Know Your Nuclear Power Plants: San Onofre Plant Can Survive 7.0 Quake

The Los Angeles Times reports that the San Onofre nuclear power plant (pictured) in northern San Diego County could withstand a 7.0 earthquake, and also has a 25-foot sea wall to fend off a tsunami. When the plant was built in the late '60s, scientists had predicted the area could be hit with a 6.5 temblor. The San Onofre plant has thick domes to prevent any radiation leakage, as well as diesel generators, a battery system and "a gravity-driven emergency cooling system" (lacking electricity, Japanese officials are trying to keep the cores of their affected nuclear power plants cool). Southern California's other nuclear plant, the Diablo Canyon plant near San Luis Obispo, would withstand a 7.5 quake, reports CBS Los Angeles, meaning both power plants couldn't endure the 8.9 quake that hit Japan last week. Image by exquisitir via Flickr
· San Onofre Plant Can Withstand a 7.0 [LA Times]
· Japan Meltdown Stirs Fears Over SoCal Plants [CBS Los Angeles]