Worldwide, geoscientists are exploring and developing methodologies to estimate volcanic and tectonic hazards associated with the siting of nuclear facilities, including nuclear power plants and proposed long-lived geological repositories of radioactive wastes. Understanding such geological hazards, particularly in the context of long-lived nuclear facilities, is a challenging task. This book presents the current state of the art in volcanic and tectonic hazard assessment for nuclear facilities, with the goal of promoting interest and debate in this important topic.

Nuclear energy has been a source of power for a little over fifty years. Today, 30 countries utilize nuclear power plants to generate 16% of the world's electricity. By 2015, world energy demand is set to double from its 1980 figure. Nevertheless, in the early years of this century it would not have been possible to forecast the renewed worldwide interest in nuclear energy that is now evident. Low carbon emission requirements and need for security of energy supply have caused many countries to take steps to renew or increase their existing nuclear power capacity. Other countries may soon embark upon nuclear power programs for the first time. It is not inconceivable that within the next twenty years a dozen additional countries will have nuclear power plants or associated nuclear fuel cycle facilities.

One reason for the slow development of nuclear power during the last two decades has been concern, and sometimes controversy, about the safety of nuclear installations. Although much of this concern revolves around the safe management and operation of nuclear power plants, the possibility that natural events could jeopardize facilities has attained increasing significance among those charged with regulating safety.