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<TITLE>Invitation to submit comments to expert panel considering New Madrid seismic hazard</TITLE>
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<FONT SIZE="2"><FONT FACE="Consolas, Courier New, Courier"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:10pt'>Dear Colleagues and Friends,<BR>
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I serve as Chair of the National Earthquake Prediction Evaluation Council (NEPEC), a Federal advisory committee established by Congress in 1980 to advise the Director of the USGS on matters pertaining to earthquake predictions and related research. <BR>
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Last fall NEPEC surveyed the long-brewing controversy over the level of seismic hazard existing within the New Madrid seismic zone, and advised the USGS that an independent expert panel be convened to further examine the issue and provide guidance. <BR>
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The New Madrid Seismic Zone Expert Independent Panel has been convened and aims to produce a draft report to NEPEC by early April. NEPEC member John Vidale (U. Washington) serves as Chair. Members are: Lisa Grant Ludwig (U.CA Irvine), Stu Nishenko (Pacific Gas & Electric), Eric Hetland (U. Mich.), Gail Atkinson (U. Western Ont.), Stephane Mazzotti (GSC), Russell Green (VA Tech) and Lynn Sykes (Lamont). This is an outstanding group of scientists with a range of expertise, and I look forward to their findings both on the hazard in the NMSZ and on the USGS approach to characterizing and communicating that hazard. I attach the charge to the panel.<BR>
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The NMSZ panel is learning much from the scientific literature and through briefings and conversations with many experts on the geology and seismology of the region, on observations of the 1811-12 main shocks and other earthquakes that have occurred within the zone, and on related matters. If you have information or a point of view to offer for the panel's consideration, I invite you to send email to this address: <FONT COLOR="#0000FF"><U><a href="NMSZpanel@gmail.com">NMSZpanel@gmail.com</a></U></FONT>. Notes received by Thursday, March 10 will be the most helpful. <BR>
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Best regards,<BR>
Terry Tullis<BR>
Brown University</SPAN></FONT></FONT>
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