Document: NRC Regulatory Guide
Document ID: 01fb3132-b05a-41a0-ab81-466a6fb6f4d3
Document Type: regulatory_guide
Title: Preparation of Environmental Reports for Nuclear Power Plant License Renewal Applications (Rev. 1)
Source: NRC Regulatory Guide Division 4
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML0916/ML091620409.pdf
Revision Date: 2023-06
Chapter: 
Section ID: RG-4.2S1
CFR Part: 
CFR Title: 

Content:
alternatives, 10 CFR 51.45(b)(3) states the following: The discussion of alternatives shall be sufficiently complete to aid the Commission in developing and exploring, pursuant to section 102(2)(E) of NEPA, “appropriate alternatives to the recommended courses of action in any proposal which involves unresolved conflicts concerning alternative uses of available resources.” To the extent practicable, the environmental impacts of the proposal and the alternatives should be presented in comparative form. In addition, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(2) states the following: The applicant shall discuss in this report the environmental impacts of alternatives and any other matters described in § 51.45. The report is not required to include discussion of need for power or economic costs and economic benefits of the proposed action or of alternatives to the proposed action except insofar as such costs and benefits are either essential for a determination regarding the inclusion of an alternative in the range of alternatives considered or relevant to mitigation. The environmental report need not discuss other issues not related to the environmental effects of the proposed action and the alternatives. Furthermore, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(iii) states the following: The report must contain a consideration of alternatives for reducing adverse impacts, as required by 51.45(c), for all Category 2 license renewal issues in appendix B to subpart A of this part. No such consideration is required for Category 1 issues in appendix B to subpart A of this part. Section 5 of Appendix A to Subpart A of 10 CFR Part 51 presents requirements for the treatment of alternatives in an environmental impact statement. These requirements are consistent with the CEQ regulations implementing NEPA (40 CFR 1502.14, “Alternatives Including the Proposed Action”), which require that an environmental impact statement do the following:15 • Rigorously explore and objectively evaluate all reasonable alternatives, and for