Lamont-Doherty to get $255,000 for seismic monitoring

Washington, D.C.--Congressman Eliot Engel announced the awarding of a $255,000 grant to the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, from the United States Geologic Survey (USGS), to upgrade and maintain its seismic equipment for monitoring earthquakes.

Lamont-Doherty, affiliated with Columbia University and located in Palisades in Rockland County, is part of USGS and monitors the northeast United States for seismic activity.

Rep. Engel said, “Thankfully earthquakes of any magnitude are rare in this region of the country. But because of the density of the population and the presence of such facilities as the Indian Point Nuclear Facility, it is essential that we monitor for them. Lamont-Doherty is part of the national network monitoring seismic activity throughout the country, which is also part of a world-wide network.

“This grant money is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and as part of the grant, two people are being added to the staff to monitor and maintain the equipment.”