New Earthquake Hazard Map

2014

The 2014 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Seismic Hazard Maps display earthquake ground motions for various probability levels across the United States and are applied in seismic provisions of building codes, insurance rate structures, risk assessments, and other public policy. The updated maps represent an assessment of the best available science in earthquake hazards and incorporate new findings on earthquake ground shaking, faults, seismicity, and geodesy. The USGS National Seismic Hazard Mapping Project developed these maps by incorporating information on potential earthquakes and associated ground shaking obtained from interaction in science and engineering workshops involving hundreds of participants, review by several science organizations and State surveys, and advice from expert panels and a Steering Committee. The new probabilistic hazard maps represent an update of the seismic hazard maps; previous versions were developed by Petersen and others (2008) and Frankel and others (2002), using the methodology developed Frankel and others (1996). Algermissen and Perkins (1976) published the first probabilistic seismic hazard map of the United States which was updated in Algermissen and others (1990).
The National Seismic Hazard Maps are derived from seismic hazard curves calculated on a grid of sites across the United States that describe the frequency of exceeding a set of ground motions. Data and maps from the 2014 U.S. Geological Survey National Seismic Hazard Maps are available for download below. Maps for available periods (0.2 s, 1 s, PGA) and specified annual frequencies can be calculated from the hazard curves. The figure depicts probabilistic ground motion (PGA) with a 2 percent probability of exceedance. All ground motions are calculated for 5 percent damped linear elastic oscillators at site conditions corresponding to the B/C Boundary (Vs30 = 760 m/s).

• Map - Conterminous US, PGA, 2% in 50 years (2MB PDF)
• Data
• Source code (available September 2014)
• Catalogs (available later in 2014)
• Faults Database Search
• Fault Source Map (available later in 2014)
• Documentation - Open File Report 2014-1091

Pabst PAC Trouble/ Same Sex Marriage O.K./ For Profit College Closing

Missoulian: PAC that backed Pabst violated law, state official finds
Fletcher v Pabst/Montanans for Veracity Diversity and Work COPP ... 

Missoulian: Court rules for gay marriage in Oklahoma case

Opinion of the Court in Nos. 14-5003 & 14-5006, Bishop, et al v. Smith, et al

“This appeal was brought by the Court Clerk for Tulsa County, Oklahoma, asking us to overturn a decision by the district court declaring un enforceable the Oklahoma state constitutional prohibition on issu ing marriage licenses to same-s ex couples. It followed quickly on the heels of an analogous appeal br ought by State of Utah officials requesting similar relief. Recognizing that the ruling in the Utah case would likely control the disposition of her appeal, the Oklahoma appellant asked that we assign these cases to the same panel. Our court did so “

Missoulian: Prosecutor to monitor for-profit college chain

U.S. Department of Education – Corinthian Colleges
“The U.S. Department of Education and Corinthian Colleges Inc. have agreed to an operating plan that provides students at the company’s career colleges a chance to complete their education and protects taxpayers’ investment while Corinthian works to either sell or close its campuses across the country in the next six months.
The plan calls for an independent monitor that will oversee this process for all programs owned by Corinthian, including Everest, Heald and Wyotech campuses.”

Fires/ Immigration

Missoulian: Washington wildfire burns through Alp-like terrain

InciWeb Current Incidents

Missoulian: Senate chairman warns against border policy change

Chairman Menendez’s Opening Remarks at Hearing, “Dangerous Passage: Central America in Crisis and the Exodus of Unaccompanied Minors”

“Just as it’s important that we address this humanitarian crisis, in my view, it’s equally important that we don’t rush to change our laws in a way that would strip these children of their rights to due process. In dealing with this crisis, it is imperative that we understand its root causes and why it is not about America putting out a welcome mat, it’s about a desperate effort by desperate parents to do what any parent would do to protect their child from violence and the threat of death.”

Digital Information Rights/ Digital Surveillance

Missoulian: Bill ensures emails, photos won't die with you

Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act
“The Uniform Law Commission (ULC, also known as the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws), established in 1892, provides states with non-partisan, well-conceived and well-drafted legislation that brings clarity and stability to critical areas of state statutory law… The Uniform Law Commission (ULC) has worked for the uniformity of state laws since 1892. It is a non-profit unincorporated association, comprised of state commissions on uniform laws from each state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each jurisdiction determines the method of appointment and the number of commissioners actually appointed. Most jurisdictions provide for their commission by statute.

There is only one fundamental requirement for the more than 300 uniform law commissioners: that they be members of the bar. While some commissioners serve as state legislators, most are practitioners, judges, and law professors. They serve for specific terms, and receive no salaries or fees for their work with the ULC.”

Missoulian: UN: Nations hide rise in private digital snooping

UN rights chief warns of ‘disturbing lack of transparency’ for digital mass surveillance
“The top United Nations human rights official today warned of the “disturbing” lack of transparency in governmental surveillance policies and practices, “including de facto coercion of private sector companies to provide sweeping access to information and data relating to private individuals without the latter’s knowledge or consent.”
“This is severely hindering efforts to ensure accountability for any resulting human rights violations, or even to make us aware that such violations are taking place, despite a clear international legal framework laying down Governments’ obligations to protect our right to privacy,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay said in Geneva today.
Introducing a report compiled by her Office entitled, The Right to Privacy in the Digital Age, she stressed the need for vigilance and procedural safeguards against governmental surveillance programmes.”