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:
.4.4.4 Considerations, Regulatory Experience, and Staff Position Commercial nuclear power stations can preempt large areas, especially when large cooling lakes are constructed. This is likely to be an important issue when a proposed site is on productive land (e.g., agricultural land) that is locally limited in availability and is important to the local economy, or that may be needed to meet foreseeable national demand for agricultural products. For a potential site on land devoted to specialty crop production where changes in land use might cause market dislocation, a detailed investigation should be conducted to demonstrate that potential impacts have been identified. For example, under 7 CFR Part 1491, working agricultural lands are protected from conversion to nonagricultural use. Since power reactor sites under consideration are likely to be in rural areas and potentially under cultivation, this regulation may apply in determining site suitability. Applicants must examine land use plans adopted by Federal, State, regional, or local agencies and must resolve any conflict between these plans and use of a proposed site by consulting the appropriate governmental entity. Individual state and local governments administer parks, recreation areas, and other public use and benefit areas. Information on these areas should be obtained from State and local agencies. Information on local historic areas should be obtained from the State or Tribal historic preservation officer. If a preliminary evaluation indicates that the use of productive land for a commercial nuclear power station could cause significant economic dislocation, the NRC staff will require a detailed evaluation of the potential impact, together with a justification for the use of the site based on a DG-4034, Page 46 cost-effectiveness comparison of alternative station designs and site-station combinations. The staff will also need to know whether and to what extent the land use would affect national