Commitment to Nuclear Safety

TVA's nuclear power activities are carried out with public health and safety and the protection of its employees and the environment as paramount considerations. The TVA Board of Directors bears the ultimate responsibility for safety of TVA activities related to its nuclear facilities. The Executive Vice President, TVA Nuclear, and all supporting TVA organizations are responsible for carrying out their activities consistent with this policy and applicable regulatory requirements.

To support this objective, it is TVA's policy to maintain a competent, credible staff to implement disciplined, documented procedures in the design, construction, operation, and decommissioning of its nuclear facilities; to utilize the best applicable industry standards; to exercise thorough and qualified review and audit activities; to undertake such supporting development activities as are necessary to maintain the quality of TVA's facilities and staff; and to be open to constructive criticism.

TVA complies with applicable laws and regulations dealing with nuclear power and with environmental protection. TVA encourages employee awareness and the expression of safety concerns associated with the design, construction, operation, and decommissioning of TVA nuclear facilities. TVA provides protective measures to ensure that employees may express concerns and differing views without fear of recrimination or reprisal (see Principles & Practices, Communications Practice 5, Expressing Concerns and Differing Views). This protection extends to any employees providing information to regulatory officials either voluntarily or as part of their official duty.

The Board of Directors reviews and, as appropriate, acts upon proposals having major nuclear safety significance including:

Proposals to file applications for nuclear plant construction permits or to decommission an operating nuclear power plant.
For plants without operating licenses, proposals to certify to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission readiness to load fuel and to operate for the first time.
Proposals involving disagreement concerning nuclear safety requirements between TVA and a nuclear regulatory agency that have advanced to the level of an appeal to a nuclear regulatory agency office head.
Employee safety concerns that have not been resolved by the Executive Vice President, TVA Nuclear, or the Inspector General to the satisfaction of the concerned employee.
Reports containing final recommendations or proposed actions related to intimidation and harassment of individuals expressing safety concerns about TVA's nuclear activities.
TVA comments or recommendations concerning nuclear safety regulations that involve significant new or controversial safety issues.

TVA Nuclear is responsible for the safe design, construction, operation, and decommissioning of TVA's nuclear power facilities. It is responsible for ensuring that activities associated with a nuclear facility are in compliance with TVA's safety-first policy; TVA's standards, practices, and procedures; and regulatory requirements. TVA Nuclear prepares and submits applications for nuclear plant construction permits and operating licenses and amendments to those documents, related licensing documentation, comments on or recommendations for changes to existing or proposed nuclear regulatory requirements, and responses to violation notices and other nuclear power-related correspondence. It is responsible for ensuring that applications for licenses and permits associated with nuclear power facilities meet applicable regulatory requirements.

The Executive Vice President, TVA Nuclear, is responsible for TVA's nuclear power activities and has the authority to establish management and operating policies and procedures related to nuclear power safety issues and activities. The Executive Vice President, TVA Nuclear, is authorized to undertake such studies, activities, or programs deemed necessary to improve the safety, reliability, or efficiency of TVA nuclear facilities, and to take any other actions that are necessary or appropriate to improve the overall management of TVA's nuclear power program. The Executive Vice President, TVA Nuclear, informs the Board of Directors about issues that could significantly affect the safety or schedule of nuclear plant operations and provides reports on regulatory compliance. The Executive Vice President, TVA Nuclear, also keeps the Board of Directors informed on a regular basis and as significant events occur about the operation and performance of TVA's nuclear plants.

TVA Nuclear consults with the General Counsel as appropriate about the legal consequences of licensing actions, policy initiatives, comments on proposed legislation affecting TVA nuclear activities, or any other action which potentially has a significant legal impact on TVA.

TVA Nuclear is responsible for establishing quality assurance and independent review programs to ensure that activities related to nuclear power safety are carried out in accordance with TVA's overall quality assurance and nuclear safety requirements. Additionally, TVA Nuclear ensures that organizations external to TVA which provide safety-related material, equipment, or services to TVA's nuclear power program do so in accordance with the TVA Nuclear Quality Assurance Program requirements.

The Executive Vice President, TVA Nuclear, is designated as TVA's Chief Nuclear Officer responsible for matters relating to the reporting of defects, noncompliances, events, and other nuclear power matters reportable under the regulations of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. TVA Nuclear is responsible for establishing the process and procedures used to accept, assess, and reach determinations about nuclear power safety issues that could potentially be reportable to regulatory agencies. TVA Nuclear is responsible for providing information to other TVA organizations on compliance with reporting requirements and posting of notices to employees involved in nuclear power activities.

The Executive Vice Presidents of River System Operations & Environment, Fossil Power Group, Transmission and Power Supply, and Customer Services and Marketing are responsible for operations and activities within their organizations which utilize or produce ionizing radiation, and have the authority to establish policies and procedures related to the safety of such operations and activities. These officers will undertake such actions as are necessary or appropriate to ensure the safety, reliability, and efficiency of such non-nuclear power-related operations and activities and will inform the Board of Directors about any issues or instances significantly affecting the safe use and disposition of such radiation sources.

The General Counsel provides legal advice at the request of TVA Nuclear about TVA's legal obligations on nuclear safety and licensing matters and is consulted prior to release of correspondence or the taking of other action that may have a material legal effect.

The Inspector General conducts audits of TVA Nuclear processing of employee concerns and investigates employee concerns related to misconduct, intimidation and harassment, and abuse of authority. The Inspector General, at the request of TVA Nuclear, investigates other safety issues as appropriate.

All TVA organizations and employees are responsible for the reporting of potential safety deficiencies, safety deviations, or noncompliances with the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, as it relates to nuclear power activities and providing to TVA Nuclear any requested information, documents, assessment support, or other assistance required to determine the significance of the issue.

This principle was approved by the Board of Directors on June 21, 1989.

Last Revised 9/1999