Document: NRC Regulatory Guide
Document ID: 1859c547-c10c-4ce4-ad2e-e54f7b66d4ef
Document Type: regulatory_guide
Title: Laboratory Investigations of Soils and Rocks for Engineering Analysis and Design of Nuclear Power Plants + HISTORY – HISTORY 07/2014 – DG-1256 , Proposed Revision 3 08/2001 – DG-1109 , Proposed Revision 2 (Rev. 3)
Source: NRC Regulatory Guide Division 1
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1318/ML13186A032.pdf
Revision Date: 2023-06
Chapter: 
Section ID: RG-1.138
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Content:
and testing practices acceptable to the staff of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for determining soil and rock properties and characteristics needed for engineering analysis and design of foundations and earthworks for nuclear power plants. Existing standards reflect the state of the art of laboratory practices for testing soils and rocks; where appropriate, this guide discusses and references such standards. Applicable Regulations • Appendix A, to Title 10, Part 50, of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR Part 50), “Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities” (Ref. 1) governs the licensing of nuclear power plants and provides general design criteria (GDC). • 10 CFR Part 52 “Licenses, Certifications, and Approvals for Nuclear Power Plants,” (Ref. 2) governs the issuance of early site permits, standard design certifications, combined licenses, standard design approvals, and manufacturing licenses for nuclear power facilities licensed under Section 103 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (68 Stat. 919), and Title II of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 (88 Stat. 1242). • 10 CFR Part 100, “Reactor Site Criteria” (Ref. 3), requires NRC to consider the physical characteristics of a site including seismology and geology in determining the site’s acceptability for a nuclear power reactor. In particular, 10 CFR 100.20(c), 10 CFR 100.21(d), and 10 CFR 100.23, establish requirements for conducting site investigations for nuclear power plants license applications submitted after January 10, 1997. The evaluation of a site for seismic response analyses and DG-1256, Page 2 engineering design requires information about the static and dynamic engineering properties of the site’s soil and rock materials. Related Guidance • Regulatory Guide 4.7, “General Site Suitability Criteria for Nuclear Power Stations” (Ref. 4), discusses characteristics that affect a site’s suitability. • Regulatory Guide 1.132,