If we are to learn anything from the Japan earthquake andsubsequent tsunami, it's that the time has come to take a closerlook at the nuclear power plants in the United States and theirlocations near known fault lines and fault regions.

I'm working with Lamont Norman, of Pitney Bowes BusinessInsight, for an article on this subject and some amazing graphic images and they will be posted this week.But I wanted to give you an early look at the subject.

Norman, who is a global products manager, enterprise businesssolutions, writes:

"Earthquakes provide two risks to policy locations. The first is from ground shaking and the second is fromtsunamis.  This was recently demonstrated inJapan.  The losses from these two related disasters aremultiplied by the proximity of nuclear and toxic materials to thedisaster area. Nuclear plants and toxic material sites that arenear high earthquake risk areas can be used by insurance carriersto reduce property risk.  Losses from nuclear and toxiccontaminations can lead to property loss, lost wages, and businessinterruption claims."

The good news is most of the nuclear power plants in thiscountry lie east of the Mississippi River, while the majority ofthe fault lines are west of the Mississippi.

There are enough combinations of the two to cause a great dealof concern for insurance carriers and policyholders alike. AsNorman points out, 20 percent of the U.S. population lives within30 miles of a nuclear power plant and 13 plants lie within 30 milesof a fault.

An even greater concern is the number of toxic sites listed bythe EPA that could be at risk. Norman points out the need forinsurers to be aware of this potential disaster and to actaccordingly. Look for more on this subject later this week.