June 2002 Press Releases

Press Release
Nevada Seismological Laboratory

14 June 2002 9:30 AM PDT

M 4.4 Earthquake in southern Nevada.

There was magnitude 4.4 earthquake June 14, 2002, at 5:40 a.m. today. It was lo cated at 36.7150 N, 116.3003 W, with a preliminary depth of 12 kilometers (~ 7 m i). This location is approximately 20 km (~ 12 miles) southeast of the proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain and just inside of Hwy 395 between I ndian Springs and Beatty, Nevada. This earthquake occurred in the aftershock zo ne of the M 5.6 Little Skull Mountain earthquake of June 29, 1992. The area has been active since that earthquake, but this is the largest event in over 6 year s.

The data reported here has been reviewed. For more information, contact the Neva da Seismological Laboratory, (775) 784-4975. The free pamphlet "Earthquakes in Nevada and How to Survive Them," is available on request. The NSL operates a statewide network of seismog raphic stations and investigates the sizes, frequencies of occurrence, and distribution of earth quakes in the region, and other problems related to seismic risk in Nevada. Visit the NSL web site at www.seismo.unr.edu for further information.