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:
g to salinity, bathymetry, rugosity, substrate, flow rate and current patterns, nutrient load, turbidity, SAV, biotic community, biodiversity, tidal influence, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and other parameters appropriate for a particular site. For some assemblages or populations, analysts identify aquatic habitats based on importance for particular activities, species, or life stages. These instances include nursery grounds, breeding grounds, feeding grounds, and spawning or pupping grounds. Designations of EFH and habitat area of particular concern (HAPC), which is a discrete subset of EFH, are often based on species-specific activities and requirements. The degree of habitat description within differing geographic areas can vary. Thus, analysts should select the tool or combination of tools that provides a description of the habitat resolution adequate to identify habitat impacts and to quantify impacts, where necessary. The analyst should contact or meet DG-4023, Page 9 with other federal and state agencies (e.g., NMFS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) or a State’s department of natural resources) and use their online tools. For example, each NMFS region has an EFH mapper online, which identifies EFH that the proposed action may affect. Remote sensing data, including satellite imagery, and geographic information systems (GIS) are very useful tools for analyzing extents and adjacency of aquatic habitats and potential impacts. Table 1. Protected Aquatic Habitats HABITAT TYPES STATUTES IS NRC CONSULTATION REQUIRED? WHAT IS PROTECTED? AGENCIES Critical habitat Endangered Species Act Yes Important habitat for federally listed species NMFS or FWS or both Essential fish habitat (EFH), Habitat area of particular concern (HAPC) Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation & Management Act Yes Important habitat for federally managed fish and shellfish species and their prey NMFS National Monument Antiquities Act (Presidential proclamation) No, but the agency