Document: NRC Regulatory Guide
Document ID: 01fb3132-b05a-41a0-ab81-466a6fb6f4d3
Document Type: regulatory_guide
Title: Preparation of Environmental Reports for Nuclear Power Plant License Renewal Applications (Rev. 1)
Source: NRC Regulatory Guide Division 4
Source URL: https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML0916/ML091620409.pdf
Revision Date: 2023-06
Chapter: 
Section ID: RG-4.2S1
CFR Part: 
CFR Title: 

Content:
quatic Resources This section applies to plants with cooling ponds or cooling towers using makeup water from a river with low flow (less than 3.15 × 1012 ft3/year (9 × 1010 m3/year). Table B-1 notes the impacts of surface water use on aquatic resources are anticipated to be small or moderate. The table also notes that “impacts on aquatic resources in instream communities affected by water use conflicts could be of moderate significance in some situations.” DG-4015, Page 38 Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(A) requires, in part, the following: If the applicant’s plant utilizes cooling towers or cooling ponds and withdraws makeup water from a river whose annual flow rate is less than 3.15 × 1012 ft3/year (9 × 1010 m3/year), an assessment of the impact of the proposed action on the flow of the river and related impacts on in-stream and riparian ecological communities must be provided. Section 4.6.1.2 of the GEIS discusses surface water use conflicts on aquatic resources. No additional surface water conflict information is needed for (1) plants using once-through cooling systems, (2) plants not specifically using cooling towers or cooling ponds, or (3) plants drawing makeup water for the cooling towers or cooling ponds from a river with an annual flow greater than 3.15 × 1012 ft3/year (9 × 1010 m3/year). Information and Analysis Content The ER should follow the general approach for information and analysis content for all ecology issues as described at the beginning of this section. Threatened, Endangered, and Protected Species and Essential Fish Habitat Table B-1 states the following: The magnitude of impacts on threatened, endangered, and protected species and essential fish habitat would depend on the occurrence of listed species and habitats and the effects of power plant systems on them. Consultation with appropriate agencies would be needed to determine whether special status species or habitats are present and whether they would be adversely