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:
natives 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 alternatives which were eliminated from detailed study, briefly discuss the reasons for their having been eliminated. • Devote substantial treatment to each alternative considered in detail including the proposed action so that reviewers may evaluate their comparative merits. • Include reasonable alternatives not within the jurisdiction of the lead agency. • Include the alternative of no action. 15 The CEQ publication entitled, “Forty Most Asked Questions Concerning CEQ’s National Environmental Policy Act Regulations,” dated March 23, 1981, and amended April 25, 1986 (46 FR 18026 and 51 FR 15618, respectively), provides additional guidance on alternatives. DG-4015, Page 52 • Identify the agency’s preferred alternative or alternatives, if one or more exists, in the draft statement and identify such alternative in the final statement unless another law prohibits the expression of such a preference. • Include appropriate mitigation measures not already included in the proposed action or alternatives. In deciding whether or not to approve license renewal, the NRC will consider the environmental impacts of alternatives as well as those of the proposed action. The NRC considers environmental effects of license renewal according to 10 CFR 51.103(a)(5), which states the following: In making a final decision on a license renewal action pursuant to Part 54 of this chapter, the Commission shall determine whether or not the adverse environmental impacts of license renewal are so great that preserving the option of license renewal for energy planning decision makers would be unreasonable. 7.1 Energy Alternatives Alternatives Considered Each energy alternative should meet the purpose and need for the proposed action. The purpose and need adopted by the NRC, as