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the site. These include the Midway, Antioch, and Greenville faults, <br />which are located 57, 61, and 66 km west of the site, respectively. <br />To estimate the MPE that may occur along each significant fault <br />previously identified, the earthquake potential of each must first be <br />evaluated. The historic earthquake record may be used to estimate the <br />earthquake potential of faults. Historical seismicity within 100 km <br />of the site was compiled (see Plate C-2) and indicates that the area <br />surrounding the site is characterized by relatively low seismicity. <br />Between 1800 and 1986, 19 significant historic earthquakes occurred <br />within 100 km of the site. The nearest known significant historic <br />earthquakes occurred 63 km west of the site, in the Northern Coast <br />Ranges geomorphic province (see Plate C-2). <br />Maximum historic earthquakes for previously identified faults are <br />summarized on Table C-1. The maximum historic earthquake associated <br />with the Greenville fault (magnitude 5.9) occurred in 1980, approxi- <br />mately 63 km west of the site. The maximum historic earthquake <br />associated with the Antioch fault (magnitude 6.0) occurred in 1889, <br />approximately 70 km from the site. The maximum historic earthquake _ <br />associated with the Melones fault zone (magnitude 4.0) occurred in <br />1937, approximately 116 km southeast of the site. Prior to 1975, the <br />Sierran Foothills fault system (i.e., the Bear Mountains and Melones <br />fault zones) was considered inactive. The 1975 Oroville earthquake <br />(magnitude 5.7) occurred along a northern segment of the Sierran <br />Foothills fault system and prompted a re-evaluation of the earthquake <br />potential of this fault system. The results of this evaluation <br />indicate that the fault system is capable of generating maximum <br />earthquakes ranging in magnitude from 6.0 to 6.5 (Borchardt, et al., <br />1972; Woodward -Clyde Consultants, 1977). <br />In addition to evaluating the historic earthquake record, the earth- <br />quake potential of faults may be evaluated by applying empirical <br />relationships that relate various fault parameters (e.g., fault <br />length, fault type, etc.) to maximum credible earthquake (MCE) <br />