Document: NRC Regulatory Guide
Document ID: e5306f4f-dc8c-4f60-a71c-af7ad4080384
Document Type: regulatory_guide
Title: Aquatic Environmental Studies for Nuclear Power Stations + HISTORY - HISTORY 12/2014 – DG-4023 -Proposed New Guide
Source: NRC Regulatory Guide Division 4
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1318/ML13186A085.pdf
Revision Date: 2023-06
Chapter: 
Section ID: RG-4.24
CFR Part: 
CFR Title: 

Content:
tered sediment transport patterns. For habitat modification analysis one needs to quantify habitat modifications, conversions, fragmentation, and losses by mapping and analyzing the following: • the spatial extent of the existing aquatic habitats • site-preparation and building plans for in-water activities • temporal variation in the occupation of various habitats • model outputs for water withdrawal and discharge effects (e.g., thermal plume extent, scouring, current alterations). Distinguishing between permanent and temporary habitat losses and distinguishing among habitat losses attributable to each major project element are both important. Impact analysis usually needs to extend beyond quantifying the areal extent of habitat losses. It needs to evaluate the effects of habitat losses on the distribution, movement, behavior, feeding, and reproduction of species. Biological monitoring of natural and anthropogenic effects on habitats, as well as species, is an excellent tool to assess accurately dynamic ecology in the vicinity of the project. Analysts need to consider the timing of activities and impacts as well as natural diurnal, seasonal, and long-term shifts in aquatic habitat, aquatic assemblages, important life history events, and species distributions synergistically with anthropogenic effects of the planned activities related to site preparation, building, and operation. Noise and Pressure Effects Analyses It is important to consider the possible effects of proposed short-term and long-term noise and pressure on aquatic species in the vicinity of the proposed activities. Noise and pressure transience generated by the operation of dredging and pile-driving equipment, for example, can adversely affect the distribution, behavior (including migration, feeding, reproduction, and communication), and even physiology and integrity of certain tissues of aquatic animals in the area. Analyses can compare projected noise levels in aquatic habitats near project