In 2001 project officials selected Jay Kim, a Korean-American and former senior scientist of nuclear power plant design at Westinghouse, to approach U.S. developers.

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"We have reached the evaluation that the D-1 area of crushed rock in the premises of the Tsuruga power plant needs to be taken into consideration from the perspective of quake-resistant design, " Kunihiko Shimazaki, deputy chairman of the authority, told reporters during a news conference following a panel meeting where the report was approved.

WSJ: Panel: Active Fault Runs Beneath Japan Reactor

But scientists say it could take another 10 years of research and construction before the design is ready to be used in a nuclear power plant in the United States.

CNN: Today/Tomorrow - Helping nuclear plants keep their cool