Volcanic and Tectonic Hazard Assessment for Nuclear Facilities

Geoscientists worldwide are developing and applying methodologies to estimate geologic hazards associated with the siting of nuclear facilities. Understanding such hazards, particularly in the context of the long functional lifetimes of many nuclear facilities, is challenging. This book documents the current state-of-the-art in volcanic and tectonic hazard assessment for proposed nuclear facilities, which must be located in areas where the risks associated with geologic processes are quantifiable and demonstrably low. Specific topics include overviews of volcanic and tectonic processes, the history of development of hazard assessment methodologies, description of current techniques for characterizing hazards, and development of probabilistic methods for estimating risks. Hazard assessment examples are drawn from around the world. This volume will promote interest and debate about this important topic among researchers and graduates developing methods in geologic hazard assessment, geologists and engineers who assess the safety of nuclear facilities, and regulatory bodies that evaluate such assessments.

Geoscientists worldwide are developing and applying methodologies to estimate geologic hazards associated with the siting of nuclear facilities. Understanding such hazards, particularly in the context of the long functional lifetimes of many nuclear facilities, is challenging. This book documents the current state-of-the-art in volcanic and tectonic hazard assessment for proposed nuclear facilities, which must be located in areas where the risks associated with geologic processes are quantifiable and demonstrably low. Specific topics include overviews of volcanic and tectonic processes, the history of development of hazard assessment methodologies, description of current techniques for characterizing hazards, and development of probabilistic methods for estimating risks. Hazard assessment examples are drawn from around the world. This volume will promote interest and debate about this important topic among researchers and graduates developing methods in geologic hazard assessment, geologists and engineers who assess the safety of nuclear facilities, and regulatory bodies that evaluate such assessments.

Charles B. Connor is a Professor and Chairman of the Geology Department at the University of South Florida. He has worked on assessment of volcanic hazards at nuclear facilities since 1992, in association with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the Nuclear Waste Organization of Japan. These professional activities have included developing the US Nuclear Regulatory scientific program for assessment of volcanic hazards at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, chairing of the committee to develop IAEA safety guidance for nuclear power plants, and developing safety guidelines for nuclear installations in Japan. In addition, he served on the US National Research Council commission to review the US Geological Survey volcanic hazards program for the National Academy of Sciences.

Neil A. Chapman is Chairman, ITC School of Underground Waste Storage and Disposal, Switzerland; Research Professor of Environmental Geology, Department of Engineering Materials, University of Sheffield, UK; Programme Director, Arius Association, Switzerland; an independent consultant. He has worked for more than 30 years on the scientific and strategic issues of the nuclear industry and radioactive wastes, for industrial, governmental and international organisations and agencies worldwide. This has involved participation in many national and international advisory committees, in the management of internationally funded projects and as a visiting expert. He is currently Chairman of the INSITE site investigation overview group for the Swedish regulatory authority, SSM, and a member of the International Technical Advisory Committee (ITAC) of the Japanese radioactive waste management organisation (NUMO).

Laura J. Connor is a computational scientist and Research Associate in the Department of Geology at the University of South Florida. Her work has focused on computational methods in geologic hazard assessment and geophysical research, which have highlighted new methods for optimization of volcanic hazard models, uncertainty assessment for volcanic hazard models, and applications in real-time monitoring of geophysical processes. She has authored numerous codes, including the probabilistic volcanic hazard assessment codes currently in use by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Nuclear Waste Organization of Japan. She is co-editor of Statistics in Volcanology, recently published by the Geological Society of London.