BIG ONE DUE? California's last nuclear plant closing amid quake fears as rumbles continue

THE last nuclear power plant in California is to close amid fears of the mass devastation that would be caused if it remains active when an expected powerful earthquake strikes.

California quake: Nuclear power station to close amid Big One fears.

Officials are on standby for a long-overdue magnitude seven or eight earthquake along the 800-mile San Andreas Fault line because major movement within it has been identified.

Medium-sized earthquakes continue to rock the state almost daily, with the latest recorded by the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported yesterday afternoon two miles from Brawley.

The temblor occurred at 2.55 p.m at a depth of 8.7 miles.

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There is agreement a big one is due.

According to the USGS, the epicentre was eight miles from Imperial, 11 miles from El Centro, 20 miles from Calexico, all in the Sunshine State.

There have been 13 earthquakes of magnitude three or greater in California in the past fortnight.

Now it has been revealed a "historic" agreement between the state’s largest utility company and environmental groups means the last nuclear plant at Diablo will close after scrutiny over its proximity to seismic fault lines.

One fault line is just 595 metres from the power plant.

The important thing is that we ultimately got to a shared point of view about the most appropriate and responsible path forward with respect to Diablo Canyon, and how best to support the state’s energy vision.

Tony Earley, PG&E boss

But it will not close until 2025, meaning nine years of potential risk as scientists admit the Big One could come from the fault at any time now.

The state’s largest utility, Pacific Gas & Electric Co (PG&E), and environmental groups reached an agreement to replace production at Diablo Canyon nuclear plant with solar power and other energy sources that do not produce climate-changing greenhouse gases.

It currently supplies nine per cent the state’s power.

Worries of earthquakes fracturing the facility have been a dominant theme since PG&E first announced plans for Diablo Canyon in the 1960s. 

Nepal Earthquake: a second quake hits the city

Tue, May 12, 2015

The city of Kathmandu in Nepal was struck by another Earthquake, reaching 7.3 magnitude on May 12th 2015. Nepal was previously hit with a 7.9 magnitude earthquake on 25th April, destroying buildings in Kathmandu and surrounding areas.

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An injured woman is moved on a stretcher at Kathmandu Airport after another powerful earthquake struck Nepal, in Kathmandu

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PG&E has long said the plant is safe from the largest potential earthquake in the region. But new research has led to more questions about nearby faults, their shaking potential and how the company evaluates them.

Tony Earley, PG&E boss, said: "The important thing is that we ultimately got to a shared point of view about the most appropriate and responsible path forward with respect to Diablo Canyon, and how best to support the state’s energy vision.”

http://www.express.co.uk/news/science/682329/BIG-ONE-DUE-California-s-last-nuclear-plant-closing-amid-quake-fears-as-rumbles-continue