Proposed B.C. dam would be built to withstand rare earthquakes
by The Canadian Press
BC Hydro's Tim Little said Site C model could hold up against up to 7.6-magnitude earthquake
FORT ST. JOHN, B.C.—BC Hydro engineers have told the Joint Review Panel for the Site C project that the dam’s design is robust and could withstand an earthquake more powerful than any ever recorded in northeastern British Columbia.
Speaking at public hearings examining the proposal for the massive dam, geological engineer Tim Little said the model allows for up to a 7.6-magnitude earthquake.
Such a powerful quake is estimated to occur only once in every 10,000 events and a 7.6 shaker is 2,000 times more powerful than the largest ever recorded in the region—a 5.4-magnitude quake near Dawson Creek, approximately 75 kilometres southeast of Fort St. John.
Little said BC Hydro based the Site C design on what the utility calls the largest and most comprehensive seismic hazard analysis.
Hearings into the project have resumed in Fort St. John, with discussions focused on the aquatic environment.
Presentations are expected from Natural Resources Canada, Transport Canada and the Ministry of Forests, as well as Saulteau First Nations, West Moberly First Nations, Treaty 8 Tribal Association and the Peace River Environmental Society.
