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       One major problem with nuclear power plants involves earthquakes. A major quake off the northeast coast of Japan in March of 2011 resulted in flooding and meltdowns that destroyed the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Radioactively contaminated water is still pouring the Pacific Ocean eight years later. Some Japanese nuclear power plants were permanently closed and others are just being restarted.
       In the U.S., the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant near San Luis Obispo in central California is threatened by major faults in the area. After a new fault near the plant was discovered, there were attempts to upgrade the plant. It turned out that one of the two nuclear reactors was not adequately enhanced to deal with a possible quake. The NRC and the Pacific Gas and Electric company that operates the power plant conspired to change the way that earthquake risk was assessed in order for the NRC to approve the changes and certify that the plant was safe from possible quakes.
       There has been a increase in seismic activity in Central Washington in the past few weeks. This reinforced the fact that Western Washington is not the only part of the state that is at risk from earthquakes. There has been a series of small quakes near Mattawa and Royal City that is increasing the concerns about earthquake danger in Central Washington.
        The Columbia Generating Station (CGS) is the only operating nuclear power plant in the state of Washington. The CGS is located in the Hanford Nuclear Reservation (HNR) and there are increasing concerns that seismic activity in the HNR may pose a threat to the CGS.
       The reactor at the CGS is owned by General Electric. It is operated Energy Northwest, a public power agency. It began operating in 1984 after a study which found that there were only two significant earthquakes in the area in the last one hundred and twelve years. This allowed the reactor to begin operations in accordance with federal safety standards dealing with seismicity.
       Since that original study before the 1984 operation of the reactor at CGS, geologists have found that there are multiple faults in and around the HNR. They have also found that one of the most historically active and dangerous surface faults called the South Whidby Island Fault (SWIF) runs right through the HNR. Scientists say that that the SWIF and other nearby faults could generate a huge quake in excess of 7.0 magnitude on the Richter scale. The CGS may not be able to withstand such a quake.
       Of course, officials at Energy Northwest claim that there is no risk to the operation of the CGS from potential major earthquakes. They have a strong economic incentive to convince people that their nuclear power plant is safe and does not require any extensive refitting to prepare for major quakes. However, there was recent article published in the Earth Island Journal which says that the CGS has been operating without any comprehensive seismic assessment studies for over thirty years. The CGS needs to have a thorough review of their readiness for a major quake.