Delta Force
Banned
When the now canceled Black Fox Nuclear Power Plant was first proposed Oklahoma was one of the least seismically active areas of the United States. Since 2009 the frequency of earthquakes has increased nearly 200 times, to the extent that the United States Geological Service has declared the earthquake risk in the area to be on par with California. It's thought that hydraulic fracturing technology might be responsible for the increased earthquake activity in the area.
Would Black Fox Nuclear Power Plant have been safe to operate under the current earthquake conditions in Oklahoma if it had been completed as planned? If not, would the utility be able to seek redresses from the petroleum industry for its losses? Doesn't tort law generally require a specific party to be named, which would be difficult if not impossible given the fact that numerous companies are involved in hydraulic fracturing and earthquakes are a naturally occurring phenomena?
Also, what if an earthquake believed to be caused by fracking activity led to an incident at the plant? Obviously the Price-Anderson Act would cover liabilities up to a certain amount, but could the utility sue for the loss of the facility itself, and perhaps the insurers and United States federal government for their insurance losses?
Would Black Fox Nuclear Power Plant have been safe to operate under the current earthquake conditions in Oklahoma if it had been completed as planned? If not, would the utility be able to seek redresses from the petroleum industry for its losses? Doesn't tort law generally require a specific party to be named, which would be difficult if not impossible given the fact that numerous companies are involved in hydraulic fracturing and earthquakes are a naturally occurring phenomena?
Also, what if an earthquake believed to be caused by fracking activity led to an incident at the plant? Obviously the Price-Anderson Act would cover liabilities up to a certain amount, but could the utility sue for the loss of the facility itself, and perhaps the insurers and United States federal government for their insurance losses?