NRC: Va. Nuclear Plant Not Damaged In Earthquake

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says Dominion power responded appropriately after the Aug. 23 earthquake shut down its two nuclear reactors at North Anna Power Station, according to Associated Press.

The North Anna power plant is just 11 miles from the epicenter of the 5.8-magnitude earthquake that was felt from Virginia to Toronto. Dominion Power shut down the two reactors at the station, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission now says that was an appropriate course of action. 

NRC officials also concur with Dominion's claims that there was no significant damage to the plant. That's even though the ground under the plant moved more vigorously than the plant was originally licensed to withstand.

Dominion says that reinforcements made in the 1990s protect the plant from vibrations well beyond what it was originally built for. Still, the reactors remain offline.