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Slideshow: America's Ten Riskiest Nuclear Reactors

The Nuclear Regulatory Commissions calculated the odds of an earthquake damaging the core of every reactor in the country. Here are the ten riskiest.

Ben Jervey
By Ben JerveyApr 09, 2011
Ben Jervey
Ben is a writer and editor covering climate change, energy, and environment, and is currently the Climate and Energy Media Fellow at Vermont Law School. He was the original Environment Editor at GOOD Magazine and his work has appeared regularly in National Geographic News, Grist, DeSmogBlog, and OnEarth. He recently worked with the non-profit Focus the Nation to publish an Energy 101 primer. When living in New York City, he wrote a book, The Big Green Apple, on how to live a lower impact life in the city. A bicycle enthusiast, Ben has ridden across the United States and through much of Europe.
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The odds listed were generated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and reflect the chances of an earthquake causing damage to each reactor's core. The odds take into consideration two main factors: the chance of a serious quake, and the strength of design of the plant. They also factor the changes in USGS data from 1989 to 2008.

Read more about the NRC's nuclear risk assessment at MSNBC.

nuclearearthquakeseismicnukesnuclear regulatory commissionnuclear risk

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