ML20003H379
| ML20003H379 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vallecitos File:GEH Hitachi icon.png |
| Issue date: | 05/01/1981 |
| From: | Ellsworth W INTERIOR, DEPT. OF, GEOLOGICAL SURVEY |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20003H372 | List: |
| References | |
| ISSUANCES-SC, NUDOCS 8105050681 | |
| Download: ML20003H379 (18) | |
Text
.
04/22/81 h
UNITED STATES OF A!! ERICA flUCLEAR RFGULATORY C0ft!!ISSIO!!
BEFORE THE AT0!11C SAFETY Af1D LICEr1SIf1G BOARD In tne Matter of
)
)
GENERAL ELECTRIC CO.
)
)
Docket No. 50-70 (Vallecitos fluclear Center -
)
(ShowCause)
General Electric Test' Reactor,
)
Operating License No. TR-1)
)
llRC STAFF TESTIM 0fiY OF WILLIAM L. ELLSWORTri REGARDI!1G SEISl10 LOGY OF THE GETR SITE Q.1.
Please state your name and present position.
A.I.
fly name is William L. Ellsworth.
I an a geophysicist in the Office of Earthquake Studies with the USGS.
Q.2.
Please summarize your educational background 6nd relevant work experience.
-A.2.
I an a graduate of Stanford University in Physics and hold advanced degrees in Geophysics from Stanford (M.S.) and the Massaci._setts Institute of Technology (Ph.D.).
I have been employed > a geophysicist, specializing in earthquake seismology, by the U.S. Geological Survey since 1971. Details of my professional career are contained in the copy of my qualifications that is attached to this testimony.
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- j Q.3.
Please describe your responsibilities with the USGS.
A.3.
I am employed as a seismologist in the Branch of Seismology, Office of Earthquake Studies, in the U.S. Geological Survey.
In this capacity I am the project chief of the project " Seismic Studies of Fault itecha nics".
This project has major responsibility within the Branch of Seisnology for the analysis of earthquake data, for the investigation of the relationship between microearthquakes and holocene faults and for the use of seisnic data in earthquake prediction research.
In this position, I routinely make use of my training and experience as a seismologist.
Q.4 Please describe the scope of your participation in the USGS review of the GETR site.
A.4.
My participation in the U.S. Geological Survey's review of the GETR site has been limited to the review and analysis of nicroearthquake data recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey network in calendar years 1969 throuc'.1979, and to the study of the relationship of those data to the regional fault system.
O
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\\i Q.5.
Sumnarize the results of your review in this proceeding.
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-A.5.
The results of my review, as well as my conclusions, are con-tained in Appendix C-to the NRC Staff's May 23, 1980 SER for this proceeding.
Since completing that report, however, I have modified my conclusion regarding the classification of the Verona fault from being probably seismically active to possibly active.
This change is discussed in my letter to John C. Maxwell of the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards dated December 3,1980, a copy of which is attached to this testimony.
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PROFESSIONA1. RICOED
- iilliat 1,.
Ellsv:rth Ecce address:
Menlo Park, Califor=ia 94015 Office address:
U.S. Geological Su:.ey l
Shell Building Geelogic Division, MS 77 275 Midleficid Road Menlo Park, California 91025 Late / place of birth:
Sep: e:be r 22, 1945 Tulsa, Oklaho=a Education:
Tulsa Central Eigh Schocl 1963-1966 Stanford University ES 1966-1971 Stanford University MS 1971 Mass. Inst. of Technology PhD 1974-1977 Societies:
Eocer - University Scholarship, Sta ferd University 1966-1971 Sloan Research Traineeship, M.I.T.
(declined) 1974-1975
}
Eost Scholar, Distinguished Scholar 1
Exchange Progra: with the People's
)
Republic of China 1980 Prof. - American Geophysical Union i
Seismological Society of A= erica Society of Exploration Geophysicists Sigma Xi, Scientific Research Society of North A: erica t
Professional record:
Geophysicist in Office of Earthquake Studies Menlo Park, California 1971-1974
/
Geophysicis t in Office of Earthquake Studies Canbridge, Massachusetts 1974-1977 Geophysicist in Office of Earthquake Studies Menle Park, California 1977-present O
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Eibliograph :
Wesso=, R.
L., Eurferd, R.
O., and E11sverth, W. L, 1973, Relation-ship between seis:1 city, f ault creep, and crustal leading along the cen:ral San Andreas fault, ijl Proceedings of the conference of tectonic proble=s of the San Andreas fault:
Sta: ford, Calif.,
Stanford University Publications Geological Science, v. 13, p.
303-311.
Wess:, R.
L.,
and Illsverth, W.
L., 1973, Seis:1 city preceding odera:e earthquakes in California:
Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 76, no. 35, p. E527-8545.
Ellsworth, W.
L.,
Ca:pbell, R.
E.,
Eill, D.
P.,
Page, R.
A.,
- Alevine, R. W., III, Hacks. T. C., He at on, T. E., Eile=an, J. A., Kana=ord,
Hiroo, Kins t e r, E., and Whi t e c b, J. H., 197 3, Point Mugu, California, earthquake of 21 February,1973 and its af tershocks:
Science, v. 18 2, p. 112 7-1129 Robinsen, Russell, Wesson, R. L, and Ellsverth, W. L.,1974, variation of F-vave velocity before the Bear Valley, California, earthquake of 24 February 1972:
Science, v. 154, p. 1251-1253 E11svor h, W. L.,1975, Eear valley, Califor:da, earthquake sequence of February-March,19 72:
Seis:elogical Society of America Bulletin, v. 65, p. 483-506.
Stier an, D. J., and E11sverth, W. L.,1975, Af tershocks cf the February 21, 1973 Point Mugu, Califormia earthquake:
Seis:elogical Society of Anerica Bulletin, v. 66, p. 1931-1952.
Kirk =an, S.. L., and E11sverth, W. L.,197 7, Catalog of earthquakes in the Santa Monica Mountai=s area:
U.S. Geological Survey Opec-File Report 77-301, 23 p.
Kirk =an, S. L., pnd E11sverth, W. L.,1977, Catalog of earthquakes in the Santa Barbara Channel area:
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 77-302, 21 p.
Ellsworth, W. L., and Koyanagi, R. Y.,1977, Three-dinensional crust and cattle structure of Kilauea volcano, Havati:
Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 82, p. 5379-5394.
l Wesson, R.
L., Robinson, R.,
Eufe, C.
G.,
Ellsworth, J.
E.,
- Pfluke, J.
A.,
Steppe, J. A.,
and Seekins, L.
C.,
1977, Search for sei cic forerunners to earthquakes in central California:
Tectonophysics,
- v. 4, p. 111-126.
t i
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P00R ORIGINAL.
Eibliography (continued)
Reasenberg, P. A., Ellsv:rth, W.
L., a:d Walter, A.
V., 1953, Teleseiscit evidence for a lov velocity body under the Cose geother:a1 area: Journal of Geophys1:a1 Research, v. SS, no. SS,
- p. 2471-2453.
Thurber, C.
E.,
and Ellverth, W.
L., 1950, Rapid selutic: of ray tra:ing proble=s in heterogeneous media:
Seis : logical Society ef America Sulletin, v. 70, p.113 7-114 E.
E11sv::th, W. L., and Ma rks, S.
M., 1960, Seis icity of the Liver: ore Valley, California region 1969-1979; U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Repert 50-515, 42 p.
Cockerhat, R.
S.,
Lester, F. W., and E11sverth, W.
L.,
1950, A preli=inary report on the Livermore Valley earthquake sequence January 24 - February 26, 1950:
U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 80-714, 54 p.
E11sv:rth, W.
L., 11=dh, A.
G.,
Prescott, W.
E., and Eerd D.
G.,
1951, the 1936 San Tractisco earthquake and the seiscie cycle:
Maurice Ev1=g Sy:pesium, 34d, Moh::k Lkae, New Flat:, 1953 Earthquake Predicitic: Proceedings, ed. by Si=pson, D. W.,
and Richards, T. G.:
A=erican Geophysical Union, Washi Eton, D.C.,
1:
press.
Eerd, D.
G., E11sverth. W. L.,
Lindh, A.
G.,
and Shedlock, R.
M.,
1951, Future large earthquakes in the San Francisec Eay area:
Science (in press).
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UNITED STATES
~ ~~ k DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
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GEOLOGIC AL SURVEY
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245 Middlefield Tcad - MS-77 w.'
Me.lo Park, California 94025 i.~.
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R 2 C T '..I O October 22, 1950
.c.'.,,
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h Professcr Jchn C. Maxwell tu, _
5.
f" Department of Geology L'niversity of Texas
- JY:1,1f'Il 1[,.3g."[*-
Dear Professor Maxwell,
4 f..
I am sorry to have let your request for the enclosed material remain unanswered fer so long, and hope that it will still be of some use to Since the ACRS meeting in Sunol I have undertaken the systematic you.
review of all available focal mechanism data in the Livermore Valley The conclusions of that study are in good agreement with study region.
the more preliminary results given in Ellswor h and Marks. For example, g-;-
find that earthquakes in the general region around Vallecitos Valley P
we to be characterized by oblique-slip to pure thrust. focal mechanisms.
one difference that should be noted, and which has some impact on my earlier evaluation of the Verona fault comes from our re-interpretation l
of the original seismograms for events 6 and 17 in the attached sheets.
We now find that either strike slip or thrust fault plane solutions fit
[h This weakens the case for the identification cf the the observations Verona as a "probably" active f ault on the basis of seismological evi-b*.'
However, the evidence is still permissive and other focal mechanisms indicate com*:ressive tectonics.
I would now classify the Q
dence.
Verona fault as "possibly" active, based on the microearthquakes and y.-- -
criteria defined in Open-File report 80-515.
In view of the fact that the same criteria and data set classified the Greenville fault as possibly f,. )
active prior to the January 1980 earthquakes, I find little comfort in P-the revised classification fer the Verona fault.
Very truly yours, hh i-l William L. Ellsworth
?-
i Geophysicist I
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MI' THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN AU STIN. TEX A5 78712 D qa rt":en: ol Gesc ri..C Scier.ce:
Decenber 3. 19,o
~
Mr. Nialien I..
Illm o' th, Geophvcicists U.S. Geo'o.:ica1 curvev 34 3 ':ide'lefiel.! RnaA. - !'..c-77 Miniow Park, cclifornia 94025
Dear ~ dill:
I appreciate very pue! you tai In1 the t-!=a and effort to bring =e The work certainly up to date on yoitr vnrk in the Vn13ccitos Kaidon.
supnorte, the futerpr. static.n en.'r th.. basina) area is beine, deforaed be-tve:n tha C:. laver.'s ind Croce.vlii.. P.wlt trandn. The northerly trending ri,.ht-lateral iculting and nor mi-t-sourhves conpreacion (thrust 7 er.ured by your data. This 1
fcultin<;) perinn on this..rei art-c. A'il's vo. tid nicP to locr.te a large-scale in certainly r:et the spot thar ones nucler.: f ccilit,r !
In reviewine. t he-g..- J a.. t c11 and soin.ic evidence available at the tine o.' our d'I.;DI. centing it <.eeued to tie that the major seismic danger deifnately la; viti. tae Calavors:: !Iault to the unst of the CIXR. The posed by a Verona rault is that n inrr.e displace =ent (2-3
- infor threat feet) =1?.ht occur hencath and intersecting the. base of the GrrR reactor.
I Considerinn the thichnesa of se.11nents overlyin,q basement rocks down dip to the northeast fro:: the reactor site, this would seem to require a well-organi:.cd thrust fault surfacing directiv beneath the reacetr.
fi The data now availchic on this point -- nainly the general Ir.ch of l
agreenent annng vorkers as to the precise location of the Verona Fault,
'I the trenching n the reccEcr area, sn.! the tr.1 c of strike slip and thrust l
faultinc at verdoen, pern:ps rende=, depths troughout the area chown
.. response to the regional north-south, co=-
i on your fir;ure 3 -- sunr,cet I
pression by obcaring on videly disperced planes, rather than well-organ-i 1:ed thrustina.
~he pencibility that a major thrust would develop be-l neath the reactor, breshing throuc,h uncheared ground, sce=s to =e'to be I
caccedin;ly rc=ote, and I therefore continue to helieve that the overri riding scismic dancer v11ch muot be considered is that relating to the j
Calaveras Fault.
If you have not already done so, I hope you vill send copies of your ceis=ic analys:io to Den Par.e and Coorge Thompson.
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Cordially yours, I
4 John C. "ar.rcli L.-
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