Document: NRC Regulatory Guide
Document ID: 239cc7c1-f2cb-46cc-945d-8009db28aa6c
Document Type: regulatory_guide
Title: General Site Suitability Criteria for Nuclear Power Stations + HISTORY - HISTORY 12/2023 – DG-4034 , Proposed Revision 4 12/2011 – DG-4021 , Proposed Revision 3 02/1995 – DG-4004, Second Proposed Revision 2 11/1992 – DG-4003, Proposed Revision 2 (Rev. 4)
Source: NRC Regulatory Guide Division 4
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2312/ML23123A090.pdf
Revision Date: 2023-10
Chapter: 
Section ID: RG-4.7
CFR Part: 
CFR Title: 

Content:
Dispersion The atmospheric characteristics at a site are an important consideration in evaluating the dispersion of radioactive effluents from both postulated accidents and routine releases in gaseous 3 The “human environment” is defined as the natural and physical environment and the relationship of people to that environment. The human environment includes, but is not limited to, geology, geomorphology, surface and ground water hydrology, climatology, air quality, limnology, water quality, fisheries, wildlife habitat, scenic resources, recreation resources, archeological and historical resources, community (environmental justice) resources, and land use. 4 See NUREG-0800, Section 2.5.1, “Basic Geologic and Seismic Information.” DG-4034, Page 6 effluents. Radiation doses associated with airborne radioactive materials from routine releases and anticipated operational occurrences must be kept as low as is reasonably achievable (ALARA) and must comply with effluent concentration limits, dose limits for members of the public, and the environmental radiation standards of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In addition to meeting the NRC requirements for the dispersion of airborne radioactive material in 10 CFR Part 20, “Standards for Protection against Radiation,” and Appendix I, “Numerical Guides for Design Objectives and Limiting Conditions for Operation to Meet the Criterion ‘As Low as is Reasonably Achievable’ for Radioactive Material in Light Water Cooled Nuclear Power Reactor Effluents,” to 10 CFR Part 50, the station must meet the State and Federal requirements of the Clean Air Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.), as amended (Ref. 20). Local fogging and icing can result from water vapor discharged into the atmosphere from cooling towers, lakes, canals, or spray ponds but can generally be acceptably mitigated by station design and operational practices. Cooling towers produce cloudlike plumes that vary in size and altitude