Document: NRC Regulatory Guide
Document ID: f0baf50b-5bb7-4783-b2f9-9586e09c97e1
Document Type: regulatory_guide
Title: Preparation of Environmental Reports for Nuclear Power Stations + HISTORY - HISTORY 02/2017 – DG-4026 , Proposed Revision 3 09/2014 – Periodic Review of Revision 2 – Revise (Rev. 3)
Source: NRC Regulatory Guide Division 4
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1611/ML16116A068.pdf
Revision Date: 2023-06
Chapter: 
Section ID: RG-4.2
CFR Part: 
CFR Title: 

Content:
facility. This includes waterbodies associated with offsite transmission and pipeline corridors, large component transport routes, and any other affected offsite areas. The description should focus on the information that is needed for the evaluation of potential impacts to the aquatic environment that may result from building and operation. For the purposes of this section, vicinity is defined as the area (not on the site) that would potentially be affected by the direct and indirect impacts of building and operations. The region is defined as the site, vicinity, and the wider surrounding area. It encompasses areas that influence the site and vicinity (for example the tributaries on a river). The ER should clearly describe the vicinity and region for the aquatic ecosystem. The amount of detail and description provided for the region would be brief in comparison to the description of the proposed site, vicinity, and any affected offsite project areas such as the transmission and pipeline corridors. Regulatory Guide 4.24, “Aquatic Environmental Studies for Nuclear Power Stations” (Ref. 34), provides guidance on designing and implementing aquatic environmental studies for baseline descriptions and for impact analysis. The subsections below address specific elements of characterizing baseline aquatic conditions, including aquatic habitats, organisms, and important species and habitats. DG-4026, Page 36 Aquatic Habitats The ER should include the following information to characterize aquatic habitats: • A description of the aquatic environment, including the relative significance of habitats in waterbodies onsite or in the vicinity of the site, including those that would be used for plant cooling or that could be affected by other activities. • Maps or figures, including electronic layers, showing waterbodies and aquatic habitats on the proposed site and in the vicinity and region, including the natural structure of the benthic habitat, the location and depth of