ML20133G068
| ML20133G068 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/20/1983 |
| From: | Arsenault F NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REGULATORY RESEARCH (RES) |
| To: | Vollmer R Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20132B198 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-85-363 NUDOCS 8508080547 | |
| Download: ML20133G068 (5) | |
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.. an alog UNITED STATES o NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMisslON g g WASHINGTON, D. C. 20565 1 j[' - MAY 2 U 1883 MEMORANDUM FOR: Richard H. Vollmer, Director .
Division of Engineering, NRR FROM: Frank J. Arsenault, Director Division of Health, Siting and Waste Management, RES
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SUBJECT:
RES ACTIONS ON DIVISION OF ENGINEERING PLAN TO ADDRESS USGS CLARIFICATION RELATING TO SEISMIC DESIGN EARTHQUAKES This is in response to the memorandum of March 22, 1983 informing me of the Division of Engineering plan to address the USGS Clarification relating to seismic design earthquakes in the eastern seaboard of the United States. The -
plan relies on input from existing RES projects and from RES staff. The projects and dates given are acceptable as guidelines, however some dates cannot be met -
and others cannot be guaranteed because of the uncertainties present in geoscience
, research, resource restrictions, del,ags in , contracting and staff limitat,1ons_. ,
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pesults from the Charleston regional research are hard to predict. Reque'sted activities in the Charleston region include the development of a program to test the most likely tectonic hypotheses. We completely endorse the goal..however, both the present level of knowledge of the region, and the likely levels of.. funding will limit the completeness of our answer. We are confident however, that our programs will result in significant progress toward this goal.
Attached is an outline showing the status of RES activities relative to the informa -
tion needs described in the plan. If the anticipated results or time table of the Charleston aspect of the plan are not adequate, then we will need to consult on how to modify the plan or arrange for supplemental funding.
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Frank J.yArsenault, Director Division of Health, Siting and Waste Management, RES Attac hment:
As stated cc w/ attachment:
Z. Rosztoczy, NRR .
R. Jackson, NRR Si Brocoum, NRR L. Reiter, NRR 8508080547 850624 PDR FOIA BELL 85-363 PDR
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Attachment I Introduction This attachment shows the relationship of the DHSWM seismic research programs to the Division of Engineering Geoscience plan to address USGS clarification relating to seismic design earthquakes in the eastern seaboard of the United States (Memo, Vollmer to Denton, March 2,1982). The information needs will .
be met through the existing DHSWM Seismotectonic Plan; the major changes in the plan involve the timing of " status reports" on the major issues.
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Major Activities - Probabilistic Assessment NRR request, January through April 1983-Continue development of LLNL study -
on seismic hazard east of the Rocky Mountains. -
i RES activity - The project is continuing. There has to date been a slippage
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of two months. The ' slippage wiIl have little impact on the finaf 23mpl'etion date.
.m- y Major Activities - Deterministic Plan ~
_ Charleston Region NRR request, September 1983 - Have a program in place to test the most likely tectonic hypothesis for the Charleston 1886 event. Hold a workshop on the Charleston Earthquake in May 1983. Present results in June 1984 and January 1985. _ _ .
RES activity - There are some difficulties with this goal. Our present level of understanding does not exclude many of the hypotheses. Also, input into this problem is necessary from many sources; other federal and state agencies, university workers, and industry. The workshop will be held on schedule and we expect it to produce results on both of those aspects of the problem: it should define the state-of-knowledge; and
, most of the investigators from the Charleston region will be present to
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discuss the coordination of their activities. We will implement the
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hypothesis testing through redirection of the present USGS program and -
procurement actions in FY83 and FY84. It may not be possible to have the " program in place" by the date requested. However, we expect '
significant progress in our understanding of this problem within the broader time frame. I It is important to note that hypothesis testing directed at the '
Charleston event is not limited to the Charleston area. One of the most popular theories for the cause of eastern seismicity is reactivation of Triassic border faults. Research directed toward that is presently .- -
being conducted along the Triassic basin of the Bay of Fundy through the Maine Geologic Survey and along the Ramapo fault through the USGS and .
Virginia Tech. Related work on high angle reverse faults is being conducted in the Central Virginia seismic zone.
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Ramapo Fault Zone '-
NRR request, April 1983 - Initiate evaluation of Ramapo utiljzing:
a) multichannel seismic reflection, _b.)..h situ ~ stress measurements, and c) geodetic methods. Report results January 1984 and January 1985.
RES activity - The plan is in place for investigations of the subsurface structure, the stress field, and the strain field of the Ramapo fault zone. Seismic reflection surveys will be conducted by Virginia Tech through a USGS contract. An RFP has been issued for the stress measure-ments. The possibility of use of geodetic measurements wi,ll be evaluated by work under a RFP which will be issued in Summer 1983.
The importance of this investigation is that earthquake epicenters may be associated with the Ramapo fault system. The fault has been well mapped but.no surface offsets have been seen. The investigation will map the subsurface structure, the force acting upon it, and the strain field around it. Results from the Ramapo may be transferrable to other Triassic basins or ractivated faults.
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Central . Virginia Seismic Zone.
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NRR reouest, April 1985 - Present plan for evaluation of the Central , ,,
Virginia Seismic Zone utilizing: a) geophysical techniques; b) in situ -
stress measurements, and 3) geodetic measurements. Report results in January 1984 and January 1985.
RES activity - The geophysical investigation of the' Central Virginia seismic zone are continuing. They have been conducted for several years
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as part of an ongoing RES program. Results have been reported to NRR and -
the scientific community. The stress measurements are an optional task in.an RFP which has been issued. The possibility of geodetic measurements will be evaluated under the RFP that will be issued in Summer 1983. -
Results to date show a correlation of earthquake hypocenter with faults .
observed on the seismic lines. The stress measurements and strain .
measurements are important in establishing the potential sense of motion
, along the fault.,_ Results may be transferrple to other. sites gthe_ East because structures like the potential seismogenic structure in'the Central Virginia seismic zone are present elsewhere.
Giles County, Virginia __-
NRR request, August 1983 - Conduct seismic reflection profiling of Giles County structure. Report results in April 1984 and April 1985.
RES activity - RES has entered a consortium to obtain the seismic profiles.
-- Interim results will be available soon. Because of the depth of the
, potential seismogenic structure and the character of the overlying structures, little can be done at the surface to help clarify the .seismogenic mechanism.
New England NRR request, August 1983 - Conduct stress measurement at Moodus. Report results April 1984 and January 1985.
RES activity - An RFP has been issued to conduct the measurements. The measurement will not be conducted by the requested date, however, the
, delay should not be long and should not affect subsequent milestone.
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- RES activity - A project is in place to examine tr.e crustal subsidence along the coast of Maine. This is a part of the " Charleston hypotheses , ,,
testing" in that seismic activity and crustal subsidence is localized
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along a Triassic border fault. ,
Ma.ior Activity - Appendix A NRR request, Begin scoping a clarification of Appendix A. ,
RES activity - On March 25, 1983 an initial meeting was held between R. Jackson, NRR and L. Beratan, RES to discuss establishing a task forca to formulate the necessary work. .
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