Fault dangers: Sunday’s 3.1 tremor triggers ‘unusual event’ at Virgina’s North Anna nuclear plant

March 26, 2012 – VIRGINA – Once again, an aftershock from last summer’s earthquake prompted operators at North Anna Power Station in Louisa County to report an “unusual event” to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Richard Zuercher, a spokesman for Dominion power, says a report is filed with the NRC  if the tremor is felt in the control room. An inspection was done after the magnitude-3.1 aftershock hit at 11:21 p.m. Sunday, and no damage was discovered. Unit 1 is shut down for refueling; Unit 2 continues to operate at full power. The last unusual event declared after a  magnitude 3.2  aftershock in January. There have been dozens of aftershocks in excess of magnitude 2.0, since the 5.8-magnitude earthquake last Aug. 23. The plant sits about 11 miles from the epicenter near Mineral. –Fredricksburg