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CONSULTING MINING ENGt l
a TELEPHONE VALLEY 3 669&
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11082 BARNETT VALLEY ROAO SEBA$TOPOL CALIFORNIA September 2 1963.
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Yr. OEnn Seaborg, Chairman Atomic Energy Commission I
"'e shington, 'D.C.
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Deer Sir, The original 1960 ASC provision, that an atomic power
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plent should not be built within a half mile of an active ' earth-should have been amended to read not "to within one fourth mile" but to: within 5 miles of an active fault and j
quake feult, I
then only'on s'olid rock.
f The proposed.F.G.& E. plant at Bodega Head.should not I do not believe that you could find any of the older be built.
geologists that studied' the damage caused by the 1906 earthquake j
to state that this is a safe location.
I am speaking.of earth-'
l quake damage only, not that caused by the fires in San Francisco and Senta Rosa. Incidentally the fires could have been controlled i
The main damage if the earthquake had not cut the water mains.
occurred on unconsolidated ground while buildings on hard rock l
1 f ared better.
In 1906, at the lower end of Tomales Bay a road crossing 1
the fault was displaced some 21 feet, the western block moving l
tho l
northwest.
At Bodega Bay the displacement was also large, beenure of the ' sand dunes it could not be measured accurately.
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The site of the proposed plant is formed of the "Montara Orenodiorite".or " rotten granite" as we used to call'it.
It is certainly not solid rock but a sheared, faulted and disintegrated mers.
There has been seismic activity on the San Andreas f ault
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l both north and south of Bodega Bay in recent years and the fault 1
l in this area'.is probably under. tension, ready to let go again.
i A ne~ cycle of' earthquakes all around the Pacific seems to have stprted e's witnes' sed' by recent strong quakes in South America, Al~ka and~ Japan.
I ve'nture to state'that.a major. earthquake (movement'on; i
th'e Sen. Andreas f ault).is probable at ! Bodega Bay at any' time in'
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the next-25 years.
"ihen '.this happens, the cooling water'intak'e lines to the stomic' plant' will bef cut, the power line across Doran. Park will"be, l revered, the cooling' water. outlet will prob' bly be cut and' the a
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l concrete caisson v/hich houses the plant' will probably 'be. tilted -
from the vertical, if indeed.it is not sheared off.
If the-bere of this ca.isson.is ' carried to something resembling solid rock, the upper part will' be moved (tilted or sheared)- by. the '
whifting upper unconsolidated layers of material.
I have no quarrel with P.G.&.E.,
in fact I think hir.hly of'its operations.
'I also believe. in atomic. energy development.
But I do believe that the proposed plant! site is unsafe for' the purpose and urge you not to grant permission to go ahead with it at that location.
Justwhatwobidhappenifintakeiandoutletpipes'.
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and the. power lines were cut and the plant.csisson were: tilted'?
"ho or.what.would draw the rods and if they could not.be drawn l
to stop the reaction,'just what would happen ?- Have'you ever seen people panic during an earthquake and would the crew on duty.
be immune to panic ?
S'incerely yours f
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