"Nuclear Regulator Wants New Earthquake Reviews"

"The nuclear regulator said on Thursday that it will require operators of the nation's 104 nuclear reactors to review their earthquake risks as part of an ongoing update of seismic hazards for power plants.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said it will provide existing plants with a seismic analysis tool later this year that will allow plants to perform "an updated review."

The agency began studying the earthquake risks of the central and eastern regions of the country after new information became available about the area, but all plants across the country will have to undertake the new review, a spokesman said.

Since it began the review, Japan's nuclear crisis and this week's historic east coast earthquake have raised new concerns from critics and some lawmakers about whether the nation's plants would be able to withstand a major earthquake."

Ayesha Rascoe reports for Reuters August 26, 2011.

SEE ALSO:

"East Coast Earthquake Prompts Safety Alerts at 12 Nuclear Plants From NC to Michigan" (AP)

"Quake Renews Call to Enforce Pill Law" (Wall St. Journal)