Dominion Studying Future Reactor's Quake Standard

Dominion Virginia Power is reviewing how a proposed new nuclear reactor would handle a large earthquake at its North Anna power plant.

The company says federal regulators want all proposed new reactors to consider new seismic standards being developed for existing units.

Dominion says ground vibrations from the Aug. 23 earthquake exceeded standards in the site permit and licensing applications for the proposed reactor.

The plant's current reactors automatically shut down during the 5.8-magnitude earthquake, but they sustained no significant damage.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League welcomed the analysis.

It had asked the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board to consider the quake's impact in deciding whether to license a third reactor.  Dominion has not yet decided whether to build the new reactor.

On Monday, a NRC report revealed that a leaking valve had released over 200 gallons of coolant water from the plant into the North Anna Lake.  The regulatory agency said that the leak did not pose a public health risk.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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