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:
arts • remote sensing data from Landsat and SeaWiFS imagery from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) • data on marine protected areas (MPAs) from the National Marine Protected Areas Center • Federal, state, and private land use and land cover maps • existing and projected future land use maps from the local planning and zoning offices • Federal, state, and local landings data • Academic studies of local ecology from nearby institutions • Other environmental documents (e.g., Environmental Impact Statement, Environmental Assessment, Biological Assessment, Biological Opinion, Essential Fish Habitat Assessment) from nearby facilities Aquatic Environmental Baseline Investigations Aquatic environmental baseline investigations inventory and characterize freshwater, estuarine, and marine flora, fauna, and habitats in potentially affected areas on and in the vicinity of a proposed site, including associated offsite rights-of-way for features such as transmission lines or pipelines. Baseline investigations provide more detailed information than needed for the analysis of alternative sites, form a basis for assessing potential impacts to aquatic resources, provide data useful for determining the environmental integrity (e.g., habitat and function) of the site in an ecoregional context, and serve as a foundation for related monitoring and mitigation required by federal, state, or local agencies. The level of detail should be roughly proportional to the anticipated magnitude of potential impacts and the amount of information needed to evaluate the significance of the impacts. The spatial extent of potential building and operation impacts can extend beyond the proposed property limits to encompass areas potentially affected by site-related activities, such as surface or ground water drawdown, noise, pressure changes, scour and erosion, storm-water runoff, dredged or excavated material disposal, water discharge plumes, and cooling tower drift.