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:
ponds could be affected. The significance of the impact would depend on cooling pond water quality, site hydrogeologic conditions (including the interaction of surface water and groundwater), and the location, depth, and pump rate of water wells. Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(D) requires the following: If the applicant’s plant is located at an inland site and utilizes cooling ponds, an assessment of the impact of the proposed action on groundwater quality must be provided. Section 4.5.1.2 of the GEIS also discusses this issue. If the plant does not use cooling ponds or if the cooling ponds are adjacent to salt marshes, the ER should note this fact, and no further information need be provided. Information and Analysis Content If the plant uses cooling ponds and is not adjacent to salt marshes, the applicant should provide the following information and analyses to enable the NRC staff to assess the presence and magnitude of groundwater quality degradation during operation: • Describe cooling pond characteristics (e.g., liners or impermeable materials used, impermeable soils) that would retard or prevent infiltration into local aquifers. • Identify the types and concentrations of impurities in the cooling pond water and chemistry of soils along pathways to local aquifers to determine whether cooling pond water can contaminate the groundwater. • Describe water quality and other characteristics of local aquifers that could be affected by infiltration of cooling pond water. • Provide Federal, State, and local groundwater quality requirements with emphasis on any changes to these requirements that have occurred during the plant’s initial license term and any anticipated changes to those requirements during the license renewal term. • Identify and characterize offsite groundwater users who could be affected by the degradation of aquifers. Include locations and elevations of offsite wells, pumping rates, screened intervals, depth to water, and an