ML19338B994

Forwards Coast & Geodetic Survey Rept on Midland,Mi Area Seismicity Per AEC Request

ML19338B994
Person / Time
Site:	Midland
Issue date:	05/07/1970
From:	David Jones COMMERCE, DEPT. OF
To:	Price J US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC)
References
C23, NUDOCS 8007291144
Download: ML19338B994 (5)

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f-: U.S. DEPARTMa..JT OF COMMERCE Environmental Science Services Administration j

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- Attn of: C23 MAY 7 1970 Mr. Harold L. Price

. Director of Regulation U. S. Atomic Energy Commission Washington, D. C. 20545

Dear Mr. Price:

In accordance with your request, we are forwarding 10 copies of our report on the seismicity of the Midland, Michigan, area. The Coast and Geodetic Survey has reviewed and eval-uated the information on the seismic activity of the area as presented by the Consumers Power Company in'the "Prelimi-nary Safety Analysis Report," for use in the evaluation of the site of the proposed Midland Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2; and we hereby submit our conclusions concerning the seismicity factors.

If we may.be of-further assistance to you, please contact us.

Sinc.erely, N -

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(t gh rdd a , USESSA Director,.C&GS 10 Enclosures 4

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MEPORT ON TIE SITE SEISMICITY FOR THE MIDLAND NUCLEAR 3 POWER PLET UNITS 1 2 2 At the request of the Division of Reactor Licensing of the Atomic Energy Comnission, the Seismology Division of the Coast and Geodetic Survey has evaluated the seismicity of the area around the proposed Midland Nuclear Power Plant near Midland, Michigan. The Survey has also reviewed a similar evaluation presented by the Consumers Power Company in their

" Preliminary Safety Analysis Report."

Historically, very few earthquakes have occurred in the vicinity of this plant site. However, two intensity VI (MM) ealthquakes and several smaller events have occurred within 150 miles of this site. Consideration is also given to the major, although distant, earthquakes that may have affected this site. These events include the very large earthquakes in the St. Lawrence region and the 1811-1812 earthquakes at New Madrid, Missouri. _

The first of the historical intensity VI (IC4) earthquakes occurred on February 4, 1883 and caused damage to glass in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The second intensity VI event occurred on August 9, 1947 and damaged eninneys and plaster at Athens, Coldwater, Colon, Matteson Lake, Sherwood, 2d Union City, Michigan. Both of these events have epicenters over 100 miles from this plant site.

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Since the major earthquake regicns, such as New Madrid, Missouri and the St. Lawrence area, are over 400 miles away, 4 they are not considered to have a significant affect on the determination of the acceleration factor for this site.

As reported by the U. S. Geological Survey to the Atomic Energy Commission this site is located in the Saginaw portion of the Great Lakes section of the central lowland physio-graphic prov.' ce and the tectonic region of the Michisan Basin.

This report also states that there are no active faults or other recent geological structures known that could be expected to localize seismicity in the immediate vicinity of the site.

But the report also states that " structural details in the underlying Paleozoic sedimentary rocks or in the crystalline basement complex are only very poorly known." Therefore, it must be assumed that earthquakes with intensities comparable j to the earthquakes that have occurred in the Michigan Basin might also occur in the vicinity of the plant site.

In further consideration of the earthquake intensities, it is noted thit this plant is to be located on a clay forma-tion which is the upper part of the glacial sediments of approximately 360 feet thickness which in turn over11e approximately 12,000 feet of Paleozoic sedimentary rocks.

The salt extraction activity in the area is not con-sidered to have a significant effect on the calculation of

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the seismic factors since the extraction zones are at great

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depth and since a brine recharging program is practiced.

As a result of this review of the seismological and geological characteristics.of the area around the plant site, the Coast and Gecdetic Survey recommends that an acceleration ,

of 0.06 g, resulting from an intensity V (MM) earthquake, .

would be adequate for representing seismic disturbances likely to occur within the lifetime of the facility. The Survey also recommends that an acceleration of 0.12 g, resulting from an

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intensity VI (MM) earthquake, would be adequate for represent- ,

ing the ground motion from the maximum earthquake likely to affect the site. It is believed that these values would provide an adequate basis for designing protection against the loss of function of components important to safety.

U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey Rockville, Maryland 20852 May 5, 1970 -

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