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:
ropriate agencies, and remote sensing data. Community composition, water quality, substrate, bathymetry, salinity, flow rate, presence of SAV, and other descriptors mentioned above could be shown on a comprehensive map. Map detail should generally focus on areas of potential aquatic impact, particularly including the extents of direct and indirect effects (e.g., the extent of the thermal discharge plume under various operating and receiving water body conditions, and increased runoff resulting from new impervious surfaces). The analyst will need to adjust the level of detail to meet the anticipated complexity of impact assessment and to address the concerns of various interested agencies and organizations. Table 2 provides an example of how aquatic habitats might be mapped for a new reactor-licensing project under 10 CFR Part 52. Habitat maps should be scaled and created from georeferenced GIS geodatabases or data layers. Maps should include a title, date, revision number, north arrow, scale, and legend identifying each habitat type and other mapped features. Maps should show features such as existing topography, roads, water features, and buildings, as necessary, to provide general spatial orientation. Aquatic Habitat Description Aquatic habitat type should be identified. Types of aquatic habitat include, but are not limited to, freshwater lake or reservoir, freshwater river or stream, tidal river or stream, estuary (usually including bays and sounds), and open ocean or marine environment. Freshwater or saltwater wetlands are typically described with the terrestrial environment as outlined in RG 4.11, “Terrestrial Environmental Studies for Nuclear Power Plants.” However, information on the presence of adjacent wetlands can also be useful to an evaluation of aquatic habitat quality. As noted previously, most aquatic habitats are best described by several characteristics that include, but are not limited to, salinity, tidal range, substrate, presence of SAV, flow