Document: NRC Regulatory Guide
Document ID: f0baf50b-5bb7-4783-b2f9-9586e09c97e1
Document Type: regulatory_guide
Title: Preparation of Environmental Reports for Nuclear Power Stations + HISTORY - HISTORY 02/2017 – DG-4026 , Proposed Revision 3 09/2014 – Periodic Review of Revision 2 – Revise (Rev. 3)
Source: NRC Regulatory Guide Division 4
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1611/ML16116A068.pdf
Revision Date: 2023-06
Chapter: 
Section ID: RG-4.2
CFR Part: 
CFR Title: 

Content:
eographical areas that sustain the resources of concern, but not be extended to the point of becoming unwieldy. Geographical proximity to the proposed action should be considered but is not a decisive factor for including other actions. Jurisdictional borders are sometimes useful in defining the geographical area of interest for resource areas such as land use and some socioeconomic areas; however, this approach may not be applicable for defining the geographical area for ecological resources such as aquatic ecology. Table 7-1 provides general guidance for each resource area on appropriate geographic areas. However, professional judgment needs to be used in selecting the geographic area for a particular resource at a specific site. DG-4026, Page 122 Table 7-1. Geographic Area of Interest by Specific Resource Resource Geographic Area of Interest Land Use The geographic area of interest should encompass the site, the vicinity, and the extent of offsite areas and transmission-line corridors, pipelines, and other elements of the proposed action. Water Use and Quality The geographic area of interest should reflect the use of surface and groundwater sources by the project and by other projects in proximity to the site. Terrestrial Ecology At a minimum, the geographic area of interest should encompass the site, any offsite parcels or corridors, and related segments of the surrounding landscape. The geographic area of interest should also encompass any parcels recognized early in the project design process as likely to be used for mitigation activities. A radial distance from the site, such as 6 mi (i.e., the distance used by NRC to define the project’s vicinity) may be used for terrestrial impacts, if appropriate. If one or more corridors extend farther than the selected radial distance, then the geographic area of interest should include the extended linear corridors such as transmission lines or pipelines. Aquatic Ecology A geographic area of interest could be defined