Document: NRC Regulatory Guide
Document ID: 239cc7c1-f2cb-46cc-945d-8009db28aa6c
Document Type: regulatory_guide
Title: General Site Suitability Criteria for Nuclear Power Stations + HISTORY - HISTORY 12/2023 – DG-4034 , Proposed Revision 4 12/2011 – DG-4021 , Proposed Revision 3 02/1995 – DG-4004, Second Proposed Revision 2 11/1992 – DG-4003, Proposed Revision 2 (Rev. 4)
Source: NRC Regulatory Guide Division 4
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2312/ML23123A090.pdf
Revision Date: 2023-10
Chapter: 
Section ID: RG-4.7
CFR Part: 
CFR Title: 

Content:
esign through operation and final decontamination and dismantlement at the time of decommissioning, in accordance with 10 CFR 20.1406, “Minimization of contamination.” RG 4.21 provides guidance on addressing these requirements. 2.3 Ecological Systems and Biota The potential impact of station construction and operation on biota (plant or animal species) and on their habitats and supporting ecological systems needs to be assessed. The ecological systems and biota at potential sites and their environs should be sufficiently well known to allow reasonable certainty that the construction or operation of a commercial nuclear power station at the site would have no unacceptable or unnecessary deleterious impacts on populations of important species or on the ecological systems with which they are associated. Section 2.4, “Ecology,” of NUREG-1555 provides the NRC staff with guidance on determining the adequacy of a site with respect to ecological systems and biota, and RG 4.11, “Terrestrial DG-4034, Page 37 Environmental Studies for Nuclear Power Stations” (Ref. 68), provides guidance to applicants. They list recommended studies of ecological systems and biological resources and discuss potential species and habitat protection under State, local, and Tribal governance. If justifiable in terms of costs and benefits, it is generally possible to mitigate the potential impacts of plant construction and operation on biota and ecological systems through engineering design and site planning and through proper construction and operations, given adequate information about the vulnerability of important species and ecological systems. 2.3.2 Preservation of Important Habitats In areas of great importance to the local aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, it may be difficult to assess potential impacts on important species or ecological systems. Such areas include those used for breeding (e.g., nesting and spawning), wintering, and feeding, as well as areas where there may be