Geological and Seismological Evaluation of Earthquake Hazards at Richard B. Russell Project.

No evidence of active faults is present in the general area of the damsite. It is concluded that the faults which are present are all ancient ones and are inactive. Present day tectonism indicates that moderate earthquakes occur in the Piedmont and adjacent regions. Severe earthquakes are restricted to a narrow band along the Summerville to Charleston, South Carolina area. Motions attenuated from Summerville-Charleston band to the damsite are low. A probability of recurrence study showed that the operating earthquake has an acceleration of 0.075g (0.01 annual risk). The operating basis earthquake is generally more moderate than the maximum earthquake. It is selected on a probabilistic basis from regional and local geology and seismology studies as being the largest expected to occur during the life of the project; in this case, 100 years.
Original contains color plates: All DDC reproductions will be in black and white.