Want to know why nuke plants didn't feel that quake?

[Skidmore]

I posted this as a response on another thread, but think it deserves its own thread.


http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/08/23/virginia-nuclear-plant-had-quake-sensors-removed-due-to-budget-cuts/

Quake sensors removed around Virginia nuke plant due to budget cuts


By David Edwards
Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011 -- 3:52 pm


A nuclear power plant that was shut down after an earthquake struck central Virginia Tuesday had seismographs removed in 1990s due to budget cuts....

[gratuitous]

1. Seismographs removed in the 1990s?

That seems a pretty long time ago. What is the annual cost of a seismograph? Seems like once you've made the outlay for the equipment, you're just paying for the electricity to keep it running. Of course, when you're talking about the "too cheap to meter" electricity generated by a nuclear plant, perhaps they couldn't afford the juice?

[valerief]

2. What could POSSIBLY go wrong with a nuclear power plant? C'mon! nt

[Tesha]

3. I'll bet testing and calibration is a significant annual cost.

Plus, what do you do with the data? A pretty reasonable
argument could be made that Fukushima might have been
better-off had at least one of the plants been left
running to provide shutdown power for the other plants.

Tesha