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:
e should be compared to the total local DG-4034, Page 38 population, as estimated in the available literature. Any predicted impacts on the species should be evaluated relative to effects on the local population and the total population of the species. The destruction of, or sublethal effects on, a number of individuals that would not adversely affect the reproductive capacity and vitality of a population, or the harvestable crop of an economically or recreationally important population, should generally be acceptable, except in the case of certain endangered species. If a site contains endangered or threatened species, the potential effects should be evaluated relative to the local population and the estimated total population over the entire range of the species as noted in the literature. Important habitats are those that are essential to maintaining the reproductive capacity and vitality of populations of important species or the harvestable crop of economically or recreationally important species. Such habitats include breeding areas (e.g., nesting and spawning areas); nursery, feeding, resting, and wintering areas; wetlands; and other areas having seasonally high concentrations of individuals of important species. The alteration of existing environmental conditions may render a habitat unsuitable as a breeding or nursery area. In some cases, organisms use identical breeding and nursery areas each year; changes in the characteristics of the areas may substantially reduce or enhance breeding success. Destruction of part or all of a breeding or nursery area may cause population shifts that result in increased competition for the remaining suitable areas. Such population shifts cannot compensate for the reduced size of the breeding or nursery areas if members of the species already occupy the remaining suitable areas. Some species will desert a breeding area because of human activities nearby, even if these activities do not physically disturb the actual breeding