Seismic hazard methodology for the central and eastern United States. Volume 7. Tectonic interpretations by Law Engineering Testing Company. Final report

Seismic source zones were developed from tectonic features, zones of seismicity and seismotectonic regions. The use of tectonic feature-based source zones represents a cautious step forward in seismic hazard analysis in the central and eastern United States. As a way of quantifying the uncertainty associated with our seismotectonic interpretations each source zone was assigned a probability that the hypotheses regarding its seismogenic nature were true. This allows the use of overlapping source zones. These probabilities were developed using decision matrices, rather than a priori judgment, to assign the probabilities. Seismicity parameters were developed using an earthquake catalog and catalog completeness calculations provided by the EPRI methodology contractor. Maximum earthquakes for source zones were developed using regional seismotectonics, 1000 year return period earthquakes and historic maximum events