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No. Geology is considered, but there is no reason to site a reactor close to a fault line. In fact there is good reason to avoid siting reactors on an active fault line, such as the San Andreas fault.

Nonetheless, some nuclear reactors are sited very close to fault lines. One example is the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (VY), which is sited about 100 meters from a fault. Nuclear plants need to be sited where they can get large amounts of cooling water, and so many are put by rivers. Since rivers, such as the Connecticut River, by which VY sits, follows a fault line, some plants are put on such faults. The fault under the Connecticut river is considered very unlikely to produce an earthquake.

Part of the problem is that there are many faults. In fact it is hard to get away from them. Furthermore, it is not always possible to know much about the natures of the faults. The geology of the Ramapo fault was very poorly known, when the Indian Point Energy Center was built, and was regarded as nearly inactive. Serious geological study of the fault only began after a series of very small earthquakes happened in the late 1960's and 1970's, some years after the nuclear power plant was built. In fact, these earthquakes were at first thought to be vibrations from the collapse of Revolutionary War era iron mines.

Some nuclear plants in the United States were built without regard to hardening against earthquake. Several such plants were temporarily closed by Jimmy Carter so hardening could be done. Interestingly, three days after it went into shutdown, the Maine Yankee plant was hit by a small earthquake.

With the advent of the Japan Earthquake, I am appalled that our Govt. would allow the building these Nuclear Power plants along fault lines. It just goes to show the best and brightest are not in charge of our Govt. What happens when we have a 9-11 pt earthquake along the San Andreas fault line ? What , than we are going to have contaminated air and water. I am so angry over this and I pray that it doesn't happen. We need to change our viewpoints on alternative energies now ! We owe it to our children to make the necessary changes in our energy policy. What is it going to take in order for us to change ? Do we have to have a catastrophe like Japan in order to get the message ? I worried for our children and my little boy is so frightened, that he doesn't want to go to school if its going to be windy. I'm hoping that this is not just the tip of the iceberg.....

++If by "Japan" you were referring to the Fukishima incident, it's important to realise two things. Firstly, Japan is tectonically highly unstable anyway. Secondly, the earthquake and the tsunami it generated did not break the reactor, which responded by stopping as intended. Unfortunately you can't just switch off a reactor. Although the safety shut-down drops the moderator rods into the pile to reduce the fission to a mimimum, the fuel elements continue to react by themselves, producing heat. This heat should be removed by the coolant pumps continuing to run; but at Fukushima they had placed not only the national grid supply to the pumps almost at sea level, but also the emergency generators. The reactor survived the inundation - only to destroy itself because the site's own electrical supplies were destroyed by the tsunami.

The lesson is not "Don't use nuclear power", but "Make sure whatever natural disaster overtakes the area, you don't lose control of the reactor." In a bizarre twist, the Fukushima incident made Germany panic and close her own nuclear power-plants. Germany is in the middle of a very stable continent, and her Baltic coast is hardly likely to suffer from SW Pacific-style tsunamis - that's politicians who don't understand science and engineering, and the difference between risk and hazard, for you. (Yes we have them in the UK too - or ask the Italian State geologists.)

As for your child being frightened of the wind, who made him so? That incident has nothing whatever to do with the weather.

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10y ago
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7mo ago

Nuclear plants are not intentionally built on fault lines; in fact, it is typically avoided due to the increased risk of earthquakes and potential damage to the plant. Safety protocols are in place to assess the geological stability of a location before construction of a nuclear plant begins.

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How many Nuclear Power plants on fault lines?

There are several nuclear power plants located on fault lines around the world, including in countries like Japan, the United States, and Taiwan. These plants are built to withstand seismic activity, but their proximity to fault lines does pose a potential risk for earthquakes and tsunamis.


What is it When the rock on either side of a move in different direction?

It is called a fault. A fault is a fracture in the Earth's crust where rock on either side has moved in different directions due to tectonic forces. This movement can lead to earthquakes when the built-up stress is released suddenly.


When pieces of rock snap back it is called?

When pieces of rock snap back, it is called elastic rebound. This process occurs during an earthquake when built-up stress is released along a fault line, causing the rocks on either side of the fault to quickly snap back to their original positions.


Why Bataan nuclear plant did not operate?

The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant in the Philippines did not operate due to safety concerns, challenges with proper maintenance, and public opposition. It was also found to be located near major earthquake fault lines, further raising fears about its safety. The plant was completed in the 1980s but never became operational.


Are you opposed to nuclear power?

I don't have personal opinions, but nuclear power is a complex issue that has both benefits and risks. Proponents argue it is a low-carbon energy source that can help address climate change, while opponents raise concerns about safety, waste disposal, and the potential for accidents. Public opinion on nuclear power varies depending on these factors.

Related questions

Are there any nuclear plants on fault lines?

Perhaps, because not all faults are apparent until they move. And to answer your question, yes, since there are many many faults located, there are also over 100 nuclear plants in the US itself and faults need to be built were cooling water is available, such as a river, and faults are originally located along some rivers. So yes, plants are built along fault lines inevitably.


How many Nuclear Power plants on fault lines?

There are several nuclear power plants located on fault lines around the world, including in countries like Japan, the United States, and Taiwan. These plants are built to withstand seismic activity, but their proximity to fault lines does pose a potential risk for earthquakes and tsunamis.


Why did Japanese engineers build such a preponderance of nuclear generation plant on a known fault line?

The plants are not built on a fault line. The whole of Japan is 'near' a fault line and there is no real difference as to where you build them in Japan. Also the problem was not the fault (earthquake) it was the secondary Tsunami that has done the damage. The problem is that pressure water reactors need to be build by the sea so that the sea can be used as a heat sink.


Why did Japan build nuclear reactors on a geological fault?

It is impossible to build ANYTHING in japan that is not on a geological fault. That is how the islands formed.


Is New York city built on a fault line?

No.


Is the landlord or tenant responsible for damaged plants?

If the tenant damaged them, then it's the tenants fault. Ifit was the landlord, then it's their fault


How much is the income for nuclear power plants?

It's entirely a matter of how much electricity (Megawatt hours or days) they deliver to the company that manages the grid system, which will pay the nuclear plant owners a rate per unit delivered. There may be penalties for not delivering when it has been agreed or scheduled, if it is due to some fault or breakdown in the plant.


Why is San Francisco at risk of earthquakes?

Because it is built near to a fault line.


What to do when system reads fault red?

We need to know what kind of system. Is it your computer, your wrist watch, or a nuclear reactor?


How was the new Madrid fault formed?

the tension built up make earthquakes around this area


What NZ city is built near 4 active fault lines?

the wellington region (wellington)


When does a fault rupture?

A fault ruptures when the built-up stress along the fault exceeds the strength of the rocks holding it together. This sudden release of energy causes the rocks to break, creating seismic waves that result in an earthquake. The timing of fault rupture is unpredictable and can happen at any time.