Central and Eastern United States seismic source characterization for nuclear facilities: technical report

This report describes the new regional seismic source model (SSC) for the Central and Eastern United States (CEUS) for use in probabilistic seismic hazard analyses for nuclear facilities. The model includes consideration of an updated database, full assessment and incorporation of uncertainties, and the range of diverse technical interpretations from the larger technical community. It reports on a project that was conducted over the period April 2008 to December 2011.

It contains: (i) the Senior Seismic Hazard Analysis Committee Study Level 3 assessment process and implementation; (ii) specific goals for earthquake catalogue development; (iii) the conceptual SSC framework; (iv) methodologies used by the project to make the SSC assessments; (v) discussions of the seismic sources and (vi) seismotectonic zones; (vii) seismic hazard calculations conducted at seven demonstration sites throughout the study region; and (viii) a discussion on the use of the model for probabilistic seismic hazard analysis as well as several simplifications to seismic sources that can be made to increase efficiency in seismic hazard calculations.