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:
ransported to the site for assembly of components and operation. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff has identified issues for which additional information should be provided to support environmental reviews of applications addressing SMRs, (e.g., purpose and need, alternatives, cumulative impacts, the need for power, and benefit-cost). The guidance in this appendix applies to information that will be used to complete environmental reviews for SMRs associated with applications for limited work authorizations (LWAs), construction permits (CPs), operating licenses (OLs), early site permits (ESPs), and combined licenses (COL). In general, the approach for developing an ER to support environmental reviews of SMR applications will be the same as the approach for developing an ER to support LLWR applications. However, there may be differences in the analyses based on a number of factors, including the purpose and need for the proposed action, reasonable alternatives, the need for power, benefit-cost, and the design differences between SMRs and LLWRs. The following guidance highlights areas for consideration in developing ERs for light-water SMRs. Issues associated with environmental analyses of impacts of operation of non-light-water SMR designs, (e.g., high-temperature gas-cooled and liquid-metal reactors) are not addressed in this RG. An applicant for a non-light-water SMR should consult with the NRC staff in accordance with 10 CFR 51.40 (Ref. C1) to discuss the appropriate level of environmental studies or information which should be provided for a non-light-water reactor design (e.g., for SMRs other than light-water design, additional information about the fuel cycle, radiological effluents, and accidents should be provided). C.1 Licensing Scenarios There are several possible scenarios for SMR applications. The information provided in the ER would depend on the types of applications submitted and the timing of actions proposed in the application. The