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:
posed action on the flow of the river, and related impacts on instream (aquatic) and riparian (terrestrial) ecological communities must be provided. Section 4.6.1.1 of the GEIS discusses surface water use conflicts on terrestrial resources. 12 The January 23, 1981, Federal Register notice (46 FR 7644) establishes final policy guidance for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel involved in making recommendations to protect or conserve fish and wildlife resources. Guidance is provided on the definition and identification of “evaluation species,” evaluation of direct and indirect effects of a project on the evaluation species, the levels of mitigation, and the various methods for accomplishing mitigation when adverse effects are identified. On pages 7662 and 7663, the notice discusses the types of species that should be considered. In this regulatory guide, the terms “important species” and “evaluation species” are used interchangeably. DG-4015, Page 34 No additional surface water conflict information is needed for (1) plants using once-through cooling systems, (2) plants that do not specifically use cooling towers or cooling ponds, or (3) plants drawing makeup water for the cooling towers or cooling ponds from a river with an annual flow greater than 3.15×1012 ft3/yr (9×1010 m3/yr). Information and Analysis Content The ER should follow the general approach for information and analysis content for all ecology issues as described at the beginning of this section. Impacts of Continued Plant Operations on Terrestrial Ecosystems Table B-1 states the following: Continued operations, refurbishment, and maintenance activities are expected to keep terrestrial communities in their current condition. Application of best management practices would reduce the potential for impacts. The magnitude of impacts would depend on the nature of the activity, the status of the resources that could be affected, and the effectiveness of mitigation. Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53