of the Dayton jail)."

"That's essentially what happened (to me)."

Dr. Smith, executive director of the Tennessee Valley Energy Reform Coalition (TVERC) and a member of the board of directors of the Foundation for Global Sustainability, said he had been approached by members of Earth First! for background on the Watts Bar plant, which has been under construction for more than 20 years at a cost of more than $6 billion.

After conducting a workshop for members of Earth First! and learning of the "action" that was to occur at the plant located near Spring City, Tenn., Dr. Smith was among those in attendance as the protest proceeded, but he did not plan on or expect to be arrested.

And he was appalled by what he saw.

"They (law enforcement personnel) just lost control, I guess that's the best way to describe it," he said. "I've never seen anything like it. The cops lost control. They didn't know what they were doing. They didn't understand what they were doing."

As most of the protesters complied with instructions from the law enforcement personnel to disperse, Rhea County Sheriff Leon Sneed "just turned them loose on all the people up on the street, and they just ran up there and started grabbing people," Dr. Smith said.

Protest:
Suits Possible

Dr. Smith was arrested in Dayton as he attempted to talk with some of the protesters who had been arrested at the Watts Bar site.

"They started dragging me away. From my past experience of being arrested (as part of civil disobedience activities) I said I'm not going to cooperate and I went limp and they drug me through the gravel. I've got scrapes all over my legs."

"That's where my civil rights began to be violated."

Dr. Smith denied that he had been "violent" despite comments attributed to Sheriff Sneed in the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

"That's slander," Dr. Smith said, "and that is of great concern to me. I don't know what I can or cannot do on that, but it's very saddening to me that the very top law enforcement officer in Rhea County is just randomly slandering people, particularly when he didn't even properly arrest me."

Dr. Smith said his arrest, when viewed in the context of his position on the TVA review panel, puts him in a "delicate position."

As a result, he said, "I'm trying to work with TVA ... trying to set up a meeting. I know a lot of people in the environmental movement from all over the country and I would like to understand how we can prevent this kind of stuff from happening again."

"I want to applaud TVA for the Integrated Resource Plan process. I think it's the best thing that they've done to get the public involved. I think it's very positive."

"I hope the people will really come out and will participate in the public discussions."

More than half the protesters arrested Monday have made their $1,000 bond, according to Sheriff Sneed.

Of the 57 arrested, only 18 — about half of them women — remain in the Rhea Jail. Ten others have been transferred to the Meigs County Jail.