Submitted by R. Neal on Thu, 2009/07/02 - 8:44am
Scott Barker has a disturbing report regarding testimony that an engineer's field notes on the final Kingston coal ash containment pond inspection before the failure somehow went missing.
Further, the inspection report was apparently "polished" by a PR flack:
Buttram also said in his deposition that a "TVA Media" employee named Jessica Stone edited the report, which went through four drafts, because employees knew "that it would be seen by the public." Buttram confirmed that later drafts did not include language Buttram had used in the original draft, including his recommendation to make repairs "immediately."
|
Topics:
|
102
vote
|
Shortcuts
Discussing:
- Public meeting re. proposed West Town area homeless supportive housing (3 replies)
- Google mania (1 reply)
- Permanent supportive housing proposed for Lakeshore (91 replies)
- "What's in it? Glad you asked. Let's start with jobs." (5 replies)
- First John Rich... (3 replies)
- Knoxville pursues Arrowmont, sets up task force (31 replies)
- Knox PBA: 1, Regulators: 0 (1 reply)
- Tennessee Ticket on Kim McMillan (1 reply)
- Cammack endorses Kim McMillan for governor (1 reply)
- FTC puts LifeLock in handcuffs (2 replies)
- U.S. Sales Tax Rates Hit Record High (2 replies)
- Bottle bill delayed again (1 reply)
Upcoming events:
- Mar 18 2010 - 7:00pm (1 week 1 day from now)
- Mar 19 2010 - 12:00pm (1 week 1 day from now)
- Mar 21 2010 - 12:00pm (1 week 3 days from now)
- Mar 24 2010 - 8:00pm (2 weeks 3 hours from now)
- Mar 26 2010 - 5:00pm (2 weeks 2 days from now)
- Apr 9 2010 - 8:00am (4 weeks 1 day from now)
- Apr 9 2010 - 8:00am (4 weeks 1 day from now)
User login
Navigation
Blog-O-Rama
- About that Kanye Moment at the Oscars: 'He Just Wanted to Talk About Himself' (Video) (TN Guerilla Women)
- Quote of the Day: Conversing with Rahm Emanuel (TN Guerilla Women)
- Warning Signs of Spring? (RoaneViews)
- Blue Boy (Whitescreek Journal)
- Grayson introduces a bill for everyone to buy into Medicare (Southern Liberal Living)
- The Dredge Report (RoaneViews)
- The Liar Loan, Tennessee Style (Liberadio(!))
- Make it a talker (Jack Lail)
- it's Not The Racism, It's The Stupidity (Silence Isn't Golden)
- Westboro Fundies Go To Washington (Silence Isn't Golden)
- If we could only get you to screw off more at work (Jack Lail)
- State Revenue Still going Down (RoaneViews)
- Monitoring State Elections Just Got Easier (Liberadio(!))
- Former Democratic Candidate for Governor, Ward Cammack Endorses Kim McMillan (RoaneViews)
- Where the Ash At Now? (RoaneViews)
Media Blogs
- Corker Releases Hold On Bill That Could Make It Easier For FedEx Workers To Unionize (AC Kleinheider)
- Tennessee Earmarks Safe Despite Rule Change (AC Kleinheider)
- Re-do of 'Guns in Bars' Bill Clears First Committee (Tom Humphrey)
- Frist Appointed To Board Of Directors Of Haiti Fund (AC Kleinheider)
- Gibbons: Let Pilot Pay for Pre-K (Tom Humphrey)
- Go Dutch With Chip Forrester (AC Kleinheider)
- Clarification Of Guns In Bars (AC Kleinheider)
- That’s Like Sending Out A Press Release Saying You’re Going To Your Refrigerator (AC Kleinheider)
- Ruby Tuesday giving away $1 million (Carly Harrington)
- Will God Move Mountains in Tennessee? (Pith in the Wind)
- 119 words you can't say on radio (Michael Silence)
- New Immigration Reform Bill To Feature Biometric ID (AC Kleinheider)
- Great Moments in Tennessee Budget Cutting: Give More Kids to Child Rapists. Oh, Sorry, Alleged Child Rapists. (Pith in the Wind)
- Ramsey Likes CoverTN (AC Kleinheider)
- City of Knoxville vying for Google fiber (Michael Silence)
Local Paper
- Distracted driver ends up with pickup truck in Chilhowee Park water (Knoxville News Sentinel)
- Ruby Tuesday offers $1M prize for basketball brackets game (Knoxville News Sentinel Business)
- Knoxville Fire Department captain hospitalized (Knoxville News Sentinel)
- LaFollette cop charged, suspended after card-game, pistol fracas (Knoxville News Sentinel)
- MPC to consider nursery rezoning (Knoxville News Sentinel Business)
- Big Y-12 project is big opportunity for contractors (Knoxville News Sentinel Business)
- Knoxville vying for Google's super-fast Internet (Knoxville News Sentinel Business)
- Green Mountain extends offer to buy Diedrich Coffee (Knoxville News Sentinel Business)
- Hotel St. Oliver building for sale (Knoxville News Sentinel Business)
- Brown-Forman 3Q profit falls on higher expenses (Knoxville News Sentinel Business)
TV News
- Federal judge in TVA ash spill suits extends deadlines (WATE local)
- Inappropriate texting claims lead to Pigeon Forge teacher's resignation (WATE local)
- LaFollette police officer accused of threatening to kill friend during assault (WATE local)
- Greeneville couple convicted of federal tax evasion (WATE local)
- Dead roosters earn aggravated animal cruelty charge for Maryville man (WATE local)
- 1 Market Square goes up for sale (WBIR Local)
- Pigeon Forge High School teacher resigns over inappropriate texting allegation (WBIR Local)
- Update: Hillcrest West loses appeal to keep Medicare, Medicaid funding (WBIR Local)
- LaFollette officer arrested; accused of pistol-whipping man at a card game (WBIR Local)
- Order of protection violators could get $500 fine (WBIR Local)
- Minority births may soon top white births (WVLT Local)
- Police arrest 2 in meth case outside Tenn Wal-Mart (WVLT Local)
- Chesney to attend 3D concert premier in Knoxville (WVLT Local)
- Maryville man charged after dead roosters found (WVLT Local)
- Putnam juvenile officials cite child sex crimes (WVLT Local)
Wire Reports
- Sebelius piles pressure on insurers (Reuters) (AP Politics)
- House bans misleading census mailings (AP) (AP Politics)
- Study: Law officers struggle to readjust after war (AP) (AP National News)
- CDC uses shopper-card data to trace salmonella (AP) (AP National News)
- Search for GOP Backing Delays Senate Immigration Bill (CQPolitics.com) (AP Politics)
- House Democrats Prepare Tax Breaks for Small Businesses (CQPolitics.com) (AP Politics)
- Obama renews backing of earthquake-stricken Haiti (AP) (AP Politics)
- Technology Not the Main Problem in Sorting Intelligence, Expert Says (CQPolitics.com) (AP Politics)
- Italy, FBI raids crack down on Mafia in US, Sicily (AP) (AP National News)
- Sharper scorn for Congress, fairly steady support for Obama (AP) (AP Politics)
- Ga. judge's order dismisses claims in King dispute (AP) (AP National News)
- Lula calls on Obama to resolve trade dispute (AFP) (AP Politics)
- House Democrats ban earmarks to corporations (AP) (AP Politics)
- Charges: 2 gave kids sleep supplement at day care (AP) (AP National News)
- Both Parties Pursue New Earmark Limits (CQPolitics.com) (AP Politics)
- First lady pushes healthy kids campaign forward (AP) (AP Politics)
- Female WWII aviators honored with gold medal (AP) (AP Politics)
- If Obama can win Nobel, why not (your name here)? Nominations rise (Reuters) (AP Politics)
- Obama pushing on health care end game (AP) (AP Politics)
- Mass. court upholds state gun-lock requirement (AP) (AP National News)
About KnoxViews
Your secure donation helps support this site.
Search
Popular today
Popular this week
TN Progressive All-Stars
- BlountViews
- Crone Speaks
- Cup of Joe Powell
- Left Wing Cracker
- Liberadio(!)
- Newscoma
- OpenPen
- Pith in the Wind
- RoaneViews
- Sean Braisted
- Sharon Cobb
- Silence Isn't Golden
- Southern Beale
- Speak to Power
- TennViews
- Tiny Cat Pants
- TN Guerilla Women
- Vibinc
- WhitesCreek Journal
Nearby:
- AC Entertainment
- Ackermann Digital
- Blount Dems
- Carole Borges
- Craig Thomas
- David Oatney
- Discover ET
- Domestic Psychology
- Dwight Van de Vate
- Ellen Smith
- Farragut West Knox Net
- Fletch
- Fort Sanders
- Frank Murphy
- Gene Patterson
- Home/Work
- Infomaniac
- Instapundit
- Jack Lail
- Jack McElroy
- Jim Stovall
- Jonathan Hickman
- Julie Patchouli
- Knox Blog Buzz
- Knox Dems
- Knox Trivia
- KnoxBlab
- Knoxify
- KnoxPatch
- Knoxvillager
- Last Home
- Left of the Dial
- Les Jones
- Long Pauses
- Lynn Point Records
- MamaPundit
- Michael Grider
- Michael Silence
- MoxCarm Blue Streak
- Mushy's Moochings
- Phyllis Patterson
- Pittman Properties
- Property Scope
- Randall Brown
- Reality Me
- Resonance
- Rikki Hall
- Rob Huddleston
- School Matters
- Shane Rhyne
- Snark Bites
- Stacey Campfield
- Suzy Trotta
- Tabloid Boy
- Team Swap
- Terry Frank
- Thirteen Letters
- TN Clean Water
- Tom Humphrey
- Tri Cities
- Wendy Pitts Reeves
- Yellow Dog
Beyond:
- 10,000 Monkeys
- AC Kleinheider
- Andy Axel
- BlogNetNews TN
- Chris Jackson
- Daily Docket
- Democracy for TN
- Democratic Talk Radio
- Enclave
- Ginger Snaps
- Just Wonderin'
- Lean Left
- Lynnster Zone
- Mark Brown
- Nashville is Talking
- NewsTechZilla
- Pesky Fly
- Planet Rye
- Quiet Life
- Smart City Memphis
- Southern Liberal Living
- Sugarfused
- TN 4th District
- TN Dems
- TN Ticket
- TN Trivia
- TN Women's Caucus
- Volunteer Report
- West TN Liberal
- Your Liberal Friends
- Bob Stepno
- Dope on the Slope
- Facing South
- Great Smoky
- GTTim
- Hillbilly Savants
- Lovable Liberal
- Newsrack
- Opinari
- Wandering Hillbilly
At large:
- Agonist
- Alterdestiny
- American Street
- Atrios
- Burnt Orange Report
- Buzzflash
- Carpetbagger Report
- College Dems
- Common Cause
- Crooks and Liars
- Daily Kos
- Democratic Strategist
- Democrats.org
- Digby's Hullabaloo
- DSCC
- Eccentricity
- Huffington Post
- Lefty Blogs
- Liberal Oasis
- Media Matters
- MyDD
- Open Secrets
- Pam's House Blend
- Political Wire
- Politico
- Progressive States
- Seeing the Forest
- Senate Guru
- Skippy the Bush Kangaroo
- Suburban Guerrilla
- Swing State Project
- Talk Left
- Talking Points Memo
- Think Progress
- Truthdig
Government:
- City of Knoxville
- Homeless Ten Year Plan
- Knox Co Commission
- Knox County
- Knox County Code
- Knoxville Code
- State of Tennessee
- TN Code Annotated
- TN General Assembly
- U.S. House
- U.S. Senate
- U.S. Thomas LoC
- UT CTAS
- UT MTAS



Go get em Scott.
Go get em Scott.
Mr. Buttram, the latest TVA scapegoat!
This is an outrageous attempt by TVA to conceal the facts and put the blame on their newest engineer, a person who had not even seen the schematics of this unlined, overloaded 'pond'. Further, this pond had failed inspections for 10 YEARS, both by its own inspectors and outside engineers. The fact that Mr. Buttram could see the flaws, the threats of a spill, even with no drawings, etc, is the very reason his report was 'removed', and re-written! I actually have a good friend who has original drawings and worked on these unlined ponds...it shouldn't be that hard for plantiffs' lawyers to find the truth.
And TVA is now claiming it had "set aside" $800 million to build a natural gas plant near Rogersville, next door to ANOTHER ash pond! And it has also applied to build a new 'mini-nuke' reactor on the Clinch River from Kingston where fish glow in the dark!
The management and Board of TVA have gone far from the environmental stewards it once tried to be. Today it is all about the money! And the sad fact is that TVA is still denying it is at fault...so it won't have to take care of all the sick folks and survivors out on Swan Pond Road and downstream from Kingston.
Missing field notes are the
Missing field notes are the tip of the iceberg. Maybe someday someone will care about the ethics and accountability that vanished from TVA long ago.
The dogmas of the quiet past, are inadequate to the stormy present.
President Abraham Lincoln 1862
Snark
TVA Tries Sending Inspection Reports Directly to Landfills
Field notes, press releases to go immediately to dump, too
From APB reports. KNOXVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Environment Oversight, in the Sense of Overlooking, Not Overseeing (TDEOSONO) has approved test runs of four area landfills for the disposal of inspection reports, public-information documents and other materials related to the Dec. 22 coal fly-ash spill at the Tennessee Valley Authority's Kingston Fossil Plant.
In a statement issued Wednesday, TDEOSONO spokeswoman Trisha Cabrini-Green said TVA would be permitted to send five to 10 truckloads of reports and public-access documents - as well as any investigative journalism stories TVA successfully stonewalls - to each landfill under the agreement. The failure of a coal-ash disposal pond at the Kingston power plant dumped 5.4 million cubic yards of reports, memos and press releases - enough to fill 450,000 dump trucks - into the surrounding communities.
Cabrini-Green said that after the revelation that the field notes of the inspector who was the last to scrutinize the coal-ash pond at the Kingston Fossil Plant disappeared from his desk, TDEOSONO decided to bow to reality and start allowing TVA to begin sending materials relevant to the disaster directly to landfills.
Cliff Buttersquash, a Tennessee Valley Authority engineer, said in a deposition that his Oct. 22, 2008, inspection of the fly ash pond was the first he'd ever conducted, and while he responded to the Dec. 22 collapse at the facility, the notes disappeared. He specifically and emphatically stated in his deposition testimony that he had not taken the notes with invisible ink...
continued
Post new comment