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:
ice the frequency of the targeted event, sampling should be conducted at least twice per season for any aquatic system (Ref. 25). Additionally, analysts should follow appropriate sampling protocols as directed by other federal, state, and local agencies. Data describing biophysical parameters, such as water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and salinity, should be collected concurrently with biotic sampling. The sampling method should be designed comprehensively enough to describe benthic assemblages, including epifauna and infauna, biota in different stream habitats (i.e., riffle v. pool areas), and invertebrate and vertebrate communities in the water column and near the surface in intertidal, nearshore, and offshore environments in the vicinity of the proposed site. Sampling location, taxa targets, timing, and duration should be designed according to site-specific characteristics and per federal, state, or local sampling methods and protocols as available. Analysts should be generally familiar with the species that could potentially occur in the areas where they will conduct flora and fauna surveys. Thus, analysts should review any existing data and reports describing aquatic biota in the survey area or in nearby areas with similar habitats. Analysts should contact federal, state, tribal, local, and private organizations, including academic institutions, to acquire such data. These data may identify aquatic species that could potentially inhabit the subject areas and may help the analyst identify suitable survey methods. Moreover, it would be appropriate to follow previous methodology, if scientifically suitable, for purposes of detecting and analyzing trends. The agencies also may direct the analyst to survey for specific listed species and other species of regional interest and may provide recommended survey timings and protocols specific to such species. For certain species, the agencies may request that uniquely qualified specialists conduct the surveys.