TVA: Things that make you go hmmmm....

This article was found on WBIR. Dated July 23, 2008.

Here are some excerpts...
The Tennessee Valley Authority skirted environmental regulations when upgrading its coal plants, causing it to illegally emit a million tons of pollutants over the past two decades, according to a former EPA official.

The Environmental Protection Agency cracked down on other utilities that tried the same maneuvers, but in TVA's case, the EPA stopped short of suing because of a longstanding practice of not taking other federal agencies to court, said Bruce C. Buckheit, EPA air enforcement director from 1996 to 2003.

While some utilities were taken to court, the U.S. Department of Justice wouldn't prosecute (TVA) because of its federal status.

HELLOOOOO! What's wrong with this picture?!!!!!

And how do you like this gem from a 2003 Supreme Court ruling...

"There is no case or controversy between TVA and EPA. This case fits comfortably within the general rule that a dispute between two government agencies whose heads serve at the pleasure of the President does not result in a justiciable "case or controversy." Indeed, the court of appeals accepted that "both EPA's Administrator and TVA's board serve at the pleasure of the President." Pet. App. 85a. EPA is a government agency, whose Administrator serves an indefinite term by appointment of the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. See Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1970, § 1(b), 5 U.S.C. App. at 184. TVA, a government corporation, is headed by a three-person board whose members serve fixed, nine-year terms by appointment of the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. 16 U.S.C. 831a(a) and (b). As this Court has explained, "[i]n the absence of specific provision to the contrary, the power of removal from office is incident to the power of appointment." Keim v. United States, 177 U.S. 290, 293 (1900). Because there is no such "specific provision to the contrary" in TVA's charter, the members of TVA's Board accordingly may be removed by the President at will. See Morgan v. TVA, 115 F.2d 990 (6th Cir. 1940), cert. denied, 312 U.S. 701 (1941).

Isn't it well PAST time that TVA became a private utility like other utilities in the nation?

The EPA having any say whatsoever over TVA is a JOKE!!!

There is NO regulation. There is NO accountability.

Since the head of TVA serves at the "pleasure of the president" if it please, President Obama, it's time Kilgore and the entire TVA board, left the building!

It's time TVA ceased to be a government corporation.