TVA Seeks NRC Assessment of Browns Ferry

April 12, 2007

ATHENS, Ala.—TVA has informed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, TVA’s first nuclear power plant, is poised to resume three-unit operation as planned later this year.

TVA has told the NRC that it is prepared for an NRC Operational Readiness Assessment Team to evaluate Browns Ferry’s management oversight, corrective action programs, and other programs, processes and procedures necessary to support safe operations. NRC conducts operational readiness assessments of nuclear plants that are starting up for the first time or that are restarting after an extended outage. TVA expects the assessment to take place in late April.

“It’s important to show that we have the ability to operate and maintain all three units at Browns Ferry along with demonstrating that work to restart Unit 1 has been done well,” said TVA Nuclear Operations Senior Vice President Ashok Bhatnagar. “This is one of the final, overall reviews of the Unit 1 recovery effort that will ensure we are ready to operate this plant as it was designed, and we are ready.”

“We believe we have established the appropriate operating safety standards to resume power production from Unit 1, and maintain safe and reliable operation from all three Browns Ferry units,” said Bhatnagar.

TVA is on schedule to complete the maintenance and testing of the final systems needed to restart Unit 1 safely in May. TVA completed more than 15 million work hours during the last five years, modifying, refurbishing or replacing Browns Ferry Unit 1 systems and components to ensure they meet regulatory, technical and operational requirements for producing electricity safely and reliably.

TVA has conducted more than 1,200 tests that show Unit 1 meets the design and regulatory requirements for safe operation. In addition, NRC personnel and experts from other nuclear utilities have also inspected the work to ensure it meets regulatory requirements, appropriate codes and operational standards.

TVA used a checklist developed for the successful restart of units 2 and 3 to ensure Unit 1 systems, structures and components meet requirements for safe operation.

Browns Ferry is located on Wheeler Reservoir in Athens, Ala. TVA began construction of Browns Ferry in 1967, and Unit 1 began commercial operation in 1974. Unit 1 is capable of generating more than 1,155 megawatts, enough power to supply 650,000 homes. Units 2 and 3 are also capable of producing more than 1,155 megawatts of electricity each.

TVA shut down all three Browns Ferry reactors in 1985 to address management and operational concerns. Browns Ferry units 2 and 3 were returned to service in 1991 and 1995, respectively.

In May 2002, the TVA Board approved returning Unit 1 to service, calling it the best business decision to meet the Tennessee Valley’s long-term power needs. The Board based its decision on improved nuclear performance, increased power demand in the Valley, a positive evaluation of the environmental impact, and a detailed scoping, estimating and planning effort for Unit 1 recovery.

TVA is the nation’s largest public power provider and is completely self financed. TVA provides power to large industries and 158 power distributors that serve approximately 8.7 million consumers in seven southeastern states. TVA also manages the Tennessee River and its tributaries to provide multiple benefits, including flood damage reduction, navigation, water quality and recreation.

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