USGS grants to boost earthquake monitoring

RESTON, Va., Sept. 28 (UPI) -- The U.S. Geological Survey says it is awarding $5 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grants to upgrade earthquake monitoring networks.

The money is being awarded to 13 U.S. universities.

"These stimulus grants will save lives as well as create jobs," Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said. "More than 75 million Americans in 39 states face the risk of earthquakes. Through the modernization of seismic networks and data processing centers, scientists will be able to provide emergency responders with more reliable, robust information to save lives and reduce economic losses.

"These investments under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will provide jobs for the manufacturers of the equipment, the geophysical contractors who perform installations, and the colleges and universities that run regional earthquake networks and are training the next generation of earthquake scientists in partnership with USGS," Salazar added.

The universities receiving funding are the California Institute of Technology; the Universities of Montana, Oregon, Utah, California-San Diego, Washington, Nevada-Reno, California-Berkeley and Alaska-Fairbanks; Saint Louis University; the University of Memphis; Boston College and Columbia University.