NYC faces new quake dangers, study says

An analysis of recent earthquake activity around New York City has found that many small faults that were believed to be inactive could contribute to a major, disastrous earthquake.

The study also finds that a line of seismic activity comes within three km of the Indian Point nuclear power plant, about 40 km north of New York City. Another fault line near the plant was already known, so the findings suggest Indian Point is at an intersection of faults.

The study's authors, who work at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Observatory, acknowledge that the biggest earthquakes - in the 6 or 7 magnitude range - are rare in the New York City region. They say a quake of magnitude 7 probably comes about every 3,400 years.