Design earthquakes for ITER in Europe at Cadarache

The European site proposed for ITER is situated in the south of France, 40 km north-east of Aix-en-Provence, in a low to moderate seismic area according to the Global Seismic Hazard Map (GSHAP Group 1999). The tokamak building would be implemented on good bedrock made of limestone with a shear wave velocity of over 1300 m/s. requirements and assumptions for ITER consider that an infrequent, severe earthquake (called SL-2), although unlikely to occur during the lifetime of the facility, is assessed to demonstrate adequate protection of the public. This earthquake is assumed to have a return period of 10,000 years. An investment protection level or inspection level (where all structures, systems and components are safe) with a peak ground acceleration (pga) at 0.5 m/s2 is also considered. As a basis, orders of magnitude of consequences, if no countermeasures were taken, are given. spects are discussed: regulation, implementation of this regulation for the proposed site (site geology, tectonic and seismotectonic), a probabilistic seismic hazard assessment of the site and finally, the fulfilment of the requirements and assumptions, according to IAEA guides. onclusion of the studies, the main characteristics of the Cadarache European site are discussed. Preliminary studies have shown that the European site proposal will ensure a low level of project risk with respect to the seismic hazard.