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Where Is America's Fukushima

WHERE IS AMERICA'S FUKUSHIMA? Each year at the typical U.S. nuclear plant, there's a 1 in 74,176 chance of an earthquake strong enough to cause damage to the reactor's core. But an earthquake isn't the only threat. A tremblor coupled with a tsunami like the one that hit Fukushima Daiichi could cause catastrophic damage to nuclear plants. Since the disaster at Fukushima, there's been a lot of speculating about U.S. nuclear sites at risk for a major earthquake. Here, we take a look at which might fall victim to a tsunami scenario like Japan experienced. AT-RISK NUCLEAR SITES HIGH SEISMIC RISK (%g)* POPULATION WITHIN 50 MILES OF NUCLEAR PLANTS 3,000,000- 4,999,999 1-999,999 5,000,000+ 1,000,000- 2,999,999 64%+ 48-64% 32-48% PACIFIC COAST SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION San Clemente, CA NUMBER OF REACTORS..... 2 GULF COAST ATLANTIC COAST OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED. 1982 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 9,468,825 SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT TURKEY POINT NUCLEAR ELECTRIC GENERATING POWER PLANT GREATEST TSUNAMI RISK STATION Homestead, FL Bay City, TX The greatest risk of a tsunami- earthquake combination like we saw in Japan is in California. The San Onofre plant's close proximity to the ocean and high-risk seismic activity could prove to be a deadly combination NUMBER OF REACTORS ..... 2 NUMBER OF REACTORS 2 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1972, 1973 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED... 1988,1989 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 3,383,332 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ..... 298,473 ST. LUCIE NUCLEAR CRYSTAL RIVER NUCLEAR POWER PLANT POWER PLANT Jensen Beach, FL for the almost 10 million Crystal River, FL NUMBER OF REACTORS.... ....... 2 peoplewho live nearby. NUMBER OF REACTORS 1 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1976, 1983 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED. POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 1976 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 1,070,699 974,647 DIABLO CANYON POWER PLANT Avila Beach, CA BRUNSWICK NUMBER OF REACTORS 2 NUCLEAR PLANT CALVERT CLIFFS NUCLEAR OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1984, 1985 Southport, NC POWER PLANT POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. .,... 437,333 NUMBER OF REACTORS Lusby, MD OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1974, 1976 NUMBER OF REACTORS 2 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ..... 420,186 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1974, 1976 COLUMBIA GENERATING POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 3,367,816 STATION OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR Richland, WA GENERATING STATION SALEM NUCLEAR NUMBER OF REACTORS 1 Forked Creek, NJ POWER PLANT OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED....... 1984 NUMBER OF REACTORS 1 Hancock Bridge, NJ POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ..... 404,163 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED. 1991 NUMBER OF REACTORS POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. 4,022,131 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1976, 1981 GREATEST SUBDUCTION RISK POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 5,666,258 There is only one subduction zone in the continental U.S. (a subduction zone is one where tectonic plates can move under one another causing major earthquakes and/or tsunamis) The Cascadia subduction zone lies off INDIAN POINT ENERGY CENTER MILLSTONE POWER Buchanan, NY STATION NUMBER OF REACTORS .............. 2 Waterford, CT OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED. 1973, 1975 NUMBER OF REACTORS ........ 2 the coast of Northern California, Oregon and Washington. Outside of the Cascadia subduction zone, earth- quakes aren't expected to exceed mag- nitude 8. POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. .. 17,452,585 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1975, 1986 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 2,967,673 HISTORY OF RISK PILGRIM NUCLEAR • Last year, 600,000 gallons of boiling radioactive water escaped through an open valve as steam. GENERATING STATION Plymouth, MA NUMBER OF REACTORS..... OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED...... POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 4,610,713 • Last year, an electric transformer exploded. 1972 POPULAR THREAT Though it's not directly at risk for major earthquake or tsu- nami, the Indian Point Energy Center is one of highest-risk nuclear plants in the country. The power plant provides up to 30% of elec- tricity for New York City and Westchester County, making it essential to local energy supply. However, it's situated just 24 miles from NYC and has more than 17 million • The plant's cooling system has increased the temperature of the surrounding Hudson River by 15 degrees on several SEABROOK STATION POWER PLANT occasions. Seabrook, NH NUMBER OF REACTORS ..... 1 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED. 1990 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 4,187,095 people within 50 miles. A Columbia University study concludes that the plant lies astride a previously unknown intersection of two seismic zones. The study suggests there is a 1.5% chance that a 7.0 magnitude quake would occur in the next 50 years – * LEVELS OF HORIZONTAL SHAKING THAT HAVE A 2-IN-100 CHANCE OF BEING EXCEEDED IN A 50-YEAR PERIOD 32 times what the reactor is designed to withstand. THREAT NO. 1: EARTHQUAKE OR TSUNAMI? JAPAN'S SUBDUCTION QUAKE Tsunami modeling teams estimate the wave at Fukushima Daiichi reached approximately 8 meters tall. Though the plants sustained some damage from the shaking, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Com- mission says the tsunami in Japan played a key role in the loss of power at the site, producing a station blackout that was the source of many ongoing problems. The March 11 earthquake occurred on a subduction zone, a type of tectonic region that produces earthquakes of the strongest magnitude. A subduction zone is where one tectonic plate is pushed under another plate. A powerful earthquake in a coastal subduction zone has the potential to generate a tsunami. 12 10 8 6. AVERAGE 4-STORY BUILDING = 12 METERS 1BOG.org GROUP DISCOUNTS ON SOLAR SOURCES U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION, USGS, THE DAILY BEAST, BBC, REUTERS WHERE IS AMERICA'S FUKUSHIMA? Each year at the typical U.S. nuclear plant, there's a 1 in 74,176 chance of an earthquake strong enough to cause damage to the reactor's core. But an earthquake isn't the only threat. A tremblor coupled with a tsunami like the one that hit Fukushima Daiichi could cause catastrophic damage to nuclear plants. Since the disaster at Fukushima, there's been a lot of speculating about U.S. nuclear sites at risk for a major earthquake. Here, we take a look at which might fall victim to a tsunami scenario like Japan experienced. AT-RISK NUCLEAR SITES HIGH SEISMIC RISK (%g)* POPULATION WITHIN 50 MILES OF NUCLEAR PLANTS 3,000,000- 4,999,999 1-999,999 5,000,000+ 1,000,000- 2,999,999 64%+ 48-64% 32-48% PACIFIC COAST SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION San Clemente, CA NUMBER OF REACTORS..... 2 GULF COAST ATLANTIC COAST OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED. 1982 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 9,468,825 SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT TURKEY POINT NUCLEAR ELECTRIC GENERATING POWER PLANT GREATEST TSUNAMI RISK STATION Homestead, FL Bay City, TX The greatest risk of a tsunami- earthquake combination like we saw in Japan is in California. The San Onofre plant's close proximity to the ocean and high-risk seismic activity could prove to be a deadly combination NUMBER OF REACTORS ..... 2 NUMBER OF REACTORS 2 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1972, 1973 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED... 1988,1989 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 3,383,332 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ..... 298,473 ST. LUCIE NUCLEAR CRYSTAL RIVER NUCLEAR POWER PLANT POWER PLANT Jensen Beach, FL for the almost 10 million Crystal River, FL NUMBER OF REACTORS.... ....... 2 peoplewho live nearby. NUMBER OF REACTORS 1 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1976, 1983 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED. POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 1976 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 1,070,699 974,647 DIABLO CANYON POWER PLANT Avila Beach, CA BRUNSWICK NUMBER OF REACTORS 2 NUCLEAR PLANT CALVERT CLIFFS NUCLEAR OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1984, 1985 Southport, NC POWER PLANT POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. .,... 437,333 NUMBER OF REACTORS Lusby, MD OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1974, 1976 NUMBER OF REACTORS 2 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ..... 420,186 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1974, 1976 COLUMBIA GENERATING POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 3,367,816 STATION OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR Richland, WA GENERATING STATION SALEM NUCLEAR NUMBER OF REACTORS 1 Forked Creek, NJ POWER PLANT OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED....... 1984 NUMBER OF REACTORS 1 Hancock Bridge, NJ POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ..... 404,163 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED. 1991 NUMBER OF REACTORS POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. 4,022,131 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1976, 1981 GREATEST SUBDUCTION RISK POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 5,666,258 There is only one subduction zone in the continental U.S. (a subduction zone is one where tectonic plates can move under one another causing major earthquakes and/or tsunamis) The Cascadia subduction zone lies off INDIAN POINT ENERGY CENTER MILLSTONE POWER Buchanan, NY STATION NUMBER OF REACTORS .............. 2 Waterford, CT OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED. 1973, 1975 NUMBER OF REACTORS ........ 2 the coast of Northern California, Oregon and Washington. Outside of the Cascadia subduction zone, earth- quakes aren't expected to exceed mag- nitude 8. POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. .. 17,452,585 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1975, 1986 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 2,967,673 HISTORY OF RISK PILGRIM NUCLEAR • Last year, 600,000 gallons of boiling radioactive water escaped through an open valve as steam. GENERATING STATION Plymouth, MA NUMBER OF REACTORS..... OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED...... POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 4,610,713 • Last year, an electric transformer exploded. 1972 POPULAR THREAT Though it's not directly at risk for major earthquake or tsu- nami, the Indian Point Energy Center is one of highest-risk nuclear plants in the country. The power plant provides up to 30% of elec- tricity for New York City and Westchester County, making it essential to local energy supply. However, it's situated just 24 miles from NYC and has more than 17 million • The plant's cooling system has increased the temperature of the surrounding Hudson River by 15 degrees on several SEABROOK STATION POWER PLANT occasions. Seabrook, NH NUMBER OF REACTORS ..... 1 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED. 1990 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 4,187,095 people within 50 miles. A Columbia University study concludes that the plant lies astride a previously unknown intersection of two seismic zones. The study suggests there is a 1.5% chance that a 7.0 magnitude quake would occur in the next 50 years – * LEVELS OF HORIZONTAL SHAKING THAT HAVE A 2-IN-100 CHANCE OF BEING EXCEEDED IN A 50-YEAR PERIOD 32 times what the reactor is designed to withstand. THREAT NO. 1: EARTHQUAKE OR TSUNAMI? JAPAN'S SUBDUCTION QUAKE Tsunami modeling teams estimate the wave at Fukushima Daiichi reached approximately 8 meters tall. Though the plants sustained some damage from the shaking, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Com- mission says the tsunami in Japan played a key role in the loss of power at the site, producing a station blackout that was the source of many ongoing problems. The March 11 earthquake occurred on a subduction zone, a type of tectonic region that produces earthquakes of the strongest magnitude. A subduction zone is where one tectonic plate is pushed under another plate. A powerful earthquake in a coastal subduction zone has the potential to generate a tsunami. 12 10 8 6. AVERAGE 4-STORY BUILDING = 12 METERS 1BOG.org GROUP DISCOUNTS ON SOLAR SOURCES U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION, USGS, THE DAILY BEAST, BBC, REUTERS WHERE IS AMERICA'S FUKUSHIMA? Each year at the typical U.S. nuclear plant, there's a 1 in 74,176 chance of an earthquake strong enough to cause damage to the reactor's core. But an earthquake isn't the only threat. A tremblor coupled with a tsunami like the one that hit Fukushima Daiichi could cause catastrophic damage to nuclear plants. Since the disaster at Fukushima, there's been a lot of speculating about U.S. nuclear sites at risk for a major earthquake. Here, we take a look at which might fall victim to a tsunami scenario like Japan experienced. AT-RISK NUCLEAR SITES HIGH SEISMIC RISK (%g)* POPULATION WITHIN 50 MILES OF NUCLEAR PLANTS 3,000,000- 4,999,999 1-999,999 5,000,000+ 1,000,000- 2,999,999 64%+ 48-64% 32-48% PACIFIC COAST SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION San Clemente, CA NUMBER OF REACTORS..... 2 GULF COAST ATLANTIC COAST OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED. 1982 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 9,468,825 SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT TURKEY POINT NUCLEAR ELECTRIC GENERATING POWER PLANT GREATEST TSUNAMI RISK STATION Homestead, FL Bay City, TX The greatest risk of a tsunami- earthquake combination like we saw in Japan is in California. The San Onofre plant's close proximity to the ocean and high-risk seismic activity could prove to be a deadly combination NUMBER OF REACTORS ..... 2 NUMBER OF REACTORS 2 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1972, 1973 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED... 1988,1989 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 3,383,332 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ..... 298,473 ST. LUCIE NUCLEAR CRYSTAL RIVER NUCLEAR POWER PLANT POWER PLANT Jensen Beach, FL for the almost 10 million Crystal River, FL NUMBER OF REACTORS.... ....... 2 peoplewho live nearby. NUMBER OF REACTORS 1 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1976, 1983 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED. POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 1976 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 1,070,699 974,647 DIABLO CANYON POWER PLANT Avila Beach, CA BRUNSWICK NUMBER OF REACTORS 2 NUCLEAR PLANT CALVERT CLIFFS NUCLEAR OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1984, 1985 Southport, NC POWER PLANT POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. .,... 437,333 NUMBER OF REACTORS Lusby, MD OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1974, 1976 NUMBER OF REACTORS 2 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ..... 420,186 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1974, 1976 COLUMBIA GENERATING POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 3,367,816 STATION OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR Richland, WA GENERATING STATION SALEM NUCLEAR NUMBER OF REACTORS 1 Forked Creek, NJ POWER PLANT OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED....... 1984 NUMBER OF REACTORS 1 Hancock Bridge, NJ POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ..... 404,163 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED. 1991 NUMBER OF REACTORS POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. 4,022,131 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1976, 1981 GREATEST SUBDUCTION RISK POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 5,666,258 There is only one subduction zone in the continental U.S. (a subduction zone is one where tectonic plates can move under one another causing major earthquakes and/or tsunamis) The Cascadia subduction zone lies off INDIAN POINT ENERGY CENTER MILLSTONE POWER Buchanan, NY STATION NUMBER OF REACTORS .............. 2 Waterford, CT OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED. 1973, 1975 NUMBER OF REACTORS ........ 2 the coast of Northern California, Oregon and Washington. Outside of the Cascadia subduction zone, earth- quakes aren't expected to exceed mag- nitude 8. POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. .. 17,452,585 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1975, 1986 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 2,967,673 HISTORY OF RISK PILGRIM NUCLEAR • Last year, 600,000 gallons of boiling radioactive water escaped through an open valve as steam. GENERATING STATION Plymouth, MA NUMBER OF REACTORS..... OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED...... POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 4,610,713 • Last year, an electric transformer exploded. 1972 POPULAR THREAT Though it's not directly at risk for major earthquake or tsu- nami, the Indian Point Energy Center is one of highest-risk nuclear plants in the country. The power plant provides up to 30% of elec- tricity for New York City and Westchester County, making it essential to local energy supply. However, it's situated just 24 miles from NYC and has more than 17 million • The plant's cooling system has increased the temperature of the surrounding Hudson River by 15 degrees on several SEABROOK STATION POWER PLANT occasions. Seabrook, NH NUMBER OF REACTORS ..... 1 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED. 1990 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 4,187,095 people within 50 miles. A Columbia University study concludes that the plant lies astride a previously unknown intersection of two seismic zones. The study suggests there is a 1.5% chance that a 7.0 magnitude quake would occur in the next 50 years – * LEVELS OF HORIZONTAL SHAKING THAT HAVE A 2-IN-100 CHANCE OF BEING EXCEEDED IN A 50-YEAR PERIOD 32 times what the reactor is designed to withstand. THREAT NO. 1: EARTHQUAKE OR TSUNAMI? JAPAN'S SUBDUCTION QUAKE Tsunami modeling teams estimate the wave at Fukushima Daiichi reached approximately 8 meters tall. Though the plants sustained some damage from the shaking, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Com- mission says the tsunami in Japan played a key role in the loss of power at the site, producing a station blackout that was the source of many ongoing problems. The March 11 earthquake occurred on a subduction zone, a type of tectonic region that produces earthquakes of the strongest magnitude. A subduction zone is where one tectonic plate is pushed under another plate. A powerful earthquake in a coastal subduction zone has the potential to generate a tsunami. 12 10 8 6. AVERAGE 4-STORY BUILDING = 12 METERS 1BOG.org GROUP DISCOUNTS ON SOLAR SOURCES U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION, USGS, THE DAILY BEAST, BBC, REUTERS WHERE IS AMERICA'S FUKUSHIMA? Each year at the typical U.S. nuclear plant, there's a 1 in 74,176 chance of an earthquake strong enough to cause damage to the reactor's core. But an earthquake isn't the only threat. A tremblor coupled with a tsunami like the one that hit Fukushima Daiichi could cause catastrophic damage to nuclear plants. Since the disaster at Fukushima, there's been a lot of speculating about U.S. nuclear sites at risk for a major earthquake. Here, we take a look at which might fall victim to a tsunami scenario like Japan experienced. AT-RISK NUCLEAR SITES HIGH SEISMIC RISK (%g)* POPULATION WITHIN 50 MILES OF NUCLEAR PLANTS 3,000,000- 4,999,999 1-999,999 5,000,000+ 1,000,000- 2,999,999 64%+ 48-64% 32-48% PACIFIC COAST SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION San Clemente, CA NUMBER OF REACTORS..... 2 GULF COAST ATLANTIC COAST OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED. 1982 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 9,468,825 SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT TURKEY POINT NUCLEAR ELECTRIC GENERATING POWER PLANT GREATEST TSUNAMI RISK STATION Homestead, FL Bay City, TX The greatest risk of a tsunami- earthquake combination like we saw in Japan is in California. The San Onofre plant's close proximity to the ocean and high-risk seismic activity could prove to be a deadly combination NUMBER OF REACTORS ..... 2 NUMBER OF REACTORS 2 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1972, 1973 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED... 1988,1989 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 3,383,332 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ..... 298,473 ST. LUCIE NUCLEAR CRYSTAL RIVER NUCLEAR POWER PLANT POWER PLANT Jensen Beach, FL for the almost 10 million Crystal River, FL NUMBER OF REACTORS.... ....... 2 peoplewho live nearby. NUMBER OF REACTORS 1 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1976, 1983 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED. POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 1976 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 1,070,699 974,647 DIABLO CANYON POWER PLANT Avila Beach, CA BRUNSWICK NUMBER OF REACTORS 2 NUCLEAR PLANT CALVERT CLIFFS NUCLEAR OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1984, 1985 Southport, NC POWER PLANT POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. .,... 437,333 NUMBER OF REACTORS Lusby, MD OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1974, 1976 NUMBER OF REACTORS 2 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ..... 420,186 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1974, 1976 COLUMBIA GENERATING POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 3,367,816 STATION OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR Richland, WA GENERATING STATION SALEM NUCLEAR NUMBER OF REACTORS 1 Forked Creek, NJ POWER PLANT OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED....... 1984 NUMBER OF REACTORS 1 Hancock Bridge, NJ POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ..... 404,163 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED. 1991 NUMBER OF REACTORS POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. 4,022,131 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1976, 1981 GREATEST SUBDUCTION RISK POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 5,666,258 There is only one subduction zone in the continental U.S. (a subduction zone is one where tectonic plates can move under one another causing major earthquakes and/or tsunamis) The Cascadia subduction zone lies off INDIAN POINT ENERGY CENTER MILLSTONE POWER Buchanan, NY STATION NUMBER OF REACTORS .............. 2 Waterford, CT OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED. 1973, 1975 NUMBER OF REACTORS ........ 2 the coast of Northern California, Oregon and Washington. Outside of the Cascadia subduction zone, earth- quakes aren't expected to exceed mag- nitude 8. POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. .. 17,452,585 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1975, 1986 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 2,967,673 HISTORY OF RISK PILGRIM NUCLEAR • Last year, 600,000 gallons of boiling radioactive water escaped through an open valve as steam. GENERATING STATION Plymouth, MA NUMBER OF REACTORS..... OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED...... POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 4,610,713 • Last year, an electric transformer exploded. 1972 POPULAR THREAT Though it's not directly at risk for major earthquake or tsu- nami, the Indian Point Energy Center is one of highest-risk nuclear plants in the country. The power plant provides up to 30% of elec- tricity for New York City and Westchester County, making it essential to local energy supply. However, it's situated just 24 miles from NYC and has more than 17 million • The plant's cooling system has increased the temperature of the surrounding Hudson River by 15 degrees on several SEABROOK STATION POWER PLANT occasions. Seabrook, NH NUMBER OF REACTORS ..... 1 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED. 1990 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 4,187,095 people within 50 miles. A Columbia University study concludes that the plant lies astride a previously unknown intersection of two seismic zones. The study suggests there is a 1.5% chance that a 7.0 magnitude quake would occur in the next 50 years – * LEVELS OF HORIZONTAL SHAKING THAT HAVE A 2-IN-100 CHANCE OF BEING EXCEEDED IN A 50-YEAR PERIOD 32 times what the reactor is designed to withstand. THREAT NO. 1: EARTHQUAKE OR TSUNAMI? JAPAN'S SUBDUCTION QUAKE Tsunami modeling teams estimate the wave at Fukushima Daiichi reached approximately 8 meters tall. Though the plants sustained some damage from the shaking, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Com- mission says the tsunami in Japan played a key role in the loss of power at the site, producing a station blackout that was the source of many ongoing problems. The March 11 earthquake occurred on a subduction zone, a type of tectonic region that produces earthquakes of the strongest magnitude. A subduction zone is where one tectonic plate is pushed under another plate. A powerful earthquake in a coastal subduction zone has the potential to generate a tsunami. 12 10 8 6. AVERAGE 4-STORY BUILDING = 12 METERS 1BOG.org GROUP DISCOUNTS ON SOLAR SOURCES U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION, USGS, THE DAILY BEAST, BBC, REUTERS WHERE IS AMERICA'S FUKUSHIMA? Each year at the typical U.S. nuclear plant, there's a 1 in 74,176 chance of an earthquake strong enough to cause damage to the reactor's core. But an earthquake isn't the only threat. A tremblor coupled with a tsunami like the one that hit Fukushima Daiichi could cause catastrophic damage to nuclear plants. Since the disaster at Fukushima, there's been a lot of speculating about U.S. nuclear sites at risk for a major earthquake. Here, we take a look at which might fall victim to a tsunami scenario like Japan experienced. AT-RISK NUCLEAR SITES HIGH SEISMIC RISK (%g)* POPULATION WITHIN 50 MILES OF NUCLEAR PLANTS 3,000,000- 4,999,999 1-999,999 5,000,000+ 1,000,000- 2,999,999 64%+ 48-64% 32-48% PACIFIC COAST SAN ONOFRE NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION San Clemente, CA NUMBER OF REACTORS..... 2 GULF COAST ATLANTIC COAST OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED. 1982 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 9,468,825 SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT TURKEY POINT NUCLEAR ELECTRIC GENERATING POWER PLANT GREATEST TSUNAMI RISK STATION Homestead, FL Bay City, TX The greatest risk of a tsunami- earthquake combination like we saw in Japan is in California. The San Onofre plant's close proximity to the ocean and high-risk seismic activity could prove to be a deadly combination NUMBER OF REACTORS ..... 2 NUMBER OF REACTORS 2 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1972, 1973 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED... 1988,1989 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 3,383,332 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ..... 298,473 ST. LUCIE NUCLEAR CRYSTAL RIVER NUCLEAR POWER PLANT POWER PLANT Jensen Beach, FL for the almost 10 million Crystal River, FL NUMBER OF REACTORS.... ....... 2 peoplewho live nearby. NUMBER OF REACTORS 1 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1976, 1983 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED. POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 1976 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 1,070,699 974,647 DIABLO CANYON POWER PLANT Avila Beach, CA BRUNSWICK NUMBER OF REACTORS 2 NUCLEAR PLANT CALVERT CLIFFS NUCLEAR OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1984, 1985 Southport, NC POWER PLANT POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. .,... 437,333 NUMBER OF REACTORS Lusby, MD OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1974, 1976 NUMBER OF REACTORS 2 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ..... 420,186 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1974, 1976 COLUMBIA GENERATING POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 3,367,816 STATION OYSTER CREEK NUCLEAR Richland, WA GENERATING STATION SALEM NUCLEAR NUMBER OF REACTORS 1 Forked Creek, NJ POWER PLANT OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED....... 1984 NUMBER OF REACTORS 1 Hancock Bridge, NJ POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ..... 404,163 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED. 1991 NUMBER OF REACTORS POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. 4,022,131 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1976, 1981 GREATEST SUBDUCTION RISK POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 5,666,258 There is only one subduction zone in the continental U.S. (a subduction zone is one where tectonic plates can move under one another causing major earthquakes and/or tsunamis) The Cascadia subduction zone lies off INDIAN POINT ENERGY CENTER MILLSTONE POWER Buchanan, NY STATION NUMBER OF REACTORS .............. 2 Waterford, CT OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED. 1973, 1975 NUMBER OF REACTORS ........ 2 the coast of Northern California, Oregon and Washington. Outside of the Cascadia subduction zone, earth- quakes aren't expected to exceed mag- nitude 8. POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. .. 17,452,585 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED.. 1975, 1986 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 2,967,673 HISTORY OF RISK PILGRIM NUCLEAR • Last year, 600,000 gallons of boiling radioactive water escaped through an open valve as steam. GENERATING STATION Plymouth, MA NUMBER OF REACTORS..... OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED...... POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 4,610,713 • Last year, an electric transformer exploded. 1972 POPULAR THREAT Though it's not directly at risk for major earthquake or tsu- nami, the Indian Point Energy Center is one of highest-risk nuclear plants in the country. The power plant provides up to 30% of elec- tricity for New York City and Westchester County, making it essential to local energy supply. However, it's situated just 24 miles from NYC and has more than 17 million • The plant's cooling system has increased the temperature of the surrounding Hudson River by 15 degrees on several SEABROOK STATION POWER PLANT occasions. Seabrook, NH NUMBER OF REACTORS ..... 1 OPERATING LICENSES ISSUED. 1990 POPULATION WITHIN 50 MI. ... 4,187,095 people within 50 miles. A Columbia University study concludes that the plant lies astride a previously unknown intersection of two seismic zones. The study suggests there is a 1.5% chance that a 7.0 magnitude quake would occur in the next 50 years – * LEVELS OF HORIZONTAL SHAKING THAT HAVE A 2-IN-100 CHANCE OF BEING EXCEEDED IN A 50-YEAR PERIOD 32 times what the reactor is designed to withstand. THREAT NO. 1: EARTHQUAKE OR TSUNAMI? JAPAN'S SUBDUCTION QUAKE Tsunami modeling teams estimate the wave at Fukushima Daiichi reached approximately 8 meters tall. Though the plants sustained some damage from the shaking, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Com- mission says the tsunami in Japan played a key role in the loss of power at the site, producing a station blackout that was the source of many ongoing problems. The March 11 earthquake occurred on a subduction zone, a type of tectonic region that produces earthquakes of the strongest magnitude. A subduction zone is where one tectonic plate is pushed under another plate. A powerful earthquake in a coastal subduction zone has the potential to generate a tsunami. 12 10 8 6. AVERAGE 4-STORY BUILDING = 12 METERS 1BOG.org GROUP DISCOUNTS ON SOLAR SOURCES U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION, USGS, THE DAILY BEAST, BBC, REUTERS

Where Is America's Fukushima

shared by ColumnFive on Jul 06
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Since the disaster at Fukushima, there's been a lot of speculating about U.S. nuclear sites at risk for a major earthquake. Here, we take a look at which might fall victim to a tsunami scenario like J...

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