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:
Limitations at Site Selection Stage The information needed to evaluate potential sites at the initial stage of site selection is assumed to be limited to that obtainable from published reports, public records, public and private agencies, and individuals knowledgeable about the locale of a potential site. Although in some cases, applicants may have conducted on-the-spot investigations, this RG assumes that such investigations would be limited to reconnaissance-type surveys at this stage. Safety and Environmental Issues in Site Selection In accordance with 10 CFR Part 100, the safety issues to be addressed in site selection include geologic/seismic, hydrologic, and meteorologic characteristics of proposed sites; exclusion area and low population zone (LPZ); population considerations as they relate to protecting the general public from the potential hazards of serious accidents; potential effects on a station from accidents associated with nearby industrial, transportation, and military facilities; emergency planning; and security plans. NEPA covers the environmental issues to be addressed in site selection. These issues include potential impacts from the construction and operation of commercial nuclear power stations on ecological systems, water use, land use, the atmosphere, aesthetics, socioeconomics, and environmental justice. Geology and Seismology Commercial nuclear power stations must be designed to prevent the loss of safety-related functions. Generally, the most restrictive safety-related site characteristics considered in determining the suitability of a site are potential surface faulting, ground motion, foundation conditions4 (including liquefaction, settlement, and landslide potential), and seismically induced floods and water waves. Atmospheric Extremes and 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