When is an Earthquake Zone a Siting Concern?
The magnitude or amount of ground shaking at a site is a good measure for determining if a site is appropriate for a hazardous waste management facility. To help determine the level of risk from shaking, scientists have mapped out seismic impact zones. These zones measure the amount that the ground could potentially shake during an earthquake. The risk is based on the area’s geology and past earthquake activity. Maps of seismic impact zones are available to the public through the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and state and local governments.
