Nuclear power tile

NASHVILLE - A recent congressional study shows Tennessee's nuclear plants had a total of 258 safety violations between 2000 and 2012.

The Associated Press obtained a copy of the Government Accountability Office report that's awaiting release.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission figures cited in the report show the Sequoyah plant in Soddy-Daisy had 125 violations, of which all but two were lower-level violations. Watts Bar in Spring City had 133 violations. Only three were higher-level status.

According to the report, while the West has the fewest reactors, it had the most lower-level violations during that time period, more than two-and-a-half times the Southeast's rate per reactor.

The Southeast, with the most reactors of the NRC's four regions, had the fewest such violations.