[ArrogantBustard]

For background:

1) I am pro-nuke. Big time.
2) I am somewhat ignorant of the geology around San Onofre.

Question:

How geologically unstable is that area? Historically, is it subject to tsunami (or other) flooding?

[thackney]

The power plant is included in the areas for tsunami inundation.

http://www.conservation.ca.gov/cgs/geologic_hazards/Tsunami/Inundation_Maps/SanDiego/Documents/Tsunami_Inundation_SanOnofreBluff_Quad_SanDiego.pdf

[thackney]

Southern California Edison states the station was “built to withstand a 7.0 magnitude earthquake directly under the plant”. Additionally, there is a 25-foot tsunami wall to protect the plant from a rogue wave that could be potentially generated by the active fault 5 miles offshore. The closest tectonic fault line is the Christianitos fault, which is considered inactive or “dead”.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Onofre_Nuclear_Generating_Station

The wall can be seen in the enlarged photo below:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/Aerial_San_Onofre_Generating_Station_May_2012.JPG