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:
a for comparisons or descriptive purposes, the analyst should justify why such a method is appropriate and scientifically acceptable. Because baseline investigations form the foundation for subsequent analyses and monitoring, they should be initiated as early as possible and be broad enough to support anticipated subsequent studies. Analysts performing aquatic baseline investigations should follow accepted scientific design methods and seek input from interested federal, state, tribal, local agencies, and private organizations when initially designing the investigations. Some baseline investigations commonly useful for NRC-licensed activities include the following: • aquatic habitat identification • aquatic habitat mapping • aquatic habitat description • community and population studies • water availability studies • instream flow studies • functional assessment of streams and other water bodies • sampling of biota near intake and discharge locations • identification of important species and habitats • targeted species surveys. Aquatic baseline studies may be prepared as standalone reports or presented initially within an environmental report or another broadly scoped environmental document. Analysts may combine closely related baseline studies into single reports. For example, they can present aquatic habitat identification, mapping, and descriptions that fit together logically in a single report. Biota survey reports can be prepared separately, together, or combined with an aquatic habitat survey report and map. Applicants may be able to draw upon existing scientific literature to obtain some of the necessary baseline data. Aquatic ecological baseline studies may already have been prepared to support other projects on or near the site. Web sites, databases, or other information sources that federal, state, or local DG-4023, Page 8 agencies or conservation organizations maintain also may contain useful data. Analysts should use professional