Use of probabilistic seismic hazard results: General decision making, the Charleston earthquake issue, and severe accident evaluations

Practical criteria and methodologies are developed for the use of seismic hazard results in decision-making related to safety evaluation and design of nuclear power plants. These criteria and methodologies constitute a set of semi-formal approaches that (1) have been implemented in the resolution of key seismic issues and (2) provide utility engineers with meaningful guidance in formulating solutions to a variety of future decision problems that may arise as a consequence of the earthquake threat.The criteria, methods, and results developed in this study serve to clarify the basis for resolution of past seismic issues, and to assist utility engineers and engineering managers in better understanding the relevance and application of probabilistic hazard results to future seismic concerns they may encounter