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A Maryville man is dead after a fiery wreck on Saturday morning, according to a Tennessee Highway Patrol accident report.More >> A Maryville man is dead after a fiery wreck on Saturday morning, according to a Tennessee Highway Patrol accident report.More >> First lady Michelle Obama has some advice for some Tennessee high school graduates: strike your own path in college and life and work to overcome inevitable failures with determination and grit.More >> First lady Michelle Obama has some advice for some Tennessee high school graduates: strike your own path in college and life and work to overcome inevitable failures with determination and grit.More >> Prior to Saturday's $600 million Powerball jackpot drawing, people in Knoxville were talking about how they would spend that kind of money if they were to win.More >> Prior to Saturday's $600 million Powerball jackpot drawing, people in Knoxville were talking about how they would spend that kind of money if they were to win.More >> The International Biscuit Festival made its way to Knoxville this week, wrapping up on Saturday.More >> It's one of the most delicious times of year once again, as downtown Knoxville is transformed into a biscuit-lovers paradise. The International Biscuit Festival made its way back to town this week, wrapping up on Saturday.More >> A judge has sentenced a Clarksville woman convicted of assault for pouring hot oatmeal on her husband to diversion.More >> A judge has sentenced a Clarksville woman convicted of assault for pouring hot oatmeal on her husband to diversion.More >> U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander says the Tennessee Valley Authority will help keep a federal fish hatchery in East Tennessee stay open for at least three more years.More >> U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander says the Tennessee Valley Authority will help keep a federal fish hatchery in East Tennessee stay open for at least three more years.More >> Kenny Hall, former Vol basketball player is talking about his dealings with a University of Tennessee administrator in trouble for possible inappropriate relationships with student athletes.More >> Kenny Hall, former Vol basketball player is talking about his dealings with a University of Tennessee administrator in trouble for possible inappropriate relationships with student athletes.More >> A Kentucky veteran who was working as a civilian contractor in Afghanistan has died in an explosion in Kabul that killed at least 15 people including six Americans.More >> A Kentucky veteran who was working as a civilian contractor in Afghanistan has died in an explosion in Kabul that killed at least 15 people including six Americans.More >> A gang leader has been sentenced to serve more than 78 years in a federal prison for his role in three armed home invasion robberies in Nashville.More >> A gang leader has been sentenced to serve more than 78 years in a federal prison for his role in three armed home invasion robberies in Nashville.More >> A traffic crash in Memphis has thrown several children out of vehicles near a school.More >> Officials say a morning traffic crash in Memphis injured children who were ejected from a vehicle.More >>
NASHVILLE (AP) - The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has told the Tennessee Valley Authority that sand baskets installed at four TVA dams to protect downstream nuclear facilities are acceptable temporarily, but not as a long-term solution.
The NRC letter obtained by The Tennessean said the baskets might not withstand the impact of large debris in a potential flood overflow that a TVA spokesman described Thursday as "the flood event that we have never ever seen before."
NRC spokesman Roger Hannah said the sand-filled, wire mesh baskets placed around Cherokee, Fort Loudoun, Tellico and Watts Bar dams and earthen embankments are related to flood studies and TVA's planned Bellefonte reactor in northeast Alabama.
TVA spokesman Travis Brickey said possible long-term alternatives include extending the tops of dams with concrete.
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