nbsp   Can nuclear reactors withstand earthquakes?
[A. CANDU Technology] [B. The Industry] [C. Cost/Benefit] [D. Safety/Liability] [E. Waste] [F. Security/Non-Proliferation] [G. Uranium] [H. Research Reactors] [I. Other R&D] [J. Further Info] As a licensing requirement, nuclear reactors must be qualified to withstand the level of seismic activity that is expected for each individual reactor location. Seismic qualification is a common component of civil and mechanical design, and nuclear reactors do not differ from any other major infrastructure in this respect. The same robustness and defense-in-depth approach that assures safety and security of a nuclear plant plays a major role in its seismic qualification, and often provides a level of conservatism that continues to protect even during beyond-design-basis events. The general conservatism inherent in this qualification was evident following the July 16, 2007 Richter 6.8 earthquake on the northwest coast of Honshu, Japan, causing $100 billion in damage, killing 11 people, injuring 100
