Chris:

I hear what you're saying.

One would suppose, based on plate tectonics, that such a huge release of energy would have to be along a plate boundary. As far as I know this location is not along a plate boundary. Which brings one to the question: Why that location over others?

Keeping in mind geologic length-type times, 5 years is not too long (though I know what you are saying....). In addition, the SF bay is along a plate boundary (of sorts)...so it isn't exactly the same analogy. Choosing a 500 km distant location away from a plate boundary (from the Nev. site) would be a closer analogy....(where the M8 has yet to happen....?)....

$.02