Document: NRC Regulatory Guide
Document ID: c6e74560-1a25-41d8-9057-caba5fbd5237
Document Type: regulatory_guide
Title: Terrestrial Environmental Studies for Nuclear Power Stations + HISTORY - HISTORY 06/2017 – Periodic Review of Revision 2 – Issues identified for future consideration 08/2011 – DG-4016 , Proposed Revision 2
Source: NRC Regulatory Guide Division 4
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1716/ML17163A227.pdf
Revision Date: 2023-06
Chapter: 
Section ID: RG-4.11
CFR Part: 
CFR Title: 

Content:
nts be reviewed for mutual consistency. Failure to ensure consistency among RG 4.11, RG 4.2, and the ESRPs may lead to some confusion among future applicants when collecting and presenting information related to terrestrial ecology in licensing applications. The staff has made considerable effort in ensuring technical consistency among RG 4.2, the ESRPs, and the newer and related RG 4.24 “Aquatic Environmental Studies for Nuclear Power Stations.” However, RG 4.11 was last updated in 2012, before work commenced on the above closely related documents. To illustrate a specific example of possible confusion, the staff tightened its definition of “Important Species” in an effort to streamline the quantity of technical data required from applicants without sacrificing the quality of its environmental reviews. “Important Species” are those species for which species-specific data is necessary to complete an environmental review. Confusion could result should an applicant encounter an older definition of “Important Species” in RG 4.11 and a newer one in RG 4.2. Regulatory Guide Periodic Review NOTE: This review was conducted in April 2017 and reflects the staff’s plans as of that date. These plans are tentative and are subject to change. 2. What is the impact on internal and external stakeholders of not updating the RG for the known issues, in terms of anticipated numbers of licensing and inspection activities over the next several years? No significant issues with RG 4.11 have yet been identified from the ongoing revisions to RG 4.2 and the ESRP, so there is no impact on current licensing or inspection activities. However, if inconsistencies with RG 4.2 and the ESRP are identified after these documents are updated, some inefficiencies in reviews using RG 4.11 could be introduced. The number of licensing activities potentially affected depends on the number of licensing applications tendered in future years, which is difficult to quantitatively estimate. 3.