Document: NUREG-0800
Document ID: 2e78f488-27cd-498c-b605-b7f3c3f5e350
Document Type: srp
Title: GEOLOGIC CHARACTERIZATION INFORMATION
Source: NUREG-0800
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1230/ML12300A231.pdf
Revision Date: 2023-06
Chapter: 2
Section ID: 2.5.1
CFR Part: 
CFR Title: 

Content:
igations to be performed at greater distances from the site than 320 km (200 mi). The geological, geophysical, and geotechnical information provided by an applicant in the FSAR addresses the following three specific topics necessary for review of regional geology (Safety Analysis Report [SAR] Section 2.5.1.1) and local geology (SAR Section 2.5.1.2): geologic setting, tectonic framework , and potential hazardous conditions caused by human activities. Explicit consideration of human activities (e.g., impacts of mining, quarrying, slope instability, fluid injection or withdrawal) is necessary because such human activities have the potential to alter some geologic processes that may influence site suitability and might not be preserved in the geologic record. As part of the review process the staff evaluates the information provided by the applicant with a focus on Quaternary aged geologic features. The Quaternary is defined as the geologic period that began approximately 2.6 million years ago (Ma) and continues to the present. Geologic or tectonic features with activity in the Quaternary Period might indicate a potential for future tectonic activity, whereas older tectonic features generally 2.5.1-3 Draft Revision 5 – August 2013 lack such potential. As discussed in RG 1.208, a PSHA characterizes seismic potential through consideration of the historic and geologic record from the Quaternary Period. Thus, the characterization of potential Quaternary-aged tectonic features is an important part of this review. In addition, the reviewer of FSAR Section 2.5.2 would need to confirm that relevant Quaternary-aged features were considered appropriately in the PSHA. A PSHA often uses seismic source zones, such as those used in the Central and Eastern United States Seismic Source Characterization (CEUS-SSC) model that integrate tectonic and seismic information from a broad range of sources. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff will need to determine if new