ML20234E804

Statement by H Benioff Supporting Bodega Head Site

ML20234E804
Person / Time
Site:	05000000, Bodega Bay
Issue date:	05/19/1964
From:	Benioff H CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, PASADENA, CA
To:
Shared Package
ML20234A767	List: IA-85-665, Discusses Seismic Design of Nuclear Power Plants,Including Const of Nuclear Plants in Seismically Active Zones ML20234A761 ML20234A769 ML20234A792 ML20234A798 ML20234A803 ML20234A812 ML20234A816 ML20234A827 ML20234A830 ML20234A838 ML20234A841 ML20234A844 ML20234A847 ML20234A851 ML20234A855 ML20234A858 ML20234A861 ML20234A864 ML20234A868 ML20234A871 ML20234A874 ML20234A893 ML20234A896 ML20234A900 ML20234A911 ML20234A922 ML20234A929 ML20234A932 ML20234A937 ML20234A944 ML20234A956 ML20234A965 ML20234A968 ML20234A976 ML20234A984 ML20234A993 ML20234A996 ML20234A999 ML20234B005 ML20234B008 ML20234B023 ML20234B032 ML20234B035 ML20234B040 ML20234B062 ML20234B066 ML20234B076 ML20234B084 ML20234B098 ... further results
References
FOIA-85-665 NUDOCS 8709220529
Download: ML20234E804 (3)

Text

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STATEMENT By i DR. HUGO BENIOFF i . PROFESSOR OF SEISMOLOGY

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CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

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MAY 19, 1964 1

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i In my opinion the Bodega Head site is an excellent location for a nuclear-reactor from the' point of view of earth-quake hazard. The reasons are these: Bodega Head provides-granitic rock into which the reactor containment structure can be placed. It will thus be free from the effects of cracking, 1

lurching and sliding which frequently occur in sof t ground as a result of earthquake forces.

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The fact that the site is off the San Andreas Pault  ;

zone is a guarantee that the next slip on the fault will not pass I ly i through the site. Although the rock at the site contains minor v

fractures these are characteristic' of all of the coastal rocks and do not interfere with the integrity of the rock as a firm .

g supporting medium. The fractures were formed over the course j of millions of years by activity of the- San Andreas Fault and l

) were caused by local strains generated principally by early departures of the break from a straight' course. There is no IC

' evidence that any of these minor fractures at Eodega has moved

! appreciably during the last 40,000 years. Moreover as a result of the present straightness of the San Andreas fault in this region it is extremely unlikely that any movement exceeding a fraction of an inch can take place on these minor fractures within the foreseeable future. Even so the-reactor containment will-accommodate displacements up to two feet or so, which is greatly, in excess of any movement that can occur there.

Contrary to the popular beliefs, earthquake destructiveness in the near vicinity of the faut is actually less than_it is at

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wore remote points. This results from the fact that at the fault the movement is principally in the form of a short, single heave or pulse whereas at more distant points it is oscillatory and of longer duration.

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