Regulatory Guide 4.2: Difference between revisions

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{{Adams
{{Adams
| number = ML003739519
| number = ML23201A144
| issue date = 07/31/1976
| issue date = 08/01/2024
| title = Preparation of Environmental Reports for Nuclear Power Stations
| title = Preparation of Environmental Reports for Nuclear Power Plant License Renewal Applications, Revision 2
| author name =  
| author name = Davis J
| author affiliation = NRC/RES
| author affiliation = NRC/NMSS
| addressee name =  
| addressee name =  
| addressee affiliation =  
| addressee affiliation =  
| docket =  
| docket =  
| license number =  
| license number =  
| contact person =  
| contact person = Yanely Malave
| case reference number = -nr
| case reference number = RIN 3150-AK32, NRC-2018-0296
| document report number = RG-4.2 Revision 2
| document report number = RG-4.002 S1 Rev 2
| document type = Regulatory Guide
| document type = Regulatory Guide
| page count = 101
| page count = 83
}}
}}
{{#Wiki_filter:NUREG-0099 Regulatory Guide 4.2 Revision 2 USNRC REGULATORY GUIDE SERIES
{{#Wiki_filter:U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
    REGULATORY GUIDE 4.2, REVISION 2 PREPARATION OF
                                REGULATORY GUIDE 4.2 Supplement 1, Revision 2
ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTS
                FOR
NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS
              J U LY 1976 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION


Revision 2 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION                                                                                                                  July 1976 REGULATORY GUIDE
Issue Date: August 2024 Technical Lead: J. Davis
  OFFICE OF STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT
                                                                    REGULATORY GUIDE 4.2 PREPARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL
                                              REPORTS FOR NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS
                    USNRC REGULATORY GUIDES                                        Comments should be sent to the Secretary of the Commission. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Guides are issued to describe and make available to the public          Regulatory Commission. Washington, D.C. 20555. Attention: Docketing end methods acceptable to the NRC staff of implementing specific parts of the          Service Section.


Commission'%regulations, to delineate techniques used qy the staff in evalu eting specific problems or postulated accidents, or to provide guidance to appli-  The guides ere issued in the following ten broad divisions:
PREPARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTS
cents. Regulatory Guides are not substitutes for regulations, and compliance        1. Power Reactors                      S. Products with them is not required. Methods and solutions different from those set out in    2 Rmsrchend Test Reactors              7. Transportation the guides will be acceptable it they provide a basis for the findings requisite to 3. Fuels and Materials Facilities      7. Occupational Health the issuance or continuance of a permit or license by the Commission.              4. Environmental and Siting            9. Antitrust Review Comments and suggestions for improvements in these guides are encouraged            5. Materials and Plant Protection      10. General at all times. and guides will be revised, as appropriate, to accommodate com.
                FOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANT LICENSE
                            RENEWAL APPLICATIONS


monte and to reflect new information or experience. This guide was revised as a    Copies of published guides may be obtained by written request indicating the result of substantive comments received from the public and additional staff       divisions desired to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Washington. D.C.
==A. INTRODUCTION==
Purpose
 
This regulatory guide (RG) provides guidance to applicants for the format and content of environmental reports (ERs) that are submitted as part of an application for the initial license renewal (LR) or subsequent license renewal (SLR) of a nuclear power plant operating license.
 
Applicability
 
This RG applies to applications for the renewal of a nuclear power plant operating license in accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), Part 54, Requirements for oenew    Operating Licenses for Nuclear Power Plants  Eoef the ed riew under CFR Part 51, Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions (Ref. OF. i    ds pupplemt      I oevisi I t  Q.2, Preparation of bnviroenteportf      kuclrer mlanticenewal          Applications, issued      .
 
Applicable Regulations
 
*  The Nionaliroentalif 1969                  (NA; 42 Unitte (U1 et se      ) (R. 3) rres theder encirepare dled ronment impt stents (Ss)opomaj ralions siifily affeing tualit the human enviroent. A inpeive As to require aederal agencto ider  , iitsimakirocethe rmeal            fts  (impts) ofopod majeder ti and      rel    tertives. Aitional direion is proviin E*ecutive Order     , Protection and Enhancement of Environmental Quality (Ref. QFmended by irr          I Environmental Impact Statements Eoef RFithe Council on
 
Written suggestions regarding this guide may be submitted through the NRCs public website in the NRC Library at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/reg-guides/index.html, under Documen  t Collection s, in Regulatory Guide  s, at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/reg-guides/contactus.html, and will be considered in future updates and enhancements to the Regulatory Guide series. During the development process of new guides suggestions should be submitted within the comment period fo r immediate consideration. Suggestions received outside o f the comment period will be considered if practica  l to do so o r may be considered for future updates.
 
Electronic copies of this RG, previous versions of RGs, and other recently issued guides are available through the NRCs public website in the NRC Library at https://nrcweb.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/reg-guides/ under Document Collections, in Regulat  ory Guides. This RG is also available through the NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS ) a  t http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html , under Accession No. ML23201A144. The regulatory analysis is associated with a rulemaking and may be found in ADAMS under Accession No. ML24152A224. The associated draft guide DG-4027, may be found in ADAMS unde  r Accession No. ML22165A072, and the sta ff responses to the public comments on DG-4027, may be found under ADAMS Accession No. ML24086A527.
 
Environmental Qualitys (CEQs) regulations at 40 CFR Chapter V - Council on Environmental Quality - Parts 1500-1508 (Ref. 6). Regarding the CEQ regulations, as stated in
       10 CFR 51.10, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) takes account of those regulations voluntarily, subject to certain conditions.
 
*  10 CFR Part 51 provides requirements for the NRCs preparation and processing of EIS and related documents under Section 102(2)(C) of NEPA.
 
*  10 CFR Part 54 provides requirements for the issuance of renewed operating licenses and renewed combined licenses for nuclear power plants licensed pursuant to Sections 103 or 104(b)
      of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2133) (Ref. 7), and Title II of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5841-5853) (Ref. 8).
 
o  10 CFR Part 54.17(c) allows a license renewal application to be submitted within
                  20 years of license expiration, and NRC regulations at 10 CFR 54.31(b) specify that the renewed license will be for a term of 20 years plus the length of time remaining on the current license. As a result, renewed licenses may be for a term of 20 to
                  40 years.
 
Related Guidance
 
While the guidance provided in the related documents listed below may overlap with guidance in this RG, the purposes of the documents are different. Some of the related documents offer guidance in the development of reference sources that may be useful in the development of an ER, but, unlike this RG,
none are specifically intended to offer guidance directly pertinent to preparing the ER itself.
 
*  NUREG-1437, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants (LR GEIS) (Ref. 9), provides the regulatory and technical basis for the findings on environmental issues for initial LR or SLR of nuclear power plants in Table B-1 of NRC
      regulations in Appendix B to Subpart A of 10 CFR Part 51. The LR GEIS presents the findings of NRCs systematic inquiry into the environmental impacts of continued nuclear power plant operations and refurbishment activities associated with license renewal.
 
*  NUREG-1555, Standard Review Plans for Environmental Reviews for Nuclear Power Plants, Supplement 1, Operating License Renewal (Ref. 10), provides the criteria used by the NRC
      staff in conducting the environmental review and preparing the nuclear power plant-specific supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS).
 
Purpose of Regulatory Guides
 
The NRC issues RGs to describe methods that are acceptable to the staff for implementing specific parts of the agencys regulations, to explain techniques that the staff uses in evaluating specific issues, and to describe information that the staff needs in its review of applications for permits and licenses. RGs are not substitutes for NRC regulations and compliance with them is not required.
 
Methods and solutions that differ from those set forth in RGs are acceptable if supported by a basis for the issuance or continuance of a permit or license by the Commission.
 
Paperwork Reduction Act


review                                                                              25.   Attention: Director. Office of Standards Development.
This RG provides voluntary guidance for implementing the mandator  y information collections in
10 CFR Parts 51 and 54 that are subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).


TABLE OF CONTENTS                                                         Page
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 2
                              , Page 2 These information collections were      approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), under control numbers 3150-0021 and 3150-0155. Send comments regarding this  information collection t    o the FOIA, Library, and Information Collections Branch (T6-A10M), U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, or by e-mail to Infocollects.Resource@nrc.gov, and to the O    MB reviewer at: OMB Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, (3150-0021 and 3150-0155), Attn: Desk Officer for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 725 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20503.
 
Public Protection Notification
 
The NRC may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless the document requesting or requiring the collection displays a currently valid OMB
control number.
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 3
                              , Page 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS


==A. INTRODUCTION==
==A. INTRODUCTION==
...................................................................                                               v
............................................................................................................................ 1
  1.   National Environmental Goals .....................................................                                       v
 
  2.   Federal Water Pollution Control Act .................................................                                     v
TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................... 4
  3.   NRC Implementing Actions Concerning the Environment ................................                                     v
 
  4.   Commission Action on Environmental Reports ........................................                                   vMii
==B. DISCUSSION==
  5.   Cost-Benefit Analysis ............................................................                                     viii
.................................................................................................................................... 7 B.1    Environmental Review Process ................................................................................................. 8 B.2    Consideration of International Standards ................................................................................ 10
  6.   Environmental Reports ...........................................................                                     viii
 
  7.  Preparation of Environmental Reports ..............................................                                     ix B. STANDARD FORMAT AND CONTENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTS .....................                                                 1-1 Chapter 1 Purpose of the Proposed Facility and Associated Transmission ........................                             1-1
C.     STAFF REGULATORY GUIDANCE ......................................................................................... 11 C.1    Environmental ReportsGeneral Guidance ........................................................................... 11 Chapter 1       Purpose of and Need for Action ......................................................................... 15 Chapter 2        Proposed Action and Description of Alternatives .............................................. 15
        1.1  System Demand and Reliability ................................................                                   1-1
                                2.1    The Proposed Action ................................................................................ 15
              1.1.1 Load Characteristics ...................................................                                 1-1
                                2.2    General Plant Information ........................................................................ 16
              1.1.2 System Capacity ......................................................                                   1-2
                                2.3    Refurbishment Activities .......................................................................... 17
              1.1.3 Reserve M argins ......................................................                                   1-2
                                2.4    Programs and Activities for Managing the Effects of Aging ................... 18
              1.1.4 External Supporting Studies. ............................................                                 1-2
                                2.5    Employment ............................................................................................. 18
        1.2  Other Objectives ...........................................................                                     1-2
                                2.6    Alternatives to the Proposed Action ......................................................... 18 Chapter 3        Affected Environment ........................................................................................ 19
        1.3  Consequences of Delay ......................................................                                   1-2 Chapter 2 The Site and Environmental Interfaces .........................................                               .2-1
                                3.1    Land Use and Visual Resources ............................................................... 19
        2.1  Geography and Demography ..................................................                                     2-1
                                3.2    Meteorology and Air Quality ................................................................... 20
              2.1.1 Site Location and Description .......                           ....................................     2-1
                                3.3    Noise......................................................................................................... 21
              2.1.2 Population Distribution .................................................                                 2-1
                                3.4    Geologic Environment ............................................................................. 22
              2.1.3 Uses of Adjacent Lands and Waters ........................................                               2-2
                                3.5    Water Resources ....................................................................................... 22
        2.2  Ecology ..................................................................                                     2-3
                                3.6    Ecological Resources ................................................................................ 24
        2.3  Meteorology ..............................................................                                     2-4
                                3.7    Historic and Cultural Resources ............................................................... 30
        2.4  Hydrology ................................................................                                     2-5
                                3.8    Socioeconomics ........................................................................................ 33
        2.5  Geology ..................................................................                                      2-6
                                3.9    Human Health ........................................................................................... 33
        2.6  Regional Historic, Archeological, Architectural, Scenic, Cultural, and Natural Features .....                   2-6
                                3.10    Environmental Justice............................................................................... 35
        2.7  Noise ....................................................................                                     2-7 Chapter 3 The Station ................................................................                                     3-1
                                3.11    Waste Management .................................................................................. 35
        3.1  External Appearance .......................................................                                     3-1
                                3.12    Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change ..................................... 36 Chapter 4        Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action and Mitigating Actions ............................................................................................................... 36
        3.2  Reactor and Steam-Electric System .............................................                                 3-1
                                4.1    Land Use and Visual Resources ............................................................... 37
        3.3  Station Water Use ..........................................................                                   3-1
                                4.2    Air Quality ................................................................................................ 37
        3.4  Heat Dissipation System .....................................................                                   3-1
                                4.3    Noise......................................................................................................... 37
        3.5  Radwaste Systems and Source Term ............................................                                   3-2
                                4.4    Geology and Soils..................................................................................... 37
              3.5.1  Source Term ..........................................................                                   3-2
                                4.5    Water Resources ....................................................................................... 37
              3.5.2  Liquid Radwaste Systems ...............................................                                 3-3
                                4.6    Ecological Resources ................................................................................ 42
              3.5.3  Gaseous Radwaste Systems ..............................................                                 3-3
                                4.7    Historic and Cultural Resources ............................................................... 60
              3.5.4  Solid Radwaste System .................................................                                 3-3
                                4.8    Socioeconomics ........................................................................................ 62
              3.5.5  Process and Effluent Monitoring ..........................................                               3-4
                                4.9    Human Health ........................................................................................... 62
        3.6  Chemical and Biocide Wastes .................................................                                   3-4
                                4.10    Environmental Justice............................................................................... 64
        3.7  Sanitary and Other Waste Systems .............................................                                 3-4 i
                                4.11    Waste Management .................................................................................. 67
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 4
                                          , Page 4
                                4.12  Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change ..................................... 67
                                4.13  Cumulative Effects .................................................................................... 68
                                4.14  Impacts Common to All Alternatives ....................................................... 70
              Chapter 5        Assessment of New and Significant Information ............................................... 70
              Chapter 6        Summary of License Renewal Impacts and Mitigating Actions ........................ 71
                                6.1    License Renewal Impacts ......................................................................... 71
                                6.2    Mitigation ................................................................................................. 71
                                6.3    Unavoidable Adverse Impacts .................................................................. 71
                                6.4    Irreversible or Irretrievable Resource Commitments ............................... 71
                                6.5    Short-Term Use Versus Long-Term Productivity of the Environment ............................................................................................. 71 Chapter 7        Alternatives to the Proposed Action ................................................................... 72
                                7.1    Alternative Energy Sources ...................................................................... 73
                                7.2    Alternatives for Reducing Adverse Impacts ............................................. 74
                                7.3    No-Action Alternative .............................................................................. 75 Chapter 8        Comparison of the Environmental Impact of License Renewal                      with the Alternatives ........................................................................................................ 75 Chapter 9        Status of Compliance.......................................................................................... 75
 
==D. IMPLEMENTATION==
.................................................................................................................... 77
 
E.      REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................... 78
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 5
                                        , Page 5 ABBREVIATIONS/ACRONYMS
 
APE                  area of potential effects BTA                  best technology available CEQ                  Council on Environmental Quality CFR                  Code of Federal Regulations CWA                  Clean Water Act of 1972 EFH                  essential fish habitat EIS                  environmental impact statement EMF                  electromagnetic field EPA                  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ER                    environmental report ESA                  Endangered Species Act of 1973 GEIS                  generic environmental impact statement GHG                  greenhouse gas gpm                  gallon(s) per minute HAPCs                habitat areas of particular concern IAEA                  International Atomic Energy Agency IPaC                  Information Planning and Consultation LR                    license renewal L/min                liters per minute LR GEIS              Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants MSA                  Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1996 MTU                  metric ton of uranium MWd                  megawatt-days NEI                  Nuclear Energy Institute NEPA                  National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 NESC                  National Electric Safety Code NHPA                  National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 NMSA                  National Marine Sanctuaries Act NPDES                National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System NRC                  U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission NRHP                  National Register of Historic Places RG                    regulatory guide ROW                  right-of-way SAMA                  severe accident mitigation alternative SEIS                  supplemental environmental impact statement SHPO                  State Historic Preservation Officer SLR                  subsequent license renewal THPO                  Tribal Historic Preservation Officer U.S.C.                United States Code
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 6
                            , Page 6
 
==B. DISCUSSION==
Reason for Revision
 
RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Revision 2 updates guidance to align with NRC regulations, changes in environmental statutes and regulations, and Executive Orders since the last revision of the RG. Examples of changes include, but are not limited to, the assessment of continued operations and refurbishment impacts, greenhouse gas (GHG) and climate change, environmental justice, alternatives, cumulative effects, and to fully account for SLR.
 
Background
 
Use of this RG will help to ensure the completeness of the information provided in the ER, assist the NRC staff and others in locating important information, and facilitate the environmental review process for license renewals. However, the NRC does not require conformance with this guidance.
 
This RG also explains how the NRC complies with its environmental protection regulations in
10 CFR Part 51, Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions, for the renewal of nuclear power plant operating licenses. NRC regulations at 10 CFR Part 51 implement Section 102(2)  of NEPA. The NRC    originally published the license renewal provisions of
10 CFR Part 51 in the Federal Register on June 5, 1996 (61 FR 28467) (Ref. 11). The NRCs intention in developing the 1996 rule was to improve the regulatory efficiency of the environmental review process for the renewal of nuclear power plant operating licenses. Analyses conducted for and reported in NUREG-1437, Generic Environmental I    mpact Statement for License Renewal    of Nuclear Plants, issued May 1996, support the 1996  rule.
 
On December 18, 1996 (  61 FR 66537) (Ref. 12), the NRC amended the rule to incorporate minor clarifying and conforming changes and to add omitted language. The N  RC amended the rule again on September 3, 1999 (64 FR 48496) (Ref. 13), to address the environmental effects of transporting uranium fuel and reactor waste to and from a single nuclear power plant. Analyses conducted for and reported in NUREG-1437, Volume 1, Addendum 1, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants: Main Report, Section 6.3Transportation, Table 9.1 Summary of Findings on NEPA
Issues for License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants, Final Report, issued August 19 99, support this amendment. This amendment also addressed local traffic  -related transportation impacts from the continued operation of a nuclear power plant during the license renewal term. The NRC amended the rule again on June 20, 2013 (78 FR 37282) (Ref. 14), to redefine the number and scope of the environmental issues that must be addressed during license renewal environmental reviews.
 
This revision also incorporates lessons learned and knowledge gained from initial LR and SLR
environmental reviews conducted in the period leading up to and following completion of the prior update in 2013 and fully considers one term of SLR. Analyses conducted for and reported in NUREG-1437, Revision 2, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants (LR GEIS), issued in 2024, support this rule amendment.
 
The LR GEIS evaluated 80 environmental issues and determined that 59 of these issues are adequately addressed for all applicable nuclear power plants. The LR GEIS identifies these as Category 1 issues. The NRC will not require additional analysis in nuclear power plant-specific (hereafter called plant-specific) environmental reviews of Category 1 issues unless new and significant information related to the conclusions in the LR GEIS needs to be considered. Of the remaining 21 issues, 20 are identified as Category 2 issues, which require plant-specific environmental analyses. One environmental issue
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 7 (Electromagnetic fields [EMFs]) is not categorized. This issue remains uncategorized because there is no scientific consensus on the potential effects from chronic exposure to EMFs.
 
Applicants for a permit, license, or other authorization to site, construct, and/or operate a new nuclear power plant may use RG 4.2, Preparation of Environmental Reports for Nuclear Power Stations (Ref. 15), for developing ERs submitted as part of an application in accordance with 10 CFR Part  50,
Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities, and 10 CFR Part 52  , Licenses, Certifications, and Approvals for Nuclear Power Plants  (Ref. 16).
 
B.1    Environmental Review Process
 
After receiving an application for initial LR or SLR that includes the ER, the NRC staff conducts an acceptance review to determine whether the information in the ER is sufficiently complete to begin the environmental (NEPA) review process. After docketing the application, the NRC staff begins the environmental review and starts preparing the plant-specific SEIS to the LR GEIS. NUREG-1555, Standard Review Plans for Environmental Reviews for Nuclear Power Plants, Supplement 1, Revision 2, Operating License Renewal, issued in 2024, guides the NRC staff in conducting the environmental review and preparing the SEIS. As part of the review, the NRC staff assesses the environmental impacts of the proposed action (the initial or subsequent renewal of the nuclear power plants operating license), no action (not renewing the operating license), and energy replacement alternatives. The SEIS presents conclusions and recommendations concerning the environmental impacts of renewing the nuclear power plants operating license. NRC decisionmakers consider these recommendations, together with the findings from the NRCs safety review (under 10 CFR Part 54),
before deciding to either issue or deny the initial LR or SLR operating license.
 
The NRCs environmental (NEPA) review process consists of the following actions      required by
10 CFR Part 51:
 
*  Publish a notice of intent to conduct an initial LR or SLR environmental review and to prepare a plant-specific SEIS to the LR GEIS in the Federal Register (see 10 CFR 51.27, Notice of Intent; 10 CFR 51.95(c), Postconstruction Environmental Impact StatementsOperating License Renewal Stage; and 10 CFR 51.116, Notice of Intent). Send copies of the notice to the appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies and Indian Tribes;1 public interest groups; and any other persons (e.g., representatives of environmental justice communities2) expressing interest in the initial LR or SLR environmental review. The notice describes the proposed action, explains the NRCs scoping process, provides information about public meeting locations, states where copies of the ER are available for public examination, and invites members of the public to participate in the scoping process.
 
*  Conduct scoping (see 10 CFR 51.28, ScopingParticipants; 10 CFR 51.29, Scoping Environmental Impact Statement and Supplement to Environmental Impact Statement; 10 CFR
        51.71, Draft Environmental Impact StatementContents; and 10 CFR 51.95(c)(1)). The purpose of scoping is to identify environmental issues and invite State and local agency officials;
        Indian Tribes; representatives of environmental justice communities; environmental interest
 
1  The term Indian Tribes refers to Federally recognized Tribes as acknowledged by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. § 479a) (Ref. 17).
 
2  Environmental justice communities can also include State-recognized Tribes, those that self-identify as Indian Tribes, and tribal members. Tribal members can be part of an environmental justice community that has different interests and concerns than a Tribal government.
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 8 groups; and members of the public to participate in the scoping process. Scoping provides an opportunity for any member of the public to identify environmental issues and concerns they believe are significant that may not have been adequately addressed in the ER. Environmental issues may be introduced in oral statements made at the scoping meeting or in written comments sent directly to the NRC or via www.regulations.gov. During scoping, the NRC staff can visit the nuclear power plant and, if requested, meet with local, regional, and State agencies and Indian Tribes; and representatives of environmental justice communities and environmental interest groups. Depending on issues and concerns raised during scoping, the NRC staff may request additional information from the applicant.
 
*  Prepare a plant-specific draft SEIS to the LR GEIS (see 10 CFR 51.70, Draft Environmental Impact StatementGeneral; 10 CFR 51.71; and 10 CFR 51.95(c)). In developing the draft SEIS, the NRC staff will evaluate (verify and validate) information provided by the applicant and will seek and collect information from independent sources.
 
*  Distribute the draft SEIS for public comment (see 10 CFR 51.73, Request for Comments on Draft Environmental Impact Statement, and 10 CFR 51.74, Distribution of Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Supplement to Draft Environmental Impact Statement; News Releases).
  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the NRC will publish separate notices of availability in the Federal Register. Copies of the draft SEIS will be distributed to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies and Indian Tribes; environmental justice communities;
  environmental interest groups, organizations, and individuals who expressed interest and participated in the environmental review; and any other individuals who request a copy.
 
*  Prepare the final SEIS to the LR GEIS (see 10 CFR 51.90, Final Environmental Impact StatementGeneral; 10 CFR 51.91, Final Environmental Impact StatementContents; and
  10 CFR 51.95(c)). In developing the final SEIS, the NRC staff will respond to all comments and revise the SEIS, if necessary. After addressing public comments, the NRC staff will determine whether the adverse environmental impacts of license renewal are so great that preserving the option of license renewal for energy-planning decisionmakers would be unreasonabl
 
====e. The NRC====
  staff will then submit the final SEIS to the EPA, and both agencies will publish notices of availability in the Federal Register (see 10 CFR 51.93, Distribution of Final Environmental Impact Statement and Supplement to Final Environmental Impact Statement; News Releases, and 10 CFR 51.118, Final Environmental Impact StatementNotice of Availability). Copies of the final SEIS will be distributed to Federal, State, and local agencies and Indian Tribe environmental justice communities; environmental interest groups, organizations, and individuals who expressed interest and participated in the environmental review; and any other individuals who request a copy.
 
*  The Commission may hold a hearing if it determines that it is in the public interest or if a request for hearing and petition to intervene is granted. In accordance with 10 CFR 2.105(a)(10), Notice of Proposed Action (Ref. 18), the NRC will issue a notice of opportunity for hearing as soon as practicable. Any person whose interest may be affected by the initial LR or SLR action may request a hearing. (See also 10 CFR 51.104, NRC Proceeding Using Public Hearings;
  Consideration of Environmental Impact Statement.)
 
*  Prepare a record of decision (see 10 CFR 51.103, Record of DecisionGeneral). The record of decision will summarize the impacts of initial LR or SLR and the energy replacement alternatives considered in the SEIS, the measures taken to minimize and/or reduce any adverse environmental effects, and any license conditions adopted in connection with mitigation measures. In making a final decision on initial LR or SLR, the NRC will determine whether the adverse environmental
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 9 impacts of license renewal are so great that preserving the option of license renewal for energy-planning decisionmakers would be unreasonable. The NRC will publish the Commissions final decision on whether to renew the nuclear plant operating license in the Federal Register.
 
B.2    Consideration of International Standards
 
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) works with member states and other partners to promote the safe, secure, and peaceful use of nuclear technologies. The IAEA develops Safety Requirements and Safety Guides for protecting people and the environment from harmful effects of ionizing radiation. This system of safety fundamentals, safety requirements, safety guides, and other relevant reports, reflects an international perspective on what constitutes a high level of safety. To inform development of this RG, the NRC considered the Commissions International Policy Statement (Ref. 19)
and Management Directive and Handbook 6.6, Regulatory Guides (Ref. 20), which states that consensus standards, industry guidance documents, and international standards are endorsed in RGs, as appropriate. The staff did not identify any IAEA Requirements or Guides with information applicable to this RG.
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 10
                      C.    STAFF REGULATORY GUIDANCE
 
C.1    Environmental Reports    General Guidance
 
The applicant should provide sufficient information to support the environmental impact assessments in the ER and the basis for each finding (conclusion). Though other documents (e.g., previous ER(s) or safety analysis reports) may be incorporated by reference, the applicant should summarize the information from these documents used in impact assessments. The applicant must also ensure the ER provides all the relevant information and analyses called for in NRC regulations,
10 CFR 51.45, Environmental Report, and 10 CFR 51.53(c), Postconstruction Environmental ReportsOperating License Renewal Stage. The ER should describe in detail the affected environment around the nuclear power plant, modifications directly affecting the environment or any plant effluents, and any planned refurbishment activities.
 
Treatment of Category 1 Issues
 
According to 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(i), The environmental report for the operating license renewal stage is not required to contain analyses of the environmental impacts of the license renewal issues identified as Category 1 issues in Appendix B to subpart A of this part. However, the ER should describe the affected environment and any environmental resources pertinent to those Category 1 issues that apply to the nuclear power plant and identify Category 1 issues that do not apply. The ER should also discuss any new and significant information related to Category 1 environmental issues (see New and Significant Information paragraph below). The applicant can incorporate the findings in the LR GEIS
into the ER for applicable Category 1 issues.
 
Treatment of Category 2 Issues
 
According to 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii), The environmental report must contain analyses of the environmental impacts of the proposed action, including the impacts of refurbishment activities, if any, associated with license renewal and the impacts of operation during the renewal term, for those issues identified as Category 2 issues in Appendix B to subpart A of this part. This RG describes acceptable methods for fulfilling this requirement.
 
New and Significant Information
 
According to 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(iv), The environmental report must contain any new and significant information regarding the environmental impacts of license renewal of which the applicant is aware. New and significant information is (1) information that identifies a significant environmental issue that was not considered or addressed in the LR GEIS and, consequently, not codified in Table B-1, Summary of Findings on Environmental Issues for Initial and One Term of Subsequent License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants, in Appendix B, Environmental Effect of Renewing the Operating License of a Nuclear Power Plant, to Subpart A, National Environmental Policy ActRegulations Implementing Section 102(2), of 10 CFR Part 51, or (2) information not considered in the assessment of impacts evaluated in the LR GEIS leading to a seriously different picture of the environmental consequences of the action than previously considered, such as an environmental impact finding different from that codified in Table B-1.3Further, a significant environmental issue includes, but is not limited to, any new activity or aspect associated with the nuclear power plant that can act upon the affected environment in a
 
3  For example, Union Electric Company d/b/a Ameren Missouri, (Callaway Plant, Unit 2) CLI-11-5, 74 NRC 141, 167-68
    (2011). (Ref. 21)
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 11 manner or an intensity not previously recognized or quantified. An applicant should state in the ER
whether it is aware of any new and significant information and describe any actions taken to identify new information and evaluate its significance. This information will assist the NRC in fulfilling its responsibilities under 10 CFR 51.70(b), which states, in part, The NRC staff will independently evaluate and be responsible for the reliability of all information used in the draft environmental impact statement.
 
Other interested parties, as well as the NRC, may also identify new and significant information during scoping and public comment periods. Chapter 5 of this RG provides guidance on actions that an applicant may take to identify and evaluate new and significant information.
 
Impact Findings
 
For Category 2 issues and for new and significant information, applicants should assess the environmental impact in proportion to their significance as prescribed in the CEQs terminology including revisions in Part 1501NEPA and Agency Planning (40 CFR Part 1501) and Part 1508 Definitions (40 CFR 1508). CEQ requires examination of both the context of an action and the intensity of the effects in making a significance determination as to the adverse effect of the proposed action. In determining whether the incremental environmental effects (impacts) of the proposed action (license renewal-either initial LR or SLR ) are significant, license renewal applicants should consider the action in several contexts. The analysis of context should consider the characteristics of the geographic area and its resources, such as proximity to unique or sensitive resources or communities with environmental justice concerns. For nuclear power plant-specific environmental issues, significance depends on the effects in the relevant geographic area, including, but not limited to, consideration of short- and long-term effects, as well as beneficial and adverse effects. The analysis of the intensity of effects should consider the degree to which the action, as applicable, may (1) adversely affect public health and safety; (2) adversely affect unique characteristics of the geographic area such as historic or cultural resources, parks, Tribal sacred sites, prime farmlands, wetlands, wild and scenic rivers, or ecologically critical areas; (3) violate relevant Federal, State, Tribal, or local laws or other requirements or be inconsistent with Federal, State, Tribal, or local policies designed for the protection of the environment; (4) have potential effects on the human environment that are highly uncertain; (5) adversely affect resources listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; (6) adversely affect an endangered or threatened species or its habitat, including habitat that has been determined to be critical under the Endangered Species Act of
1973 (16 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq.) (Ref. 22); (7) adversely affect communities with environmental justice concerns; and (8) adversely affect rights of Tribal Nations that have been reserved through treaties, statutes, or Executive Orders (40 CFR 1501.3(d)).
 
In assessing the significance of environmental impacts, the applicant should conform to the following terminology and definitions used by the NRC in the LR GEIS and codified in footnotes to Table B-1 in Appendix B to Subpart A of 10 CFR Part 51:
 
*  SMALL - For the issue, environmental effects are not detectable or are so minor that they will neither destabilize nor noticeably alter any important attribute of the resource. For the purposes of assessing radiological impacts, the Commission has concluded that those impacts that do not exceed permissible levels in the Commissions regulations are small.
 
*  MODERATE - For the issue, environmental effects are sufficient to alter noticeably, but not to destabilize, important attributes of the resource.
 
*  LARGE - For the issue, environmental effects are clearly noticeable and are sufficient to destabilize important attributes of the resource.
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 12 In assessing environmental impacts on federally protected ecological resources and historic and cultural resources that require interagency consultation with Federal agencies or Indian Tribes, the applicant should report findings in accordance with the terminology used in the relevant statutes and their implementing regulations.
 
For federally listed and proposed species protected under the ESA, the applicant should report findings as:
 
*  may affect and is likely to adversely affect
 
*  may affect but is not likely to adversely affect
 
*  no effect
 
For federally designated and proposed critical habitat protected under the ESA, the applicant should report findings as:
 
*  is likely to destroy or adversely modify
 
*  is not likely to destroy or adversely modify
 
*  no effect
 
For essential fish habitat (EFH) protected under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1996 (MSA) (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) (Ref. 23), the applicant should report findings as:
 
*  substantial adverse effects
 
*  more than minimal but less than substantial adverse effects
 
*  no adverse effects
 
For sanctuary resources protected under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA) (16 U.S.C.
 
§ 1431 et seq.) (Ref. 24), the applicant should report findings as:
 
*  may affect and is likely to destroy, cause the loss of, or injure
 
*  may affect but is not likely to destroy, cause the loss of, or injure
 
*  no effect
 
These findings are further explained in Section 4.6.4 and summarized in Table 4-1, Table 4-2, and Table 4-3 of this RG. Notably, individual findings should be made for each federally protected ecological resource. Thus, the number of findings for a given license renewal will depend on the number of federally protected species and habitats present in the affected area.
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 13 For impacts to historic properties assessed under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) (54 U.S.C. 300101 et seq.) (Ref. 25), the assessment should lead to one of three conclusions for NHPA (see 36 CFR 800.4) (Ref. 26):
 
*  No historic properties present, the undertaking will have no effect to historic properties
 
*  Historic properties present, the undertaking will have no adverse effect upon them
 
*  Historic properties present, the undertaking will have an adverse effect upon one or more historic properties (see 36 CFR 800.5)
 
Mitigation of Adverse Effects
 
In 10 CFR 51.45(c), the NRC requires the consideration of alternatives available for reducing or avoiding any adverse effects. In addition, applicants should identify any ongoing mitigation and discuss the potential need for additional mitigation. Mitigation alternatives should be considered in proportion to the significance of the impact. In 40 CFR 1508.1 (y), Mitigation. CEQ identifies five types of mitigative actions:
 
1.  Avoiding the adverse effect altogether by not taking a certain action or parts of an action.
 
2.  Minimizing the adverse effect by limiting the degree or magnitude of the action and its implementation.
 
3.  Rectifying the adverse effect by repairing, rehabilitating, or restoring the affected environment.
 
4.  Reducing or eliminating the adverse effect over time by preservation and maintenance operations during the life of the action.
 
5.  Compensating for the adverse effect by replacing or providing substitute resources or environments.
 
The applicant should identify all relevant, reasonable mitigation measures that could reduce or avoid adverse effects, even if they are outside the jurisdiction of the NRC.
 
Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects
 
Environmental effects or impacts include direct, indirect, and cumulative effects.
 
The environmental impact assessment should consider and discuss each type of these effects in relation to the impact attributed to license renewal (see Impact Findings above). The CEQ regulations at
40 CFR Part 1508.1, Definitions, define three types of effects.
 
As defined in 40 CFR 1508.1(i)(1)-(4), Effects or impacts means changes to the human environment from the proposed action or alternatives that are reasonably foreseeable and include the following:
 
*  Direct effects, which are caused by the action and occur at the same time and place.
 
*  Indirect effects, which are caused by the action and are later in time or farther removed in distance, but are still reasonably foreseeable. Indirect effects may include growth-inducing effects
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 14 and other effects related to induced changes in the pattern of land use, population density or growth rate, and related effects on air and water and other natural systems, including ecosystems.
 
*  Cumulative effects, which are effects on the environment that result from the incremental effects of the action when added to the effects of other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions regardless of what agency (Federal or non-Federal) or person undertakes such other actions.
 
Cumulative effects can result from actions with individually minor but collectively significant effects taking place over a period of time.
 
*  Effects include ecological (such as the effects on natural resources and on the components, structures, and functioning of affected ecosystems), aesthetic, historic, cultural, economic, social, or health, such as disproportionate and adverse effects on communities with environmental justice concerns, whether direct, indirect, or cumulative. Effects also include effects on Tribal resources and climate change-related effects, including the contribution of a proposed action and its alternatives to climate change, and the reasonably foreseeable effects of climate change on the proposed action and its alternatives. Effects may also include those resulting from actions which may have both beneficial and adverse effects, even if on balance the agency believes that the effects will be beneficial.
 
Chapter 1      Purpose of and Need for Action
 
This chapter of the ER should briefly describe the purpose of and need for the proposed action.
 
The applicants ER should include the following statement:
 
The purpose and need for the proposed action (issuance of a renewed license) is to provide an option that allows for baseload power generation capability beyond the term of the current nuclear power plant operating license to meet future system generating needs. Such needs may be determined by other energy-planning decisionmakers, such as State, utility, and, where authorized, Federal agencies (other than the NRC). Unless there are findings in the safety review required by the Atomic Energy Act or the NEPA
        environmental review that would lead the NRC to reject a license renewal application, the NRC does not have a role in the energy-planning decisions about whether a particular nuclear power plant should continue to operate.
 
Chapter 2      Proposed Action and Description of Alternatives
 
This chapter of the ER should briefly describe the proposed action, the nuclear power plant, and energy replacement alternatives. The applicant should also describe any proposed refurbishment activities, programs, and activities for managing the effects of aging during the license renewal term (initial LR or SLR).
 
2.1    The Proposed Action
 
The proposed action is the renewal of the nuclear power plant operating license, leading to continued reactor operations and maintenance activities during the renewal term (initial LR or SLR).
These activities may include refurbishment for extended nuclear plant operation and changes to surveillance, monitoring, inspections, testing, trending, and recordkeeping (i.e., SMITTR). The applicant may undertake refurbishment and surveillance, monitoring, inspections, testing, trending, and recordkeeping activities because of findings from the 10 CFR Part 54 aging management review or for other reasons, such as opportunities for improved economic operation and maintenance during the license
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 15 renewal term. This section of the ER should describe only those license renewal activities that can affect the environment. The level of detail should be sufficient to support the impact assessments in the ER. For reference, Chapter 2 of the LR GEIS describes reactor operations and refurbishment activities associated with license renewal.
 
As described in 10 CFR 51.53(c)(2), the ER, in part, must contain the following:
 
[A] description of the proposed action, including the applicants plans to modify the facility or its administrative control procedures as described in accordance with § 54.21 of this chapter. This report must describe in detail the affected environment around the plant, the modifications directly affecting the environment or any plant effluents, and any planned refurbishment activities . In addition, the applicant shall discuss in this report the environmental impacts  of alternatives and any other matters discussed in
        § 51.45.
 
2.2    General Plant Information
 
The applicant should briefly describe in the ER the major features of the nuclear power plant and the reactor operation, inspection, maintenance, and refueling activities and practices that would occur during the license renewal term (initial LR or SLR) . Information presented should describe the following systems.
 
Reactor and Containment Systems
 
This section of the ER should briefly describe the nuclear power plant, including the reactor, reactor core power, fuel, percent uranium-235 enrichment, irradiation  level, refueling cycle, containment system, design net electrical output, and the vendor of the nuclear steam supply system.
 
Cooling and Auxiliary Water Systems
 
This section of the ER should describe the cooling and auxiliary water systems in the order th at water flows through them, including approach, intake structure, trash racks, screens (including mesh sizes), screen wash, and fish return or collection systems. It should also provide appropriate figures or maps to illustrate the system pathway . This description should include the rates of average, seasonal, and maximum water withdrawal, estimated consumptive water use,      the flow rates or volume of the water body from which cooling water is withdrawn, the location of water withdrawal, and intake velocity  at the screens for the last 5 years. The applicant should describe in detail any structural or operational measures, such as the schedule of traveling screen operation or planned outages, used to reduce impingement of fish and shellfish. This description should include a typical water balance or budget showing rates of water withdrawal, losses to evaporative cooling (e.g., for cooling towers), blowdown, contributions from other comingled effluents, and other such inputs or outputs. The applicant should also  describe typical temperature changes as water passes through the system, as well as temperatures at the outfall, the size of the plume and mixing zone, and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) or other permit conditions related to temperature. The ER should include copies of such permits and supporting documentation in an appendix. This section should also describe chemical additions or other measures used to clean or maintain condensers and other components  . The sections of the ER conce rning surface water, impingement mortality and entrainment  , and effects of thermal effluents on aquatic organisms should refer to this section when appropriate to avoid unnecessary repetition. For plants with once-through cooling systems and cooling ponds,    this section should provide sufficient detail about the cooling system to support the analysis of the impacts of impingement mortality, entrainment, and thermal effluents on aquatic organisms .
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 16 Radioactive Waste Management
 
Each nuclear power plant has a radioactive waste system to collect, treat, and dispose of radioactive and potentially radioactive wastes that are byproducts of reactor operations. Radioactive wastes are classified as either liquid, gaseous, or solid.
 
The applicant should provide a brief plant-specific description of the major features of the liquid, gaseous, and solid radioactive waste management systems. The information should include a description of the systems and types of waste treatment used (e.g., filtration, demineralizers, dewatering, and resin filtration for liquid wastes), onsite storage facilities, and any offsite waste treatment and transportation and disposal of the waste.
 
Nonradioactive Waste Management


Page
Each nuclear power plant has a nonradioactive waste system to collect, treat, and dispose of nonradioactive wastes that are byproducts of plant operations. The EPA, in accordance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 82) (Ref. 27), classifies certain nonradioactive hazardous wastes as hazardous based on characteristics including ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, and toxicity.
    3.8  Reporting of Radioactive Material Movement .....................................      3-5
    3.9  Transmission Facilities ......................................................        3-5 Chapter 4 Environmental Effects of Site Preparation, Station Construction, and Transmission Facilities Construction .......................................................        4-1
    4.1  Site Preparation and Station Construction .......................................      4-1
    4.2  Transmission Facilities Construction ............................................      4-2
    4.3  Resources Committed ......................................................            4-2
    4.4  Radioactivity ..............................................................          4-2
    4.5  Construction Impact Control Program ...........................................        4-2 Chapter 5 Environmental Effects of Station Operation ......................................      5-1
    5.1  Effects of Operation of Heat Dissipation System ..................................    5-1
          5.1.1  Effluent Limitations and Water Quality Standards ............................  5-1
          5.1.2  Physical Effects .......................................................        5-1
          5.1.3  Biological Effects ......................................................      5-1
          5.1.4  Effects of Heat Dissipation Facilities ......................................  5-2
    5.2  Radiological Impact from Routine Operation .....................................      5-2
          5.2.1  Exposure Pathways ....................................................        5-2
          5.2.2  Radioactivity in Environment ............................................      5-3
          5.2.3  Dose Rate Estimates for Biota Other Than Man ...............................  5-5
          5.2.4  Dose Rate Estimates for Man .............................................      5-5
          5.2.5  Summary of Annual Radiation Doses ......................................      5-6
    5.3  Effects of Chemical and Biocide Discharges ......................................      5-6
    5.4  Effects of Sanitary Waste Discharges ............................................      5-6
    5.5  Effects of Operation and Maintenance of the Transmission Systems ....................  5-6
    5.6  Other Effects .............................................................            5-7
    5.7  Resources Committed .......................................................            5-7
    5.8  Decommissioning and Dismantling .............................................          5-7
    5.9  The Uranium Fuel Cycle .....................................................          5-7 Chapter 6 Effluent and Environmental Measurements and Monitoring Programs ...................    6-1
    6.1  Applicant's Preoperational Environmental Programs ................................    6-1
          6.1.1  Surface Waters .......................................................        6-2
          6.1.2  Ground Water ........................................................          6-2
          6.1.3  Air .................................................................          6-2
          6.1.4  Land ...............................................................          6-3
          6.1.5  Radiological Monitoring ................................................      6-3
      6.2 Applicant's Proposed Operational Monitoring Programs .............................    6-4
      6.3 Related Environmental Measurement and Monitoring Programs .......................      6-4
      6.4 Preoperational Environmental Radiological Monitoring Data ..........................  6-4 Chapter 7 Environmental Effects of Accidents ............................................        7-1
      7.1 Station Accidents Involving Radioactivity ........................................    7-1
      7.2 Transportation Accidents Involving Radioactivity ..................................    7-1
      7.3 Other Accidents ...........................................................           7-1 ii


Page Chapter 8 Economic and Social Effects of Station Construction and Operation ...................      8-1
State regulators may add other wastes to the EPA list of hazardous wastes.
    8.1    Benefits ..................................................................              8-1
    8.2    Costs ....................................................................                8-2 Chapter 9 Alternative Energy Sources and Sites ...........................................            9-1
    9.1    Alternatives Not Requiring the Creation of New Generating Capacity ...................    9-1
    9.2    Alternatives Requiring the Creation of New Generating Capacity ......................    9-1
            9.2.1 Selection of Candidate Areas .............................................          9-1
            9.2.2 Selection of Candidate Site-Plant Alternatives ................................    9-3
    9.3    Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Candidate Site-Plant Alternatives .......................  9-3
    9.4    Costs of Alternative Power Generation Methods ...................................        9-4 Chapter 10 Station Design Alternatives ...................................................          10-1
    10.1      Circulating System .......................................................            10-3
    10.2      Intake System ...........................................................            10-3
    10.3      Discharge System ........................................................            10-3
    10.4      Chemical Waste Treatment .................................................            10-3
    10.5      Biocide Treatment .......................................................            10-3
    10.6      Sanitary Waste System ....................................................            10-3
    10.7      Liquid Radwaste Systems .................................................            10-4
      10.8    Gaseous Radwaste Systems .................................................            10-4
      10.9    Transmission Facilities ....................................................          10-4
      10.10    Other Systems ..........................................................              10-4 Chapter 11    Summary Cost-Benefit Analysis .............................................          11-1 Chapter 12    Environmental Approvals and Consultation ....................................        124 Chapter 13    References .............................................................             13-1 iii


LIST OF TABLES
The applicant should provide a brief plant-specific description of the major features of the nonradioactive waste storage and disposal programs. The information should include details on the types of waste, handling, storage, and disposal. This section of the ER should also provide information on State permits or any other special permits for the generation, handling, storage, and disposal of nonradiological waste. This section should also describe pollution prevention and waste minimization programs being used at the plant site.
Table                                                                                                      Page
  1 Primary Benefits to be Considered in Cost-Benefit Analysis ...................................          T-1
  2  Cost Information for Nuclear and Alternative Power Generation Methods ........................        T-2
  3  Estimated Costs of Electrical Energy Generation ............................................          T-3
  4  Monetized Bases for Generation Costs            ...................................................    T-4
  5  Environmental Factors to be Used in Comparing Alternative Station Systems .....................        T-5 APPENDICES
APPENDIX A          § 51.20, IOCFR Part 51, "Applicant's -Environmental Report - Construction Permit Stage" ......      ..........................................................          A-I
APPENDIX B          §51.21, 10CFR Part 51, "Applicant's Environmental Report - Operating License Stage" ................................................................                B-i APPENDIX C          Data Retrieval System (Proposed) ...........................................            C-1 APPENDIX D          Use of U.S. Age Group Population Distribution Data ............................          D-1 APPENDIX E          Data Needed for Radioactive Source Term Calculations for Pressurized Water Reactors...  E-1 APPENDIX F          Data Needed for Radioactive Source Term Calculations for Boiling Water Reactors ......  F-i APPENDIX G          Data Needed for Radwaste Treatment System Cost-Benefit Analysis for Light-Water Cooled Nuclear Reactors ...................................................            G-1 Table G. 1 Total Direct Cost Estimate Sheet of Radwaste Treatment System for Light Water-Cooled Nuclear Reactors .....................................        G-2 Table G.2 Annual Operating and Maintenance Cost Estimate Sheet for Radwaste Treat ment System for Light-Water-Cooled Nuclear Reactors ..................      G-3 APPENDIX H          Examples of Figures Showing Radiation Exposure Pathways .......................        H-i APPENDIX I          Proposed Annex to Appendix D, 10 CFR Part 50, "Discussion of Accidents in Appli cants' Environmental Reports: Assumptions" .. ...............................            I-1 iv


==A. INTRODUCTION==
Power Transmission Systems
1. National Environmental Goals                            (FWPCA) Amendments of 1972 (Public Law 92-500, 86 Stat. 816). The FWPCA gives the U.S. Environmental The national environmental goals are expressed by      Protection Agency (EPA) regulatory authority over the the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of           discharge of pollutants to waters in "the United States
 
1969 (Public Law 91-190, 83 Stat. 852), as follows:       from nuclear power stations requiring an NRC license or permit subject to the requirements of 10 CFR Part 51.
The applicant should list and describe in-scope transmission lines, including the length or distance of lines; the width of right-of-ways (ROWs); ROW maintenance plans, procedures,    or protocols;
and the pesticides and herbicides used in ROWs, including information on how and when they are released. The applicant should also describe the protocol for applying chemicals near streams and wetlands and any procedures in place to protect historic properties and cultural resources. In addition, the applicant should provide a map of all in-scope transmission lines and ROWs  . Only those transmission lines that connect the plant to the switchyard where electricity is fed into the regional power distribution system (encompassing those lines that  connect the plant to the first substation of the regional electric power grid) and power lines that feed the plant from the grid during outages are considered within the scope of the environmental  review.
 
2.3    Refurbishment Activities
 
Describe any refurbishment activities performed in support of or otherwise associated with , or necessary for, license renewal (initial LR or SLR). The applicant should identify major facility modifications at the nuclear power plant, including structures and components (e.g., steam generators, vessel heads) that will be replaced or modified. The section should describe where equipment, material, and components will be stored on the plant site before installation, as well as their removal and ultimate disposal. The location and nature of environmental impacts if refurbishment activities will directly or indirectly affect the environment should also be discussed.
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 17 The applicant should describe any activities required to support the transport and delivery of equipment, material, and components, such as dredging or bridge and road modifications. Project plans and an implementation schedule should also be discussed, along with a brief explanation of how refurbishment activities will be integrated with refueling and maintenance outages and/or other activities.
 
It should also list any Federal, State, and local permits needed for the refurbishment and their status.
 
The environmental effects of refurbishment activities described in this section should be discussed in Chapter 4 of the ER.
 
2.4    Programs and Activities for Managing the Effects of Aging
 
Applicants should characterize any changes to power plant operations, inspections, maintenance activities, systems, and administrative control procedures during the renewal term designed to manage the effects of aging (as required by 10 CFR Part 54) that could impact the environment . Environmental impacts different from those described in the final environmental statement for the current operating license should be described in detail.
 
2.5    Employment
 
The applicant should provide the most current estim ate of total annual permanent, full-time, onsite employment (i.e., the total estimated number of full-time employees) and their place of residence by county, city, or town. The average number of refueling outage workers, duration of refueling outages (number of weeks), and their frequency (number of months) should also be provided.
 
The ER should also present the estimated number of workers required to support    any refurbishment activities. The amount of time (days or months) as well as an estimate of peak employment should be provided.
 
Applicants should also note in the ER any anticipated changes in the size of the onsite workforce arising from changes in surveillance, monitoring, inspections, testing, trending, and recordkeeping activities during the license renewal term. The applicant should also estimate changes in indirect employment resulting from changes in the onsite workforce  . Employment multipliers used and their source, along with any additional information needed for the NRC to verify the appropriateness of the multipliers, should be provided. Using an estimate of average household size for the region, the applicant should estimate the change in total population associated with license renewal.
 
2.6    Alternatives to the Proposed Action
 
In addition to considering the environmental effects, or impacts, of the proposed action (license renewal), the NRC must also consider  the environmental effects of alternatives to replace or offset the generating capacity of the nuclear power plant or to mitigate potential adverse impact
 
====s. The NRC====
considers the environmental effects of license renewal according to 10 CFR 51.103(a)(5), which states the following:
 
In making a final decision on a license renewal action pursuant to Part 54 of this chapter, the Commission shall determine whether or not the adverse environmental impacts of license renewal are so great that preserving the option of license renewal for energy planning decisionmakers would be un  reasonable.
 
This section should briefly describe the process the applicant used to identify replacement energy alternatives. Guidance on the treatment of reasonable alternatives to the proposed action are discussed in
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 18 greater detail in Section 7.1 of this RG. Applicants should briefly describe all the alternative energy sources considered and indicate which replacement energy alternatives are evaluated in detail in the ER.
 
This section should also include a brief description of alternatives considered that would reduce or avoid adverse effects (e.g., conversion of the cooling system from once-through to closed loop or construction and operation of cooling towers to reduce adverse impacts to aquatic resources). Guidance in Section 7.2 of this RG describes the treatment of these alternatives in greater detail.
 
Chapter 3      Affected Environment
 
Information that NRC reviewers need to describe the plants environmental setting    is discussed in this chapter. Applicants should include the following information about the  affected environment to assist the NRC staff in its review of potential environmental impacts during the license renewal  term (initial LR
or SLR):
 
*  Describe the location of the nuclear power plant, including the State, county, town, township, service districts, and parish boundaries, as appropriate. Provide maps showing the boundaries of political jurisdictions.
 
*  Include a map, or maps, of the nuclear power plant showing site boundaries; the exclusion area;
        site structures and facilities; major land uses (with land use classification consistent with the U.S. Geological Survey categories given in USGS NLCD Land Cover Class Legend and Description, updated in 2019 [Ref. 28]); the construction zone for refurbishment, if any; location of any other planned buildings and structures (both temporary and permanent); and transportation routes accessing and adjacent to the nuclear power plant site.
 
*  Provide a map of the 6-mile (10-kilometer) radius of the nuclear power plant site and a 50-mile
        (80-kilometer) radius, showing county and local municipality boundaries, place names, residential areas, airports, industrial and commercial facilities, roads and highways, railroads, Indian reservation and trust lands, military reservations, and military facilities. Depict features on both the vicinity and regional map(s) as practicable, given varying map scales.
 
*  Identify and describe known and reasonably foreseeable Federal and non    -Federal projects and other actions in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant that may contribute to the cumulative environmental effects of license renewal.
 
*  Identify all Federal facilities, including national parks, national forests, national wildlife areas, military facilities, and military reservations; Indian reservation and trust lands; and State parks, recreational areas, and conservation lands. Include distances, as well as any nonattainment and/or maintenance areas defined under the Clean  Air Act, as amended, within 50 miles (80  kilometers)
        of the plant site.
 
*  Provide the projected population within a 50-mile (80-kilometer) radius of the  nuclear power plant.
 
3.1    Land Use and Visual Resources
 
Land Use
 
The ER should provide zoning information (e.g., land is zoned for industrial  and/or commercial use), including acreage and percentage of land use and land cover  by category within the nuclear power
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 19 plant site boundary and/or property. Onsite land use or land cover can be divided into four basic categories: (1) developable unused open portions of the site, including fields and forest uplands;
(2) nondevelopable wetlands and open waterbodies (i.e., marshes, bogs, swamps, streams, ponds, estuaries, and rivers); (3) developed portions of the site, including facilities, structures, parking, landscaped areas, leased lands, and visitor and recreation areas; and (4) the total amount of land disturbed during the construction and operation of the nuclear power plant. The applicant should provide a map of the 6-mile (10-kilometer) radius of the nuclear power plant showing major land uses and land cover with land use classifications consistent with the U.S. Geological Survey categories. The applicant should also provide information about local county comprehensive land use, zoning, and development plans describing anticipated population and housing growth, control measures, and changing land use patterns.
 
Section 307(c)(3)(A) of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1456 et seq.)
(Ref. 29) requires applicants for Federal licenses or permits to certify that the proposed activity in a coastal zone or coastal watershed boundary, as defined by each State participating in the National Coastal Zone Management Program, is consistent with the enforceable policies of that States Coastal Zone Management Program. States define their coastal zone boundaries by using a variety of parameters, such as the entire State, county or county-equivalent boundaries, political features (e.g., town boundaries), and geographic features (e.g., adjacency to tidal waters). Applicants must coordinate with the State agency that manages the State Coastal Zone Management Program to obtain a determination that the proposed activity would be consistent with their program. A Federal agency cannot issue a license or permit until the State concurs.
 
For nuclear power plants located in a coastal zone or coastal watershed, as defined by each State participating in the National Coastal Zone Management Program, applicants must submit a consistency certification to the responsible State agency that the proposed license renewal action is consistent with the State Coastal Zone Management Program. Applicants must receive a determination from the State agency that manages the State Coastal Zone Management Program that the proposed license renewal action would be consistent with the State program. Documentation of the States coastal zone consistency determination for license renewal should be provided in the ER.
 
Visual Resources
 
The ER should describe the nuclear power plants visual setting, including the identity and height of the tallest visible structures and the direction and distances from which these structures are visible, as well as the visibility of lighting and vapor plumes. The applicant should also describe the visual impacts (if they occur) of in-scope transmission lines.
 
3.2    Meteorology and Air Quality
 
In this section of the ER, the applicant should provide information that includes a description of the local and regional meteorology and climatology. The applicant should also describe the onsite meteorological monitoring program and data monitoring system, and provide onsite meteorological data measurements (ambient temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and wind direction) for the last 5 years.
 
The applicant should provide a summary of current local air quality with respect to criteria pollutants established under the National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards (40 CFR Part 50)
(Ref. 30) and include a map of the region within a 62-mile (100-kilometer) radius of the site identifying nonattainment and/or maintenance areas (as defined under the Clean Air Act  of 1970) (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.) (Ref. 31), as amended) and a list of mandatory Class I Federal areas within the same radius. The applicant should identify and describe onsite emission sources; provide site emissions data for all criteria pollutants, volatile organic compounds, and any air toxics (i.e., hazardous air pollutants) that are locally important for the last 5 years; and identify applicable permits.
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 20
        In addition, if the applicant plans any refurbishment activities (see Section 2.3 of this RG) that would require additional workers, the applicant should also include the following information in the ER
to assist the NRC staff in its review of the potential air quality impacts and to facilitate the NRCs conformity analysis in accordance with 40 CFR Part 93, as revised (see 75 FR 17254) (Ref. 32):
 
*  Estimate onsite and offsite vehicle emissions resulting from refurbishment activities, if applicable, that contribute to the pollutants for which the area is in nonattainment or maintenance,4 and identify the approximate locations of the emissions during the peak employment period. This estimate may be based on the applicants estimate of vehicle miles associated with commuting refurbishment workers, other activities directly associated with refurbishment, and emission factors available in the current mobile source models approved by the EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality.    5
 
*  If construction equipment (such as cranes, trucks, or earthmoving equipment) is to be used during refurbishment, emissions resulting from use of this equipment should be included for each month that the equipment will be used.6
 
*  Estimate fugitive dust emissions generated during ground-disturbing activities.
 
The applicant should also provide information in the ER regard    ing air pollutant emission estimates for any new, proposed, modified, or replacement stationary sources, such as backup generators and auxiliary boilers. These estimates should clearly indicate the governing regulations that apply, or are assumed to apply, to the emission sources.
 
If the nuclear plant uses a cooling tower and is located in a State that regulates particulate emissions from cooling towers, the applicant should conduct an appropriate assessment of such emissions and report the results in the ER.
 
3.3    Noise
 
In this section, the applicant should identify the primary onsite noise-generating sources and activities and indicate their distance to the nearest site boundary and nearest noise-sensitive receptor. The applicant should also identify and discuss primary offsite generating sources in the vicinity of the power plant site. If ambient noise studies have been conducted at or near the nuclear plant site, the locations of the measurements and the corresponding noise levels, along with meteorological con     ditions during the measurement period, should be included. In particular, the applicant should provide information about noise complaints.
 
4  A good reference for this information is Emissions Factors & AP 42, Compilation of Air Pollutant Emission Factors (historical and current information), which can be found at https://www.epa.gov/air-emissions-factors-and-quantification/ap-42- compilation-air-emissions-factors.
 
5  Information on the most current EPA modeling tools for calculating vehicle emissions may be obtained at https://www.epa.gov/moves.
 
6  Emissions for these sources can be calculated using EPAs MOVES model available at https://www.epa.gov/moves/nonroad-technical-reports.
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 21
3.4    Geologic Environment
 
Geology
 
In this section of the ER, the applicant should describe, in general, the site geologic setting, including brief definitions of the rock types present, formation names, and thicknesses. This description should consider geologic conditions or geologic hazards identified since plant construction, such as landslide areas, karst features (e.g., sinkholes), and other conditions that could lead to land subsidence and unstable soils. The seismic history of the site since construction, including the largest historic regional earthquake, should be summarized. The ER should also briefly address any rare or unique geologic resources, including rock, mineral, or energy rights and assets at or adjoining the site.
 
Soils
 
In this section of the ER, the applicant should describe, in general, the soils at the plant site, including unconsolidated material that may be naturally occurring or consist of fill, including areas of engineered fill such as those occurring around the nuclear island. The applicant should describe the soils along with their relationship to the site geology (e.g., identify whether fill material was brought in from off site or if onsite excavation material was used). The applicant should identify the erosion potential and suitability and limitation ratings of site soils for current and proposed uses based on current soil mapping and characterization data (see the Natural Resources Conservation Services Web Soil Survey)
(Ref. 33) and should describe best management practices to control erosion and runoff associated with continued plant operations and refurbishment activities. Any projects undertaken at the plant site to address erosion, subsidence, or sea level rise since the start of plant operations should also be described.
 
This section should also identify any soils that are prime farmland, unique farmland, and other farmland of statewide or local importance on or adjoining the plant site that may be subject to the Farmland Protection Policy Act (7 U.S.C. 4201 et seq.) (Ref. 34).
 
3.5    Water Resources
 
Surface Water Resources
 
In this section of the ER, the applicant should describe the surface water resources at or near the site, as well as the river and stream flow, lake and reservoir volume, water level measurements, intake and discharge (outfall) specifications and operating parameters, and onsite ponds or other impoundments.
 
The presence of any delineated floodplains or zones of inundation for adjoining and onsite rivers, streams, and other surface water features should be identified on maps in relation to plant infrastructure and briefly described. A brief discussion of the flooding history of the plant site, if any, since plant startup should also be provided. This discussion should also address the plant sites compliance with applicable floodplain regulations. This section should also identify offsite surface water users withdrawing water from the same water body affected by the plant, along with their locations and usage rates (see Section 4.5.1). Appropriate maps of surface water features, intakes, and outfalls should be included.
 
The applicant should also describe local, State, and Federal permit information for enforcement of water use; water treatment, including biocides and  other water system additives and dechlorination systems; NPDES  -regulated discharges; storm water  runoff controls; and the dredging program history and  methods, as applicable. The discussion of surface water resources should include current surface water quality and both ambient conditions and monitoring results from available site studies. Reportable incidents and/or notices of violation received from regulatory
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 22 agencies related to surface water resources, including any associated corrective actions taken or mitigation measures implemented by the applicant, should be discussed.
 
Any applicant for a Federal license or permit to conduct any activity which may result in any discharge into navigable waters is required by Section 401 of the Clean Water Act of 1972, as amended (CWA; 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) (Ref. 35), to provide the Federal licensing agency (in this case, the NRC)
with water quality certification from the certifying authority (i.e., State, Tribe, interstate agency, or EPA,
as applicable). This certification denotes that discharges from the project or facility to be licensed will comply with CWA requirements and will not cause or contribute to a violation of applicable water quality standards.
 
In September 2023, EPA published a final rule revising the procedural requirements contained in the 2020 CWA Section 401 Certification Rule at 40 CFR 121 (88 FR 66558) (Ref. 36) (Ref. 37). The final rule became effective on November 27, 2023. To initiate the certification process, Federal license or permit applicants must submit a request for certification to the appropriate certifying authority (i.e.,
State, territory, authorized Tribe, or EPA) (40 CFR 121.5). The revised regulations at 40 CFR 121.6 require, in part, that the certifying authority provide a written confirmation to the project proponent and Federal agency of the date that the request for certification was received. The Federal agency and certifying authority may jointly agree in writing to the reasonable period of time for the certifying authority to act on the request for certification, provided the reasonable period of time does not exceed one year from the date that the request for certification was received. The final rule also imposes revised requirements for Federal agencies under the neighboring jurisdictions process, specified in 40 CFR
Part 121, subpart B. The Federal agency may not issue a license or permit prior to concluding the neighboring jurisdictions process, which includes notifying the EPA regional administrator that the Federal agency has received both the application for the Federal permit or license and either a certification or waiver for a Federal license or permit. However, the certifying authoritys failure or refusal to act on a certification request within the reasonable period of time is considered a waiver, provided the Federal agency promptly notifies the certifying agency and project proponent (applicant), as specified in 40 CFR 121.9.
 
If the applicant has not received Section 401 certification, the NRC cannot issue a renewed license (initial LR or SLR) unless the certifying authority has otherwise waived the requirement.
 
Documentation of the applicants receipt of Section 401 water quality certification for license renewal should be provided in the ER. The NRC also recognizes that some NPDES-delegated States explicitly integrate their CWA Section 401 certification process with NPDES permit issuance under CWA
Section 402. In such cases, an applicant should provide a supporting discussion and reference provisions in the nuclear power plants current NPDES permit, State statutes, or regulations that convey Section 401 certification.
 
Groundwater Resources
 
The ER should describe the sites groundwater hydrology and identify the hydrostratigraphic units and associated aquifers underlying the site. This discussion should link the previously described site geology with groundwater conditions. The hydrogeologic description should include unit depths and thicknesses, saltwater intrusion, depth to groundwater, groundwater flow directions and rates, and current groundwater quality. Any special designations (e.g., sole source aquifer) should be described. Offsite groundwater users should also be identified along with their locations, usage rates, and aquifers affected (see Section 4.5.2). The applicant should further identify the number and location of onsite water supply wells and monitoring wells on an accompanying map. For onsite supply wells, well capacities and recent usage rates (covering the last 5 years) should be summarized. The applicant should also discuss plant industrial practices involving the use of solvents, hydrocarbons, heavy metals, or other chemicals, and
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 23 whether such practices have caused soil or groundwater contamination. This discussion should describe any current contamination and any ongoing corrective action activities. Onsite contaminant sources may include lined or unlined wastewater ponds or lagoons, pipe and valve leakages, fuel spills, or other inadvertent incidents. If no leaks, spills, or accidental releases have occurred that have caused soil or groundwater contamination, the applicant should note that fact. If a plant has current or historical information about soil or groundwater contamination resulting from industrial practices, the applicant should describe the nature and extent of the contamination as compared to applicable soil and/or groundwater quality standards and include the following specific information:
 
*  Provide a list of documented leaks, spills, or accidental releases, including their nature, location, date, and amount spilled and/or released. Include the regulatory agency overseeing the incident and whether a noncompliance or notice of violation was issued. Also, include a site map depicting the locations of the listed incidents and corresponding contamination zones and groundwater plumes.
 
*  Describe the cleanup or other mitigation completed for each of the documented leaks, spills, or accidental releases.
 
*  Provide a summary of existing reports describing site soil and geology, soil and vadose zone contamination, hydrogeologic characterization, and groundwater contamination and remediation.
 
The applicant should also describe any dewatering systems in operation, including dewatering rates, and include them on a site map, if practicable.
 
3.6    Ecological Resources
 
Ecological resources include individuals, species, habitats, and ecosystems and their attributes.
 
The NRC typically addresses ecological resources as three resource groups: terrestrial resources, aquatic resources, and federally protected ecological resources. Wetlands and floodplains, which are transitional areas between terrestrial and aquatic systems, are generally described with terrestrial resources.
 
Terrestrial Resources
 
The ER should describe the following attributes of the terrestrial environment.
 
Ecoregion
 
Identify the terrestrial ecoregion (Levels I, II, and III) and describe the typical characteristics of the Level III ecoregion (e.g., climate, soils, common plant and animal species, characteristic habitat types).
 
Site and Vicinity
 
Identify and describe the terrestrial habitats on and near the site and within ROWs of in-scope transmission lines (e.g., oak-hickory forest, tallgrass prairie, tidal salt marsh, lacustrine wetland). Give special attention to important habitats (e.g., important bird areas, known bat hibernacula, locally significant habitats, natural heritage areas, wildlife sanctuaries and preserves, federally or State-managed lands). Include any wetlands and riparian areas as part of the terrestrial habitat discussion.
 
Describe any major changes to the terrestrial environment during or after nuclear power plant construction. These may be related to plant construction or operation or the result of other factors.
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 24 Note characteristic plant and animal species associated with each habitat type. Give special attention to important species (e.g., keystone species, indicator species, representative species, migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703 et seq.) (Ref. 38), State-listed species).
 
Note any non-native, nuisance, and invasive species of local or regional concern, especially those known to be present on the site. Summarize management of such species undertaken at the site, if applicable.
 
Studies and Monitoring
 
Describe terrestrial surveys, studies, and monitoring performed on or near the site, including biological entities or ecological attributes chosen for investigation, methodology, results, conclusions, and how conclusions relate to license renewal. Such studies may include wetland surveys, botanical surveys, natural heritage inventories, habitat assessments, or surveys related to State-listed or otherwise sensitive or protected species.
 
Procedures and Protocols
 
Describe any site or fleet-wide environmental procedures, wildlife management plans, best management practices, and conservation initiatives undertaken at the site and relevant to terrestrial resources. Relevant procedures and protocol may include landscape maintenance procedures, transmission line ROW maintenance procedures, stormwater management plans, site environmental review procedures that help workers identify and avoid impacts on the ecological environment when performing site activities, and management or conservation plans related to memberships with environmental stewardship councils.
 
Permits and Regulatory Controls
 
Describe relevant regional, State, and Federal permits and controls that are in place to reduce or mitigate impacts on the terrestrial environment.
 
Communications with Federal and State Agencies
 
Summarize the input of relevant Federal and State agencies with special expertise or jurisdiction over terrestrial resources, as applicable, if the applicant has contacted or coordinated with such agencies during preparation of the ER. Summarize the input of affected Indian Tribes, as applicable. Include copies of correspondence with these agencies in an appendix to the ER.
 
Figures and Tables
 
Depict ecological information in maps and figures, as appropriate. Include maps that depict the site and in-scope transmission lines. Land use maps; locations of Federal, State, and local parks and natural areas; significant natural heritage areas; and other ecological information of special interest may be appropriate, as well.
 
Present data in tables, when applicable. For instance, numerical results of botanical, wetland, and species surveys may be best communicated in tabular form.
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 25 Aquatic Resources
 
The ER should describe the following attributes of the aquatic environment.
 
Ecoregion
 
Identify the marine ecoregion (if applicable) and describe typical characteristics of that ecoregion (e.g., predominant oceanographic or topographic features, species composition, and dominant biogeographic forcing agents, such as isolation, upwelling, nutrient inputs, freshwater influx, temperature regimes, ice regimes, exposure, sediments, currents, and bathymetric or coastal complexity).
 
Site and Vicinity
 
Identify the waterbodies affected by nuclear power plant operations, including those within ROWs of in-scope transmission lines, and describe the characteristics of the affected waterbodies, including the following:
 
*  the aquatic habitats of the waterbodies
 
*  size, bathymetry, temperature regimes, streamflow and discharge, salinity, tidal flows, typical seasonal fluctuations, sediment types, and general water quality
 
*  main channel, dams, and any flood controls
 
*  additional human uses of the waterbody other than for nuclear power plant cooling (i.e., recreational, industrial, etc.)
 
Give special attention to important habitats (e.g., spawning and rearing areas, waters within Federal or State parks and preserves).
 
Identify the relevant watershed(s), including source and receiving waterbodies.
 
Identify the location of the cooling water intake and discharge structures in river miles, if appropriate. Include the location, in river miles, of nearby dams and flood controls, as applicable.
 
Describe any major changes to the aquatic environment during or after nuclear power plant construction. These may be related to plant construction or operation or the result of other factors.
 
Describe the trophic structure and identify important trophic links and potential for trophic cascade.
 
Note characteristic plant and animal species associated with each affected waterbody. Give special attention to important species (e.g., keystone species, indicator species, representative species, State-listed species, recreational and commercially important fisheries, marine mammals) protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) (Ref. 39) and those species vulnerable to impingement and entrainment).
 
Note any non-native, nuisance, and invasive species of local or regional concern, especially those known to be present on the site. Summarize management of such species undertaken at the site, if applicable.
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 26 Studies and Monitoring
 
Describe aquatic surveys, studies, and monitoring performed on or near the site, including biological entities or ecological attributes chosen for investigation, methodology, results, conclusions, and how conclusions relate to license renewal. Such studies should include baseline monitoring, impingement and entrainment studies, thermal studies, biological characterization studies, and any other studies conducted to support regulatory requirements of CWA Sections 316(a) and 316(b).
 
Procedures and Protocols
 
Describe any site or fleet-wide environmental procedures, wildlife management plans, best management practices, and conservation initiatives undertaken at the site and relevant to aquatic resources. Relevant procedures and protocol may include plans related to control of aquatic nuisance species, transmission line ROW maintenance procedures, stormwater management plans, site environmental review procedures that help workers identify and avoid impacts on the ecological environment when performing site activities, and management or conservation plans related to memberships with environmental stewardship councils.
 
Permits and Regulatory Controls
 
Describe relevant regional, State, and Federal permits and controls that are in place to reduce or mitigate impacts on the aquatic environment. Describe any conditions of NPDES permits related to impingement, entrainment, or the effects of thermal effluents on the aquatic environment. Include information on CWA Section 404 dredge and fill permits, if applicable. Summarize relevant Federal or State management initiatives, such as fish stocking programs.
 
Communications with Federal and State Agencies
 
Summarize the input of relevant Federal and State agencies with special expertise or jurisdiction over aquatic resources, as applicable, if the applicant has contacted or coordinated with such agencies during preparation of the ER. Summarize the input of affected Indian Tribes, as applicable. Include copies of correspondence with these agencies in an appendix to the ER.
 
Figures and Tables
 
Depict ecological information in maps and figures, as appropriate. Include maps that depict the affected waterbodies, including any stream or water crossings associated with in-scope transmission lines.
 
Graphic depictions of thermal effluent modeling and maps that show aquatic sampling stations may be appropriate as well.
 
Present data in tables, when applicable. For instance, numerical results of aquatic monitoring, impingement and entrainment studies, and thermal studies may be best communicated in tabular form.
 
Federally Protected Ecological Resources
 
The ER should describe the following attributes of federally protected ecological resources. Such resources include federally listed species and critical habitat protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) protected under MSA, and sanctuary resources protected under the NMSA.
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 27 Federally Listed Species and Critical Habitat
 
Define the ESA action area. The action area includes all areas to be affected directly or indirectly by the Federal action and not merely the immediate area involved in the action (50 CFR 402.02)
(Ref. 40). The action area is not limited to the footprint of the action nor is it limited by the Federal action agencys authority; rather, it is a biological determination of the reach of the proposed action on the listed species.
 
Identify the federally listed species and critical habitats present in the action area. A helpful resource is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Environmental Conservation Online System Information Planning and Consultation (IPaC) tool (available at https://ipac.ecosphere.fws.gov/) (Ref. 41). The IPaC
tool allows users to generate official species lists by entering project-specific information. However, the usefulness of this tool directly relates to the accuracy of the information entered into the system. Prior to initiating this step, be familiar enough with the potential effects of license renewal to be able to fully define the action area and to input the action area into IPaCs mapping tool. Notably, while the IPaC tool may contain some species that are jointly under both Services jurisdiction (e.g., sea turtles), it typically does not include species that are wholly under National Marine Fisheries jurisdiction (e.g., whales).
Information on these species should be sought from other sources.
 
For each federally listed species potentially present in the action area, describe the taxonomy, physical appearance, distribution and relative abundance, habitat, life history, factors affecting the species endangered or threatened status, and occurrence of the species within the action area.
 
For each designated critical habitat present in the action area, describe the characteristics of the physical and biological features of the habitat, designated boundaries, and location in relation to the nuclear power plant site and action area. Include maps, when available.
 
Include candidate and proposed species and proposed critical habitats, as appropriate.
 
Essential Fish Habitat
 
Define the affected area. This step is like determining the ESA action area. Unlike the ESA,
however, the MSA and its regulations do not specifically prescribe or define terminology for the affected area. For projects involving both an ESA analysis and EFH analysis, the ESA action area and the EFH
affected area are likely similar; both should account for all areas over which direct or indirect impacts to ecological receptors could occur. A primary difference between the two could be that an ESA action area may involve large areas of land that do not apply to the EFH affected area if that land does not contain any aquatic habitat or features.
 
Identify the EFH present in the affected area and the federally managed species (herein referred to as EFH species) and life stages to which the EFH applies. A helpful resource is the National Marine Fisheries Services EFH Mapper tool (available at: https://www.habitat.noaa.gov/apps/efhmapper/)
(Ref. 42). This tool allows users to view spatial representations of fish species, their life stages, and important habitats. The mapper displays data layers for EFH, habitat areas of particular concern (HAPCs),
and EFH areas protected from fishing. It includes links to supporting materials, such as fishery management plans, which contain the official regulatory EFH descriptions.
 
Describe the distribution, habitat preferences, and diet of each EFH species and life stage.
 
Describe the physical and biological characteristics of the EFH by species and life stage. Give special attention to HAPCs, when applicable.
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 28 Consider prey of EFH species that may be present in the affected area and include these species in the discussion.
 
Sanctuary Resources
 
Define the affected area. This step is like determining the ESA action area. Unlike the ESA,
however, the NMSA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Office of National Marine Sanctuaries guidance do not specifically prescribe or define terminology for the affected area. For projects involving an ESA analysis, EFH analysis, and/or an NMSA analysis, the ESA action area, the EFH affected area, and/or the NMSA affected area are likely similar; each should account for all areas over which direct or indirect impacts to ecological receptors could occur. Primary differences could be that an ESA action area may involve large areas of land that do not apply to the NMSA affected area. The EFH affected area could include freshwater bodies or non-marine aquatic habitats or features that do not apply to the NMSA affected area.
 
Identify the national marine sanctuary present in the affected area. Maps of designated and proposed sanctuaries are available at https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/about/maps.html (Ref. 43). Consider both designated and proposed sanctuaries in the discussion.
 
Describe the sanctuary resources. Sanctuary resources include any living or nonliving resource of a national marine sanctuary that contributes to the conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, educational, cultural, archaeological, scientific, or aesthetic value of the sanctuary.
 
Notably, sanctuary resources can include historic resources in addition to ecological resources.
 
Thus, this discussion should be coordinated with the historic and cultural resource analysis if any historic sanctuary resources are present, and the two discussions may be cross-referenced, as appropriate.
 
Studies and Monitoring
 
Describe surveys, studies, and monitoring performed on or near the site concerning federally protected ecological resources, if not previously described in the ER. Include biological entities or ecological attributes chosen for investigation, methodology, results, and conclusions.
 
Procedures and Protocols
 
Describe any site- or fleet-wide environmental procedures, wildlife management plans, best management practices, and conservation initiatives undertaken at the site and relevant to federally protected ecological resources, if not previously described in the ER.
 
Permits and Regulatory Controls
 
Describe relevant regional, State, and Federal permits and controls that are in place to reduce or mitigate impacts on federally protected ecological resources, if not previously described in the ER.
 
Communications with Federal and State Agencies
 
Summarize the input of relevant Federal and State agencies with special expertise or jurisdiction over federally protected ecological resources, as applicable. Specifically, this should include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Mari ne Fisheries Service concerning ESA  -listed species and critical habitats, National Marine Fisheries Service concerning EFH, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Office of National Marine Sanctuaries concerning national marine
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 29 sanctuaries and their resources. Summarize the input of affected Indian Tribes, as applicable. Include copies of correspondence with these agencies in an appendix to the ER.
 
Figures and Tables
 
Depict ecological information in maps and figures, as appropriate. Present data in tables, when applicable.
 
3.7    Historic and Cultural Resources
 
Historic and cultural resources are the remains of past human activities and include precontact (i.e., prehistoric) and historic era archaeological sites, districts, buildings, structures, and objects. Historic and cultural resources also include elements of the cultural environment such as landscapes, sacred sites, and other resources that are of religious and cultural importance to Indian Tribes, such as traditional cultural properties that are important to a living community of people for maintaining its culture. Historic and cultural resources are considered to be historically significant if they have been determined eligible for or have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). A historic property is a historic or cultural resource that is eligible for or listed on the NRHP.  7
 
NEPA requires Federal agencies to take into account the potential effects of their actions on the cultural environment. The NHPA requires Federal agencies          to consider the impacts of their undertakings  8 on historic properties and consult with the appropriate State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO)    , or Indian Tribes on a government-to-government basis, and other parties with an interest in the effects of the undertaking, including local governments and the public, as applicable.
 
The applicant should rely on qualified professionals who meet the Secretary of Interiors standards, 36 CFR Part 61, Professional Qualification Standards (Ref. 45), to develop the historic and cultural resource sections in the ER. The applicant should use Section 106 of the NHPA and the implementing regulations at 36 CFR Part 800, Protection of Historic Properties, as a guide for providing historic and cultural resource information in the ER. An applicant should engage with the SHPO, THPO, Indian Tribes, and interested parties for the purposes of gathering information in developing its ER.9 Information gathering by an applicant is not considered consultation pursuant to
36 CFR 800. Consultation with the SHPO, THPO, Indian Tribes, and interested parties is the responsibility of the NRC.
 
7  As defined in 36 CFR 800.16(l)(1), Historic property means any prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in, or eligible for inclusion in, the National Register of Historic Places maintained by the Secretary of Interior. This term includes artifacts, records, and remains that are related to and located within such properties. As defined in 36 CFR 800.16(l)(2), The term eligible for inclusion in the National Register includes both properties formally determined as such in accordance with regulations of the Secretary of the Interior and all other properties that meet National Register listing criteria. National Register criteria for listing are found in 36 CFR Part 60 (Ref. 44), National Register of Historic Places.
 
8  As defined in 36 CFR 800.16(y), an undertaking is a project, activity, or program funded in whole or in part under the direct or indirect jurisdiction of a Federal agency, including those carried out by or on behalf of a Federal agency; those carried out with Federal financial assistance; and those requiring a Federal permit, license or approval.
 
9  Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.2(c)(2)(ii), the NRC is responsible for consulting with Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations that attach religious and cultural significance to historic properties that may be affected by an undertaking.
 
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 30
        The applicant should identify the boundaries of the proposed direct (e.g., physical) and indirect (e.g., visual and auditory) area of potential effects (APE)10 to be recommended to the NRC. Once the proposed APE has been determined, the applicant should describe historic and cultural resources that have been identified as well as any cultural resources investigations completed within the APE.


"...it is the continuing responsibility of the Fed    Section 511 of the FWPCA provides that nothing under eral Government to use all practicable means,          NEPA shall be deemed to authorize any Federal agency consistent with other essential considerations of      to review any effluent limitation or other requirements national policy, to improve and coordinate Fed        established pursuant to the FWPCA, or to impose, as a eral plans, functions, programs, and resources to      condition of any license or permit, any effluent limita the end that the Nation may                            tion other than any such limitation established pursuant to the FWPCA.
Applicants should engage the SHPO to determine if further cultural resource investigations are needed to identify historic and cultural resources located within the APE, determine if they are eligible for listing on the NRHP, assess affects, and develop avoidance or mitigation plans to resolve adverse effect


"(1) fulfill the responsibilities of each genera tion as trustee of the environment for succeed ing generations;                                          Pursuant to the authority of the FWPCA, EPA
====s. The NRC====
                                                          requires applicants for discharge permits to submit
will use this information to support its NHPA Section 106 consultation and assessment of effects for the proposed project.
    "(2) assure for all Americans safe, healthful,        information required by EPA in order to establish productive, and esthetically and culturally pleas      effluent limitations in permits. Pursuant to the authority ing surroundings;                                      of NEPA, the NRC may require applicants for licenses or permits to submit information required by NRC in order
    "(3) attain the widest range of beneficial uses        to evaluate and consider the environmental impacts of of the environment without degradation, risk to        any actions it may take. Consequently, the informa health or safety, or other undesirable and unin        tional needs imposed by the two agencies may be similar tended consequences;                                  in the area of impacts on water quality and biota. In
    "(4) preserve important historic, cultural, and       addition, the FWPCA requires that EPA comply with natural aspects of national heritage, and main        NEPA regarding the issuance of discharge permits for tain, wherever possible, an environment which          new sources, as defined in the FWPCA, but not for other supports diversity and variety of individual          point sources. The responsibilities of the NRC and EPA
    choice;                                                under NEPA as affected by the FWPCA are the subject of a memorandum of understanding discussed in Section
    "(5) achieve a balance between population and          3.c.(l) of this Introduction.


resource use which will permit high standards of living and a wide sharing of life's amenities; and        In cases where the cooling system proposed in an application does not comply with the thermal effluent
Consistent with 36 CFR 800.16(d), the NRC typically defines the license renewal (initial LR or SLR) APE to include lands within the nuclear power plant site boundary and the transmission lines up to the first substation that may be directly (e.g., physically) affected by land-disturbing or other operational activities associated with continued plant operations and maintenance and/or refurbishment activities. The APE may extend beyond the nuclear plant site when these activities may indirectly (e.g., visual and auditory) affect historic properties. This determination is made irrespective of land ownership or control.
    "(6) enhance the quality of renewable resources        limitations under Sections 301 and 306 of Public Law and approach the maximum attainable recycling          92-500 (FWPCA), a request for alternative thermal of depletable resources."                              effluent limitations under Section 316(a) may be initiat ed according to the provisions of 40 CFR Part 122. If Prior to the issuance of a construction permit or       the request for alternative thermal effluent limitations an operating license for a nuclear power station, the      under Section 316(a) is denied, the applicant will be Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is required to        required to submit a supplement to the environmental assess the potential environmental effects of that        report presenting a description and environmental facility to ensure that issuance of the permit or         analysis of the alternative cooling system.


license will be consistent with the national environ mental goals presented above. In order to obtain          3. NRC Implementing Actions Concerning the Environ information essential to this assessment, the NRC            ment requires each applicant for a permit or a license to submit a report on the potential environmental impacts        a. Licensing and Regulatory Policy and Procedures of the proposed station and associated facilities. The            for Environmental Protection (10 CFR Part 51)
The applicant should describe the nuclear power plant site and provide the following information in the ER:
Commission's implementation of NEPA is discussed in Section 3 of this Introduction.                                  The Commission's implementation of NEPA 1 is contained in 10 CFR Part 51, "Licensing and Regulatory Policy and Procedures for Environmental Protection."
2. Federal Water Pollution Control Act The responsibilities of the NRC under NEPA are          ISee also CEQ Guidelines (38 FR 20549) published August 1, affected by the Federal Water Pollution Control Act          1973.


v
*  A U.S. Geological Survey quadrangle map that identifies the direct and indirect APEs.


Other relevant information is contained in a proposed             radiation dose to individuals and populations within 50
*  Identify the APE, as appropriate, for the proposed project area. Note that not all areas of the U.S.
Annex, "Discussion of Accidents in Applicants' Environ            miles (80 kilometers) of the station in order to demon mental Reports: Assumptions," to Appendix D, 10                    strate compliance with Appendix I to 10 CFR Part 50.


CFR Part 50 (36 FR 22851).                                         These same analytical models can be used to evaluate the radiological impact of the radioactive effluents released b. Radiological Impact Assessment (Appendix I to              during normal operation on the environment within 50
(i.e., the original 13 colonies) use the Public Land Survey System (e.g., township, range, and section information).
        10 CFR Part 50)                                           miles of the station.


The Nuclear Regulatory Commission published                        The following principles stated by the Commission Appendix I, "Numerical Guides for Design Objectives              in its opinion on the Appendix I rulemaking proceed and Limiting Conditions for Operation to Meet the                 ings, 4 although specifically related to the provisions of Criterion 'As Low As Is Reasonably Achievable' 2 for              Appendix I, provide useful guidance for evaluating Radioactive Material in Light-Water-Cooled Nuclear                environmental impacts under NEPA.
*  Identify any parts of the APE that are Federal, State, or Indian reservation or trust lands.


Power Reactor Effluents," to 10 CFR Part 50 in the Federal Register (40 FR 19437) as an effective rule on                (1) An applicant should be free to use as realistic a May 5, 1975. This revision of Regulatory Guide 4.2                model for characterizingnatural phenomena, including includes changes in NRC's information requirements                plant performance, as he considers useful. An applicant made necessary by Appendix I to 10 CFR Part 50.                  may take into account situations not adequately char acterized by such standardized models as may be On September 4, 1975, the NRC published amend              available with respect to specific features of plant design, ments to Appendix I to 10 CFR Part 50 in the Federal              proposed modes of plant operation, or local natural Register (40 FR 40816). These amendments provide                  environmental features which are not likely to change persons who have filed applications for construction              significantly during the term of plantoperation.
Cultural Background


permits for light-water-cooled nuclear power reactors that were docketed on or after January 2, 1971, and                   (2) Where selection of data is strictly a matter of prior to June 4, 1976, the option of dispensing with the         interpreting experimental evidence, both the applicant cost-benefit analysis required by Paragraph II.D of              and the Regulatory staff should use prudent scientific Appendix I if the proposed or installed radwaste systems          expertise to select those values which would be expected and equipment satisfy the Guides on Design Objectives            to yield estimates nearest the real case.
This section of the ER should discuss the historic use of the land and the activities that have occurred within the APE and the surrounding area. This includes a description of the cultural history of the region (including the proposed project site) from the beginning of human settlement to the present and a summary of how this information was collected for the proposed APE. Information can be derived from background research (literature review and site file search) and from the use of plat and other historic maps showing ownership, acreage, property boundaries, and the location of existing or former historic structures. Other sources that can assist with description of the cultural background include land records, archival sources, local museums or historical societies, libraries, planning documents, mapping/imaging, and online sources. If available, consult ethnohistoric sources to identify Indian Tribes and other groups that may have historic and cultural ties to the proposed project area. The ER should include, if available, photos of the plant site before construction, preconstruction (showing land clearing), during construction, and postconstruction of the current facility.


for Light-Water-Cooled Nuclear Power Reactors pro posed in the Concluding Statement of Position of the                  (3) If approximations implicit in a model can pro AEC Regulatory staff in Docket No. RM-50-2 dated                  duce a deviation from the true result, the direction of February 20, 1974 (reproduced in the Annex to                    which is eitheruncertain or would tend to underestimate Appendix I to 10 CFR Part 50).                                    dosage, or if available experimental information leaves a substantial range of uncertainty as to the best estimate The NRC staff intends to employ realistic analyt          of some parameter values, or both, data should be ical models for assessing the potential release of radio          chosen so as to make it unlikely, with all such deviations active materials to the environment and for estimating            and uncertainties taken into account together, that the their pathways and impacts over the operating life of the         true dose would be underestimatedsubstantially.
Historic and Cultural Resources at the Site and in the Vicinity


proposed nuclear facility. The models used in determin ing potential radioactive releases should consider all                (4) The models used in describing effluent releases potential sources and pathways within the proposed                should take into account all real sources and pathways station.                                                           within the plant; and the estimated releases should be characteristic of the expected average releases over a The NRC has published a series of regulatory              long period of time, with account taken of normal guides' that provide guidance m evaluating the potential          operation and anic-ipuied operniormd occurrences o.er the lifetime of the plant.
This section of the ER should describe historic and cultural resources identified within the direct APE (e.g., including in-scope transmission lines) and indirect APE (e.g., in the vicinity). Applicants


2                                                                      (5) The model of the exposed individual and the Amended 40 FR 58847, December 19, 1975.
10  As defined in 36 CFR 800.16(d), Area of potential effects means the geographic area or areas within which an undertaking may directly or indirectly cause alterations in the character or use of historic properties, if any such properties exist. The area of potential effects is influenced by the scale and nature of an undertaking and may be different for different kinds of effects caused by the undertaking.


3                                                                  assumed characteristicsof the environs with respect to Regulatory Guide 1.109, "Calculation of Annual Doses to Man known occupancy and to land and water use should be from Routine Releases of Reactor Effluents for the Purpose of Evaluating Compliance with 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix 1;"
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 31 should indicate whether a records review for historic and cultural resources was conducted. Historic and cultural resource survey reports specifically prepared for license renewal should be referenced and submitted with the license application or otherwise made available to NRC for review (e.g., via secure online portal). However, information (i.e., reports, maps, and site forms) that discloses the locations of unevaluated, potentially eligible, or eligible historic properties (e.g., archaeological sites) should be withheld from public disclosure. This information may be protected under NHPA Section 304 (54 U.S.C.
  Regulatory Guide 1.111, "Methods for Estimating Atmospheric      4 Transport and Dispersion for Gaseous Effluents in Routine          From the "Opinion of the Commission," Docket No.


RM-50-2.
100707), especially if there is a risk of harm to the resource. The NRC protects cultural resource information disclosing the location of cultural resources (e.g., maps) under Section 304 of the NHPA,
consistent with 10 CFR 2.390(a)(3). Section 304 of NHPA requires the NRC to withhold from disclosure to the public, information about the location, character, or ownership of a historic resource if the agency and the Secretary of the Interior agree that disclosure may (1) cause a significant invasion of privacy,
(2) risk harm to the historic resource, or (3) impede the use of a traditional religious site by practitioners.


Releases from Light-Water-Cooled Reactors;" Regulatory Guide      Single copies of this volume may be purchased at a cost of
Applicants should discuss with the NRC staff during preapplication interactions how to handle sensitive historic and cultural resource information.
  1.112, "Calculation of Releases of Radioactive Materials in        $4.00 fromv the USERDA Technical Information Center, P.O.


Gaseous and Uquid Effluents from Light-Water-Cooled Power          Box 62, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830. Copies of the complete Reactors;" and Regulatory Guide 1.113, "Estimating Aquatic        opinion are also available for inspection and copying in the Dispersion of Effluents from Accidental and Routine Reactor        Commission's Public Document Room, 1717 H Street, NW.,
The ER should provide the following information:
  Releases for the Purpose of Implementing Appendix I."              Washington, D.C. 20555.


vi
*  description of all past and current historic and cultural resource investigations conducted to identify historic and cultural resources within and surrounding the APE


determined in each case in accordance with the intent            Register (38 FR 2713) a first "Memorandum of Under indicated below for each particularcategory of effluent          standing Regarding Implementation of Certain Comple for which design-objective guidelines are given.                  mentary Responsibilities" between AEC and EPA under the FWPCA.
*  documentation of field methods used to identify historic and cultural resources within the APE


(a) For design objectives affected by assumptions as to consumption of water or food (other than milk)                        To further clarify the respective roles of NRC
*  description of all historic and cultural resources, (e.g., precontact and historic archaeological sites, standing structures greater than 50 years in age or of historical significance [i.e., the nuclear power plant facility], cemeteries, and traditional cultural properties), and isolated finds and features within the APE
produced in the environs, one should consider the model          and EPA in the decision-making process concerning individual to be that hypothetical individualwho would            nuclear power stations and other facilities requiring an be maximally exposed with account taken only of such              NRC license or permit, a "Second Memorandum of potential occupancies and usages as could actually be            Understanding and Policy Statement Regarding Imple realized during the term of plant operation.                      mentation of Certain NRC and EPA Responsibilities"
                                                                  was published in the FederalRegister (40 FR 60115) on (b) For design objectives affected by exposure as          December 31, 1975. This Second Memorandum of a direct result of human occupancy (immersion expo                Understanding supersedes the January 29, 1973 Memo sure), the model individual should be the hypothetical            randum; NRC has adopted the revised Policy Statement individual maximally exposed with account taken only              set forth in Appendix A to this Second Memorandum.


of such potential occupancies, including the fraction of          The revised Policy Statement will serve as the legal basis time an individual would be exposed, as could actually            for NRC decision-making concerning licensing matters be realizedduring the term of plant operation.                   covered by NEPA and Section 511 of the FWPCA.
*  evaluation of historic and cultural resources for NRHP eligibility (i.e., historic properties)
        including:


Appropriate changes will be made in future revisions of (c) For design objectives relative to thyroid dose        this guide as various implementing actions are developed as affected by consumption ofmilk, the iodine pathway            to meet the provisions of the Second Memorandum of through the environs of a plant and the characteristicsof        Understanding.
o  a description of the process and methods used to evaluate these resources


the model receptorshould be essentially as they actually exist at the time of licensing.
o  documentation of SHPO, THPO, and Indian Tribes concurrence with process, methods, and conclusions


(2) Memorandum of Understanding Between the c. Interagency Memoranda of Understanding                                NRC and the Corps of Engineers, United States Army The Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other agencies of the Federal government sometimes have                            Both the Corps of Engineers, United States overlapping responsibilities regarding the issuance of            Army, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission have licenses or permits. For the purposes of coordinating and        responsibilities for assuring that nuclear power stations implementing certain requirements to ensure effective,           on coastal and inland navigable waters and at offshore efficient, and thorough regulation of nuclear power              sites are built and operated safely and with minimum stations and to avoid conflicting and unnecessary dupli          impact on the environment. For the purpose of coordi cation of effort and standards related to the overall            nating and implementing consistent and comprehensive public health and safety and environmental protection,            requirements to assure effective, efficient, and thorough the NRC and other Federal agencies have entered into              regulation of nuclear power stations and to avoid several memoranda of understanding.                              conflicting and unnecessary duplication of effort and of standards related to overall public health and safety and
The applicant is encouraged to engage the NRC staff as early as possible in the planning process, in accordance with 10 CFR 51.40, Consultation with NRC staff, to avoid issues related to disclosing sensitive location information related to historic and cultural resources when drafting the ER.
      (1) Memoranda of Understanding Between the                environmental protection, the Corps of Engineers, NRC and the Environmental Protection                  United States Army, and the NRC have entered into a Agency                                                Memorandum of Understanding (40 FR 37110; August
                                                                  25, 1975).
            For the purpose of implementing NEPA and the FWPCA in a manner consistent with both acts and                          Under this agreement, the NRC will exercise the public interest, the Atomic Energy Commissions                the primary responsibility in conducting environmental (AEC published in the Federal Register (38 FR 2679)                reviews and in preparilig environmental statements for on January 29, 1973, an Interim Statement of Policy              nuclear power stations covered by this Memorandum of concerning the effects of Section 511 of the FWPCA                Understanding.


upon the AEC's statutory responsibility and authority under NEPA in licensing actions covered by Appendix D                        The Corps of Engineers will participate with to 10 CFR Part 50 (now superseded by 10 CFR Part                  the NRC in the preparation of the environmental impact
Procedures and Integrated Cultural Resources Management Plans
51). On the same date, the AEC published in the Federal          statements to include the drafting of material for the sections that consider and evaluate the following topics, as applicable, and the analysis leading thereto:
SThe Atomic Energy Commission was abolished by the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, which also created the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and gave it the licensing and related                (a) Coastal erosion and other shoreline modi regulatory functions of the AEC.                                fications, shoaling, and scouring;
                                                              vii


(b) Siltation and sedimentation processes;            on the draft statement received from the various Federal, State, and local agencies and officials, from the (c) Dredging activities and disposal of dredged      applicant, and from private organizations and individuals materials; and                                                  and prepares a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FES). The final statement is transmitted to the Council (d) Location of structures in or affecting            on Environmental Quality and is made available to navigable waters.                                                 appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies and State, regional, and metropolitan clearinghouses. A public The Commission is developing specific announcement is made and a notice of availability is guidance concerning the information to be requested published in the FederalRegister.
If historic properties or cultural resources are located within the APEs, the applicant should establish procedures or implement an integrated management plan to protect the historic and cultural resources identified. These plans or procedures are not required to be included in the ER; however, the ER should acknowledge if they exist or are being drafted, as applicable.


from applicants in order to meet the provisions of this Memorandum of Understanding. As various implement ing actions are taken, appropriate changes will be made              Subsequent hearings and actions as described in Subpart D, "Administrative Action and Authorization;
NHPA Section 106 Consultation
  in this guide.                                                  Public Hearings and Comment," of 10 CFR Part 51 on the environmental aspects involved in issuance of a
  4. Commission Action on Environmental Reports                    construction permit or operating license are based on the applicant's environmental report and on the NRC's Final As noted in § 51.50, "Federal Register notices;              Environmental Impact Statement. The FES takes into distribution of reports; public announcements; public            account information from many sources, including the comment," of 10 CFR Part 51, the NRC places a copy                applicant's environmental report and its supplements of each applicant's environmental report in the Com              and the comments of the various governmental agencies, mission's Public Document Room in Washington, D.C.              the applicant, and private organizations and individuals.


and in a local public document room near the proposed site. The report is also made available to the public at the appropriate State, regional, and metropolitan clear          5. Cost-Benefit Analysis inghouses. In addition, a public announcement is made, and a summary notice of the availability of the report is            The cost-benefit analysis referred to in paragraph published in the FederalRegister.                                51.20(b) of 10 CFR Part 51 should consist of two parts.
Consultation in support of NHPA Section 106 is the responsibility of the Federal agency, and the NRC is required to take the lead on consulting with the SHPO, THPO, Indian Tribes (on a government-to-government basis), and interested parties as outlined in 36 CFR 800; consultation is not


In the first part, alternative site-plant combinations The applicant's environmental report and any com            (site-plant combinations are defined and discussed in ments received from interested persons are considered            Chapter 9) and station systems should be examined in by the NRC staff in preparing a Draft Environmental              order to show that the proposed facility is the Impact Statement (DES) concerning the proposed licens            cost-effective choice, considering economic, social, and ing action. The NRC staff's draft statement, the appli            other environmental factors and any institutional cant's environmental report, and any comments                    (governmental, etc.) constraints. In the second part of received on the statement or report are provided to the          the cost-benefit analysis, the benefits to be created by Council on Environmental Quality. Copies of the draft            the proposed facility should be weighed against the statement and the applicant's environmental report will          aggregate of environmental, economic, and other costs be provided to (a) those Federal agencies that have              to be incurred.
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 32 the responsibility of the applicant.11 The applicant should engage with these parties to gather sufficient information pertinent to the NHPA Section 106 review process in order to assist the NRC in the timely completion of its NHPA Section 106 compliance requirements. The ER should contain a summary of the applicants initial outreach efforts to date, including the process used to identify Indian Tribes and potential interested parties that may have a demonstrated interest in the proposed project. The applicant should evaluate the significance of the historic and cultural resources and assess any effects the proposed project may have on them. For areas not surveyed (e.g., areas too disturbed or devoid of potential historic and cultural resources), proper documentation, a basis for exclusion, and concurrence on survey methodology from the SHPO should be provided.


special expertise or jurisdiction by law with respect to any environmental impacts involved and which are                  6. Environmental Reports authorized to develop and enforce relevant environ mental standards; (b) the Environmental Protection                    Sections 51.20 and 51.21 of 10 CFR Part 51 require Agency; and (c) the appropriate State and local agencies          the applicant to submit two environmental reports (see authorized to develop and enforce _relevant environ              Appendices A and B). The first is the "Applicant's mental standards and the appropriate State, regional,            Eiiivironmental Report - Construction Permiit Stage,"
The ER should contain copies of all correspondence with the SHPO, THPO, Indian Tribes, and other interested parties (e.g., local governments, historical societies, members of the public) with whom the applicant engaged to gather information about historic and cultural resources within the APE. These documents should be included in an appendix of the ER. The applicant should provide the information and analysis needed for the NRC to comply with Section 106 requirements in a manner that minimizes the potential for delays in the environmental review.
and metropolitan clearinghouses. A reasonable effort              which must be submitted in conjunction with the will be made to distribute draft environmental state            construction permit application. The second is the ments prepared for licensing actions to all States that            "Applicant's Environmental Report - Operating License may be affected and to appropriate national and local            Siage," which must be submitted later in conjunction environmental organizations. The draft statement is              with the operating license application. The applicant's made available to the general public in the same manner         environmental reports are important documents of as is the applicant's environmental report. Comments on          public record. Therefore, the applicant is urged to give the applicant's environmental report and the draft              full attention to their completeness.


statement are requested within a specified time interval.
3.8    Socioeconomics


These activities are based on § §51.22, 51.24, and 51.25            If the site for a nuclear power station already of 10 CFR Part 51.                                                contains one or more units (i.e., steam-electric plants) in operation, under construction, or for which an applica As described in. detail in §51.26 of 10 CFR Part 51,        tion for a construction permit or operating license has the NRC staff considers the comments on the report and            been filed, the applicant shovld consider the environ- viii
The ER should include the following information to assist NRC staff in its review of the potential socioeconomic impacts during the license renewal term (initial LR or SLR):


or changes in surrounding land use, water use, or zoning mental effects of the proposed units (and their inservice      classifications.)
*  Based on information provided in Section 2.5, provide current employee residential distribution information in a table showing the annual average number of nuclear power plant workers by county and community. Also indicate where refueling and maintenance outage workers generally stay. Identify commuter routes for the workers and traffic conditions on local roads.
schedule) in conjunction with the effects of existing or planned units. Furthermore, if the site contains signif                (2) Discuss the results of studies that were not icant sources of environmental impact other than elec completed at the tiqw of preconstruction review and tric power units, the interactions of these sources with that were specified to be completed before the preopera the proposed nuclear unit should be taken into account.


tional review. Indicate how the results of these studies were factored into the design znd proposed operation of Effects between units are considered especially            the station.
*  Describe public recreational facilities and tourist attractions located in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant, including projected use if available.


important as efforts to conserve such resources as water focus on the transfer and reuse of materials within plant            (3) Describe the scope of the monitoring programs complexes. In addition, adjacent or contiguous facilities      that have been and will be undertaken to determine the involving the potential interchange of radionuclides            effects of the operating station on the environment.
*  Provide a table showing the distribution of property tax payments and discuss other payments, including payments in lieu of taxes to local jurisdictions (e.g., county, municipality, townships, villages, and school districts) for the past 5 years and the associated total revenue or property tax revenue for each jurisdiction and school district.


should be treated in considerable detail to ensure the          Include any monitoring programs being developed or applicant's full knowledge of interrelationships with the      carried out in cooperation with Federal and State fish proposed nuclear station.                                      and wildlife services. The result of preoperational moni toring activities should be presented (refer to Chapter 6 a. Construction Permit Stage                                of Section B of this guide). A listing of types of measurements, kinds and numbers of samples collected, The applicant should present sufficient informa        frequencies, and analyses should be provided and the tion in the environmental report that is submitted with        locations described and indicated on a map of the area.
*  Discuss any adjustments to payments caused by reassessments and other actions (including legal actions) that resulted in notable increases or decreases in payments to local jurisdictions.


the application for a construction permit to allow staff evaluation of the potential environmental impact of                    (4) Discuss planned studies, not yet completed, constructing and operating the proposed facility. In all        that may yield results relevant to the environmental cases, the site-specific environmental data presented at        impact of the station.
3.9    Human Health


the time of filing for a construction permit should (1)
In this section of the ER, the applicant should summarize information about human health conditions and hazards at the nuclear power plant to assist the NRC staff in its review of potential human health impacts during the license renewal period (initial LR or SLR). This should include a discussion of the plant workforce adherence to safety standards and their use of protective equipment, as required by Federal and State regulations, as it pertains to occupational safety and health hazards at the plant.
document the critical life stages and biologically signif              (5) Propose environmental technical specifications.


icant activities (e.g., spawning, nesting, migration) that      The recommended format for these specifications is increase the vulnerability of the potentially affected          presented in Regulatory Guide 4.8, "Environmental biota at the proposed site and (2) characterize the            Technical Specifications for Nuclear Power Plants."
11  If an applicant is corresponding with Indian Tribes before the NRC initiates government-to-government consultation, then the applicant should clarify to the Indian Tribes that the NRC will be initiating and conducting government-to-government consultation at a later date for the project. A federally recognized Indian Tribe is not obligated to consult with an applicant or share information about properties of religious and cultural significance with an applicant. A federally recognized Tribe may prefer to communicate directly with NRC at the government-to-government level.
seasonal variations of biota likely to be affected by the      Detailed technical specifications may become an appen station.                                                        dix to the applicant's "Environmental Report - Operat ing License Stage," but the body of the report need only An applicant wishing to accelerate the start of        include the required discussion of general scope des construction by early submittal of the environmental            cribed in Section 6.2 of this guide. Interim guidance will report (according to the procedure set forth in paragraph      continue to be provided on a case-by-case basis.


50.10(e) of 10 CFR Part 50) may submit an initial evaluation of environmental impact based on an analysis of at least 6 months of field data related to the proposed
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 33 Radiological Hazards
                                                                  7. Preparation of Environmental Reports facility and suitable projections of the remaining sea sonal periods if the information called for in item (1)            a. Purpose of This Guide above is provided. If this is done, the applicant should also make a commitment to furnish, within 6 months of                  Section B of this guide identifies the information the time of filing, a final evaluation based on a full year of field data.                                                  needed by the staff in its assessment of the potential environmental effects of the proposed nuclear facility b. Operating License Stage                                  and establishes a format acceptable to the staff for its presentation. Use of the format of this guide will help The "Applicant's Environmental Report - Operat          ensure the completeness of the information provided, will assist the NRC .staff and others in locating the ing License Stage" should, in effect, be an updating of the earlier report and should:                                  information, and will aid in shortening the time needed for the review process. Conformance with this format, however, is not required. An environmental report with
          (1) Discuss differences between currently pro a different format will be acceptable to the staff if it jected environmental effects of the nuclear power provides an adequate basis for the findings requisite to station (including those that would degrade and those the issuance of a license or permit. However, because it that would enhance environmental conditions) and the may be more difficult to locate needed information, the effects discussed in the environmental report submitted staff review time for such a report may be longer, and at the construction stage. (Differences may result, for there is a greater likelihood that the staff may regard the example, from changes in plans, changes in station            report as incomplete.


design, availability of new or more detailed information, ix
The applicant should describe the general radiological health environment of the nuclear power plant with respect to the following:


The staff plans to provide additional information      information (whether in the form of text, tables, or on a data retrieval system (outlined in Appendix C) in a      figures) should be incorporated in the environmental future revision of this guide.                                report where appropriate to avoid duplication of effort.
*  historical data on occupational doses to plant workers


The presentation in the environmental report of some In developing the implementation policy for Regu        information that also appears in the applicant's safety latory Guide 4.2, Revision 2, both the difficulties that      analysis report is necessary because these reports are applicants might face unless a suitable transition period      responsive to different statutory requirements and was provided and the NRC staff's need for information        because each report should be essentially self-contained.
*  discussion of any abnormal radionuclide releases, including the types of radionuclides released, calculated doses from the release, monitoring plans to track the release, and any corrective measures performed


to complete the review of applications for construction permits and operating licenses have been considered.                  The applicant should strive for clear, concise Therefore, the NRC staff will use Regulatory Guide 4.2,      presentations of the information provided in the envi Revision 2, in the evaluation of environmental reports        ronmental report. Each subject should be treated in submitted in connection with applications docketed            sufficient depth and should be documented 6 to permit a after December 31, 1976.                                      reviewer to evaluate the extent of the environmental impact independently. The length of the environmental If an applicant wishes to use this revision in          report will depend on the nature of the station and its developing the environmental report submitted in con          environment. Tables, line drawings, and photographs nection with an application docketed on or prior to            should be used wherever they contribute to the clarity December 31, 1976, the report will be evaluated on the        and brevity of the report. The number of significant basis of pertinent portions of this revision of the guide.    figures stated in numerical data should reflect the accuracy of the data.
*  information on potential changes in radiologica l impacts to the public and workers from continued plant operations during the renewal term


b. Scope Pertinent published information relating to the In order to cover a wide variety of anticipated        site, the station, and its surroundings should be refer situations, the scope of this guide is comprehensive. In      enced. Where published information is essential for some instances, requests for specific information may          evaluation of specific environmental effects of the not be applicable to a particular station or site.            station construction and operation, it should be in cluded, in summary or verbatim form, in the environ Some of the text of this guide (e.g., Section 7.1)      mental report or as an appendix to the report. In has been written with specific reference to light-water        particular, water quality standards and regulations rele cooled reactors. For applicants proposing to construct        vant to the environmental impact assessment should be and operate other types of reactors, guidelines on the         given in an appendix. If the applicant considers the recommended content of these sections will be provided        reports of work it supported will contribute to the on a case-by-case basis. Similarly, offshore power            environmental impact analysis, these may be included as systems will, in general, require special guidelines for      appendices.
*  information on the radiological impacts  of any planned refurbishment  activities


each individual case.
Microbiological Hazards


c. Presentation of Infonnation                            6Documentation as used in this guide means presentation of information, supporting data, and statements and includes (1)
Microorganisms that are associated with cooling towers and thermal    effluents at nuclear plants that use cooling ponds, lakes, canals or that discharge to publicly accessible surface waters can have negative impacts on human health. Microbiological organisms of concern for public and occupational health, including enteric pathogens (bacteria that typically exist in the intestines of animals and humans
                                                                references to published information, (2) citations from the Some of the information to be included in the            applicant's experience, and (3) reference to unpublished infor environmental report (e.g., that pertaining to demo            mation developed by the applicant or the applicant's consul graphy, meteorology, hydrology) may have already been          tants. Statements not supported by documentation are accept prepared by the applicant during consideration of the          able provided the applicant identifies them either as information for which documentation is not available or as safety aspects of the proposed facility. In such cases, this    expressions of belief or judgment.
[e.g., Pseudomonas aeruginosa]), thermophilic fungi, bacteria (e.g., Legionella spp. and Vibrio spp.),
free-living amoebae (e.g., Naegleria fowleri and Acanthamoeba spp.), as well as organisms that produce toxins that affect human health (e.g., dinoflagellates [Karenia brevis] and blue-green algae). Exposure to these microorganisms, or in some cases the endotoxins or exotoxins produced by the organisms, can cause illness or death.


x
The applicant should consult the State agency responsible for environmental health regarding the potential existence and concentration of the above microorganisms in the receiving wate  rs for plant cooling water discharge  to publicly accessible surface waters. The applicant should document the results of this consultation in the ER. The ER should include copies of correspondence with the responsible agency indicating concurrence with the applicants risk assessment and proposed mitigation strategy, if one is required. The ER should include information  on any known upstream heat load contributors to the river and their locations relative to the plant. The ER should also include information regarding any known local, State, or Federal regulations that would govern monitoring requirements and the possible modification of discharge permit limits, if thermophilic microbiological organisms are a concern at the plants discharge.


B. STANDARD FORMAT AND CONTENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTS
Electric Shock Hazards
                                                        CHAPTER 1 PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSED FACILITY AND ASSOCIATED TRANSMISSION
    In Chapter 1 of its environmental report, the appli      the applicant's system, (b) the power pool or area within cant should demonstrate the purpose of, and thus the          which the applicant's planning studies are based, and (c)
benefits of, the proposed facility with respect to the        where available, the regional reliability council or the power requirementsto be satisfied, the system reliability    appropriate subregion or area of the reliability council as to be achieved, or any other primary objectives of the        follows:
facility and how these objectives would be affected by variations in the scheduled operation of the proposed            1.1.1.1 Load Analysis. The past annual peak load station. In this chapter, the term "applicant'ssystem"        demands and the annual energy requirements for a includes all existing, committed, andplanned generating      period beginning at least 10 years prior to the filing of units owned in whole or in partby the applicantand all      the environmental report should be reported. In addi large (greaterthan 100 MWe), existing, committed, and        tion, the future projected annual peak demand should be planned generatingunits not owned in whole or in part        reported from the year of filing of the environmental by the applicant that it plans to rely on for meeting        report up to and including, as a minimum, the first 24 demand and reliability requirements to which it is            months following start of commercial operation of the committed.                                                  last unit with which this report is concerned. To the extent feasible, the applicant should also present future
            1.1 System Demand and Reliability                demands during the expected life of the facilities under review.


This section should discuss the requirements for the proposed nuclear unit(s) in the applicant's system and in        The applicant should present the expected annual the region, considering the overall power supply situa      load duration curve for at least 24 months following the tion, past load and projected load, and reserve margins.    start of commercial operation of the proposed nuclear In addition, the applicant should consider the impact of      station in order to show the relationship of the station applicable energy conservation and other potential load      to the short-term system requirements.
The ER should describe the in -scope transmission lines and include maps, photographs, or drawings indicating the corridor for these lines. Include a discussion of transmission corridor access and measures taken to meet  the National Electric Safety Code (NESC  ) (Ref. 46), such as clearance standards and 5 mA induced current requirements  . The ER should also note any  onsite Occupational Safety and Health Administration  or industrial safety programs for electrical safety. The applicant should determine whether any locations within the in-scope transmission line s do not meet current NESC  standards and indicate these areas on provided maps, photographs, or drawings  in the ER. The applicant should also discuss maintenance  and associated safety procedures for worker and , if appropriate, public activities near these locations.


affecting programs on its planning effort. Inconsisten cies between the data presented and that furnished to            1.1.1.2 Demand Projections. 'Demand projections the Federal Power Commission (FPC) or the regional            should show explicitly any assumptions made about reliability council should be explained.                      economic and demographic projections involved in the forecasting methodology. Specifically, any changes in The discussion on the applicant's energy conservation      the demand projections expected on the basis of program should mention the steps that have been taken          alternative assumptions made about household forma and those being planned to encourage energy conserva          tion, migration, personal income, industrial and commer tion in connection with such matters as advertising, sales    cial construction volume and location, or other factors promotion, consumer education, rate structure, and            should be specified. Past and future growth trends efficiency of production and utilization of electricity.      should be compared and explanations should be given Evidence of the effects of increasing rates on consump        for deviations in trends.
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 34 Postulated Accidents


tion of electrical energy and forecasts of future impacts on demand from further rate increases should be                  Monthly data for both actual and latest forecast peak included in the discussion.                                  load should be provided, as well as both actual and latest forecast total monthly kWh sales from October 1972 A full and clear description of the applicant's system    through the most current month. A copy of the reports should be provided, including, for each generating unit      supplied to the FPC in accordance with FPC Order 496 or group of units, the extent of ownership by the            should also be provided in an appendix to the environ applicant and the commitments involved. Where an              mental report.
The applicant should provide the best available core damage frequency and large early relief frequency values for all hazards and reactor power uprates for comparison to the LR GEIS values. The applicant should also provide summary information regarding any accidents that exceed the design basis with justification for its acceptability during the initial LR or SLR term.


entire power pool, planning area, reliability council, coordinating agreement, etc., is involved, identification        The applicant should describe its forecasting meth should be clear and details should be presented in            ods. Where regression equations or elasticity demand separate tables.                                              models are used to estimate projections, all statistical measures of correlation should be provide
3.10    Environmental Justice


====d. If the====
To assist NRC staff in its review of potential human health effects that could occur as a result of license renewal (initial LR or SLR), the applicant should describe the general demographic composition of minority populations, low-income populations and communities (by race and ethnicity), and Indian Tribes in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant that could be affected by continued reactor operations and refurbishment activities. The geographic scale should be commensurate with the impact area to facilitate the evaluation of potentially affected environmental justice communities and neighborhoods that may be disproportionately affected. The ER should also include information about migrant workers and provide geographic information about the location of these populations and communities. Migrant workers are those who move from one location to another in response to various employment opportunities associated with seasonal farming, construction, and manufacturing.
1.1.1 Load Characteristics                                    method of correlation forecasting is used, the historic electric loads should be correlated with such variables as In order to portray the relationship of the proposed      population, gross national product, consumer income, generating facility to the applicant's system and related    Federal Reserve Board Index of Industrial Production, iystems, data should be provided on the following: (a)        appliance saturation, or other factor


====s. Wherever possible====
3.11    Waste Management
                                                            1-1


and to the extent that demand projections are based on        tool, the results should be stated along with the the accuracy of past demand projections for the appli          significant input data utilized, such as the load model cant's system performed on the same or a comparable            generating unit characteristics, unit availability, the basis, these past demand projections should be shown          duration of periods examined, treatment of interconnec and compared with the past loads. This comparison of           tions, and a general description of the methodology the applicant's earlier projections and the actual loads      employed.
The ER should describe the nuclear plants radioactive and nonradioactive waste management systems and programs. Some of this information can be incorporated by reference from the ER discussion developed in response to Section 2.2 of this RG. The ER should include the following information:


experienced should be listed in a table along with the percent deviation between the previously forecasted              3. The effect of operation of the proposed nuclear loads and past loads.                                          unit(s) on the applicant's or planning entity's capacity requirements. In addition, the effects of present and
*  a description of the radioactive and nonradioactive waste management systems designed to collect, store, and dispose of all wastes generated and effluent control systems, including the systems and controls used for liquid, gaseous, and solid wastes, or alternatively, citations showing where such information would be available in the final safety analysis report or other documents submitted to the NRC
    1.1.1.3 Power Exchanges. Past and expected future          planned interconnections on the capacity requirements net power exchanges applicable at the time of the             should be discussed.


annual peak demands presented above should be shown
*  pollution prevention and waste minimization measures in place  or planned to reduce or eliminate the quantities of gaseous and liquid emissions to the environment and the quantities of wastes shipped offsite for processing or disposal
                                                                  4. The reserve margin responsibility of participants in as they relate to demand estimates supporting the station capacity under review.                                the regional coordinating council or power pool.


1.1.2 System Capacity                                        1.1.4 External Supporting Studies The applicant should briefly discuss power planning          Reports should be summarized and referenced or programs and criteria used as they apply (a) to the            statements should be included that indicate the power
*  descriptions, names, and locations of facilities currently used and likely to be used in the future for offsite processing and disposal of wastes
                                                              'requirements in the overall area(s), as determined by applicant's system, (b) to the power pool or area within which the applicant's planning studies are based, and (c)      responsible officials in the regional reliability council to the regional reliability council or the appropriate        and/or the power pool or planning entity with which the subregion or area of the reliability council. System          applicant is associated.


capabilities, both existing and planned, should be tab ulated for the three respective areas to the extent              The report or statements should include the following applicable at the time of the annual peak demand for 5        information or a statement that such information is not years preceding filing of the environmental report            available:
*  information on current disposal activities including size and location of disposal sites as well as the plans for ultimate treatment and/or restoration of retired disposal sites
through at least 2 years beyond the start of commercial operation of the last nuclear unit with which the report          1. Description of the minimum installed reserve is concerned. Each generator with a capacity of 100            criterion for the region and/or subarea;
MWe or greater should be listed separately for the initial reporting year, and capability additions thereafter              2. Identification, description, and brief discussion of should be separately tabulated by date, including net          studies and/or analyses made to assess the area-wide non-firm-power sales and purchases, retirements or            adequacy and expected reliability of power supply for deratings, and upratings. Each generator should be            the first full year of commercial operation of the entire categorized as to type (hydroelectric, fossil, nuclear,        station covered in this report; and pumped storage, etc.) and as to function (base load, intermediate, peaking, etc.). Estimates of projected              3. The minimum reserve requirement in the region capacity factor ranges for each unit tabulated should be      and/or subarea for the first year of operation of the provided. Small peaking units may be lumped into a            completed nuclear station.


single category for simplicity.
*  identification of radiation sources stored onsite as solid waste (e.g., contaminated equipment, low-level radioactive waste storage, storage of used steam generators)


1.2 Other Objectives
*  independent spent fuel storage
1.1.3 Reserve Margins                                            If other objectives are to be met by the operation of the proposed facility, such as producing process steam The applicant's method of determining system gen          for sale or desalting water, a description of these should erating capacity requirements and reserve margins should      be given. An analysis of the effect of other objectives on be described including:                                        the station capacity factor or availability of individual units should be given.


1. The method employed for the scheduling of outages of individual generating units within the appli                        1.3 Consequences of Delay cant's system.
*  description of all sources, types, quantities, and composition of solid, hazardous, radioactive, and mixed wastes expected from the proposed action


The effects of delays in the proposed project on the
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 35
     2. The method and criterion employed to determine        reserve margin of the power supply for the applicant's the minimum system reserve requirement, such as single        system, subregion, and region should be discussed for largest unit, probability method, or historical 'data and    increments of delay of 1, 2, and 3 years. The effect of judgment. If probabilistic studies are used as a planning    no action to increase capacity should also be illustrated.
     *  anticipated disposal plans for all wastes (i.e., transfer to an offsite waste disposal facility, treatment facility, or storage onsite)


1-2
*  description of waste management cumulative impacts


CHAPTER 2 THE SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES
3.12    Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change
                                                                              6. A scale that will permit the measurement of This chapter should present the basic relevant infor mation concerningthose physical, biological,and human                      distances with reasonable accuracy.


characteristicsof the area environment that might be
In this section of the ER, the applicant should discuss and identify direct and indirect GHG
                                                                              7. True north.
emission sources (e.g., stationary combustion sources, mobile sources, refrigeration systems, electrical transmission and distribution systems) at the site. This discussion should quantify GHG emissions from these sources in carbon dioxide equivalents for at least the last 5 years. If the applicant plans any refurbishment activities, the applicant should also include GHG emissions resulting from refurbishment  ,
including an estimate of GHG emissions from additional worker vehicles and construction equipm    ent.


affected by the construction and operation of a nuclear power station on the designated sit
This section of the ER should also describe any observed regional changes in key climate change indicators (e.g., precipitation, temperature, storm frequency and severity, sea level rise, floods, and droughts) from climate assessment reports (e.g., U.S. Global Change Research Program, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) and onsite and vicinity monitoring (e.g.,  trends in site meteorological data, temperatures of surface water resources that are affected by the plant).


====e. To the extent====
Chapter 4      Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action and Mitigating          Actions
                                                                              8. Highways, railways, and waterways that traverse possible, the information presentedshould reflect obser vations and measurements made over a period of years.                      or are adjacent to the site.


2.1.1.3 Boundaries for Establishing Effluent Release
General Guidance
              2.1 Geography and Demography                                Limits. The site description should define the boundary lines of the restricted area (as defined in 10 CFR Part
2.1.1 Site Location and Description                                        20, "Standards for Protection Against Radiation"). If it is proposed that limits higher than those established by
    2.1.1.1 Specification of Location. The site location                  §20.106(a) (and related as low as is reasonably achiev should be specified by latitude and longitude of the                      able provisions) be set, the information required by reactor to the nearest second and by Universal Trans                        §20.106 should be submitted. The site map discussed verse Mercator Coordinates (Zone Number, Northing,                        above may be used to identify this area, or a separate and Easting, as found on USGS topographical maps) to                      map of the site may be used. Indicate the location of the the nearest 100 meters. The State and county or other                      boundary line with respect to the water's edge of nearby political subdivision in which the site is located should                  rivers and lakes. Distances from the station effluent be identified, as well as the location of the site with                    release points to the boundary line should be defined respect to prominent natural and man-made features                          clearly.


such as rivers and lakes.
As previously discussed, the LR GEIS evaluates 80 environmental issues, and analyses have determined that 59 of these issues, identified as Category 1 issues in the LR GEIS, are adequately addressed for all applicable nuclear plants. The NRC will not require additional analysis in plant-specific environmental reviews unless new and significant information is identif ied. Chapter 5 of this RG, which addresses preparation of Chapter 5 of the ER, discusses ways to identify new and significant information.


2.1.2 Population Distribution
The applicant may adopt the findings in the LR GEIS for Category 1 issues if no new and significant information is discovered.
      2.1.1.2 Site' Area. A map of the site area of suitable scale (with explanatory text as necessary) should be                          Population data presented should be based on the included; it should clearly show the following:                            1970 census data and, where available, more recent census data. The following information should be
      1. The station property lines. The area of station                    presented on population distribution.


property in acres should be stated.
Of the remaining 21 NEPA issues, 20 are identified as Category 2 issues, which require  plant- specific environmental analysis. The following sections discuss information that the applicant should include in the ER to assist the NRC staff in evaluating the impacts of these 20 Category 2 issues. One issue (Electromagnetic fields [EMFs] ) is not categorized at this time. The issue of EMFs remains uncategorized because there is no scientific consensus on the potential impacts from exposure to EMFs  .
The NRC staff discusses this situation in the LR GEIS and in nuclear power plant-specific (hereafter called plant-specific) supplements to the LR GEIS.


2.1.2.1 Population Within. 10 Mile
The presentation of Category 2 issues in this section follows the format of Table B-1 for each Category 2 issue in Appendix B to Subpart A of 10 CFR Part 51. This discussion also references the specific requirements stated in 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii). The steps for reviewing each Category 2 issue include: (1) determine whether the NEPA issue is applicable to the environmental review of this nuclear plant using the criteria given in 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(A) through (Q); (2) if not applicable, briefly explain in the ER why it is not applicable; and (3) if the issue is applicable, provide the information and assessment specified in the appropriate section below. The assessment and other information should be sufficient to determine the extent of the environmental effects and the significance of the impact as defined in the Impact Findings section located in Section C.1 of this RG.


====s. On a map of====
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 36 The applicant should assess direct, indirect, and cumulative effects or impacts. Section C.1 of this RG defines these effects.
      2. Location of the site boundary. If the site bound                  suitable scale that identifies places of significant ary lines are the same as the station property lines, this                population grouping, such as cities and towns within a should be stated.                                                          10-mile radius, concentric circles should be drawn, with the reactor at the center point, at distances of 1, 2, 3, 4,
      3. The location and orientation of principal station                  5, and 10 miles. The circles should be divided into structures within the site area. Principal structures                    22W-degree sectors with each sector centered on one of should be identified as to function (e.g., reactor build                  the 16 compass points (with reference to true north, ing, auxiliary building, turbine building).                              e.g., north-northeast, northeast, etc.). A table appro priately keyed to the map should provide the current
      4. The location of any industrial, recreational, or                   residential population within each area of the map residential structures within the site area.                              formed by the concentric circles and radial lines. The same table or separate tables should provide the pro
      5. The boundary lines of the plant exclusion area (as                jected population within each area for (1) the expected defined in 10 CFR Part 100). If these boundary lines are                  first year of station operation and (2) by census decade the same as the station property lines, this should be                    (e.g., 1990) through the projected station life. The tables stated. The minimum distance from each reactor to the                    should provide population totals for each sector and exclusion area boundary should be shown and specified.                    annular ring and a total for the 0 to 10 miles enclosed population. The basis for population projections should be described. Fumish the age distribution of the tSite means the contiguous real estate on which nuclear facilities      projected population (e.g., 0 to 12 years, 12 to 18 years, are located And for which one or more licensees has the legal          > 18 years) for the year corresponding to the midpoint right to control access by individuals and to restrict land use for    of the station operating life. The distribution by age of purposes of limiting the potential doses from radiation or radioactive material during normal operation of the facilities.


the U.S. population may be used provided there is no
The applicant should also consider mitigation measures to reduce or avoid adver  se effects where applicable. The applicant should identify and discuss possible mitigation measures in proportion to the significance of the adverse impact. If there is no adverse impact to be mitigated, the applicant should present the basis for that determination. For those mitigation measures discussed in the ER, the applicant should describe the benefits and costs of each measure. Section C.1 of this RG defines mitigation measures.
                                                                        2-1


knowledge the site has a significantly different distribu          3. Nearest residence (to a distance of 5 miles)
The applicant should include map information as appropriate in the ER for issues addressed in Chapter 4. This section should also present any new and significant information in sufficient detail and depth to support an impact assessment. Text, tables, and graphic information should support the assessment of impacts presented in Chapter 4 of the ER.
  tion. Appendix D provides guidance concerning the use of the U.S. age population distribution.                            4. Nearest site boundary
      2.1.2.2 Population Between 10 and 50 Miles. A map              5. Nearest vegetable garden (greater than 500 ft 2 in of suitable scale and appropriately keyed tables should        area; to a distance of 5 miles)
  be used in the same manner as described above to describe the population and its distribution at 10-mile            Indicate which, if any, of the cow and goat locations intervals between the 10- and 50-mile radii from the            are dairy operations. Where possible, the applicant reactor. Furnish the age distribution of the projected          should provide specific information on the actual usage population (e.g., 0 to 12 years, 12 to 18 years, > 18 of the milk, whether the milk is used raw by infants, years) for the year corresponding to the midpoint of the       children, or adults or whether or not the milk goes to a station operating life. The distribution by age of the U.S.      dairy. Estimate the dairy dilution factor, and provide the population may be used provided there is no knowledge            basis. Determine the fraction of the milk at the dairy the site has a significantly different distribution. Appen      that is used to produce dairy products such as butter, dix D provides guidance concerning the use of the U.S.          whey, etc.


age population distribution.
4.1    Land Use and Visual Resources


Indicate (for the 5-mile-radius area) the nature and
Land use and aesthetic impacts are evaluated in the LR GEIS and are generic (the same or similar at all plants) or Category 1. The applicant should discuss any new and significant information in the ER,
      2.1.2.3 Transient Population. Seasonal and daily          extent of present and projected land use (e.g., agricul variations in population and population distribution            ture, livestock raising; dairies, pasturelands, residences, within 10 miles of the proposed station resulting from          wildlife preserves, sanctuaries, hunting areas, industries, land uses such as recreational or industrial should be          recreation, transportation) and any recent trends such as generally described and appropriately keyed to the areas        abnormal changes in population or industrial patterns. If and population numbers contained on the maps and                the area near the station site is zoned for specific uses, tables of Sections 2.1.2.1 and 2.1.2.2. If the station is      the applicant should indicate the zoning restrictions, located in an area where significant population variations      both at the site and within 5 miles of the reactor due to transient land use are expected, additional tables      building location and any local plans to restrict develop of population distribution should be provided to indi ment to limit population encroachment.
if applicable; otherwise, land use and aesthetic impacts do not need to be analyzed.


cate peak seasonal and daily populations. The addi tional tables should cover projected as well as current            Provide data on annual meat (kg/yr), milk (liters/yr),
4.2    Air Quality
populations. Wherever possible, applicants should state and truck farming production (kg/yr) and distribution the expected residence times for the transient popula within a 50-mile radius from the proposed reactor.


tion.                                                          Provide the data by sectors in the same manner as indicated in Sections 2.1.2.1 and 2.1.2.
Air quality impacts are evaluated in the LR GEIS and are generic (the same or similar at all plants) or Category 1. The applicant should discuss any new and significant information in the ER, if applicable; otherwise, air quality impacts do not need to be analyzed.


===2. Furnish===
4.3     Noise
2.1.3 Uses of Adjacent Lands and Waters                        information on type, quantity (kg/yr), and yield (kg/m 2) of crops grown within a 50-mile radius from the On detailed topographical maps, show the locations        proposed reactor. Provide information on grazing season of the station perimeter; exclusion area boundary; utility (give dates), feeding regimes for cattle (such as grazing property; abutting and adjacent properties; water bodies;      practices, green chop feeding, corn and grass silage wooded areas; farms; residences; nearby settlements;            feeding, and hay feeding), pasture grass density (kg/mi),
commercial areas; industrial plants; parks; dedicated          and yield statistics (kg/mi) for harvested forage crops areas; other public facilities; valued historic, scenic,        for beef and dairy cattle feeding within a 50-mile radius cultural, recreational, or natural areas; and transporta        of the proposed reactor. Agricultural production, crop tion links (e.g., railroads, highways, waterways). Indicate    yield, grazing, and feeding data may be obtained from the total acreage owned by the applicant and that part          sources such as local and State agricultural agencies, occupied or modified by the station and station facili        agricultural agents, and other reliable sources.


ties. Indicate other existing and proposed uses, if any, of applicant's property and the acreage devoted to these              Determine and indicate in tabular format the past, uses. Describe any plans for site modifications, such as a    present, and projected commercial fish and shellfish visitors center or park.                                      catch (according to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) standard reporting units) from contiguous Provide, in tabular form, the distances from the          waters within 50 miles of the station discharge. Report centerline of the first operational nuclear unit proposed      the catch by total landings and by principal species, to the following for each of the 16 sectors described in       indicating the amounts used as human food. Indicate the Section 2.1.2 above:                                          location of principal fishing areas and ports of landing associated with these contiguous waters, and relate these
Noise impacts are evaluated in the LR GEIS and are generic (the same or similar at all plants)
    1. Nearest milk cow (to a distance of 5 miles)            locations to harvest by species. Note the amounts consumed locally. Determine and tabulate the present
or Category 1. The applicant should discuss any new and significant information in the ER, if applicable;
    2. Nearest milk goat (to a distance of 5 miles)          and projected recreational fish and shellfish harvest from
otherwise, noise impacts do not need  to be analyzed.
                                                          2-2


these waters in the same format, also indicating principal        Data on both present and projected future water use fishing areas and their respective yield by species. As        should be summarized and tabulated; users should be above, indicate the amounts consumed locally. Include          located on maps of legible scale. Tabulations containing any harvest and use of seaweed, other aquatic life, or          information similar to that listed below should be any vegetation used as human food from these waters.            provided for water users that may be affected.
4.4    Geology and Soils


Indicate the closest location to the point of discharge        1. Number: Include numbers shown on maps identi that is publicly accessible (from land and from water)          fying the location of water users;
Geology and soils impacts  and related geologic conditions and the effects on the associated resources (e.g., rock and mineral resources) are evaluated in the LR GEIS and are generic (the same or similar at all plants) or Category 1. The applicant should discuss any new and significant information in the ER, where applicable; otherwise, geology and soils impacts do not need  to be analyzed.
and influenced by the discharge flow. Provide a qualita tive estimate of the fishing success that a fisherman              2. Distance from Station: Separate intake and dis could have at this location. Identify and describe any fish    charge locations should be identified as follows:
farms or similar aquatic activity within the 50-mile area utilizing water that reasonably may be affected by the                 a. Identify radial distance from station for each power station discharge. Indicate the species and produc        water user;
tion from each of these facilities and the amounts consumed locally. If hunting occurs within 50 miles of                b. Provide distance from station via water route, the station, determine the average annual harvest by            or by River Mile, etc.;
species, and indicate the amount of game that will be consumed locally. Fish landings, recreational and com              3. Coordinates: Provide map coordinates, if appropri mercial fin and shellfish harvests, and hunting and game        ate;
information may be obtained from sources such as Federal, State, and county recreation, conservation,              4. Withdrawal Rate: Provide present and projected game, and fish agencies. Institutional or other authorita      withdrawal rate (in cfs or gpm) for each water use;
tive sources may also be used. Where adequate data are not available, the applicant should determine the in                5. Return Rates: Provide present and projected formation independently.                                        return rates (in cfs or gpm) if appropriate:
                                                                    6. Type of Water Use: Provide type of water use for The information in this section should be organized each location, e.g., municipal, industrial, irrigation;
in a manner that demonstrates coordination of the principal activities of the proposed station with the                7. Source and Projection Dates of Water-Use Esti various uses of land and water outside the station. These        mates: Where use rates are anticipated to change over activities should include details of required offsite access    the life of the project, indicate periodic projections and corridors such as railroad spurs, rights-of-way for cooling      the source of the projection information. Sources for water conveyance, new or future roadways, and other              such projections may be available for users or planning cultural features that relate to the principal purpose of        agencies at different levels of government.


the facility. The discussion should include reference to the reservation of rights-of-way for any future ex For items 4 and 5 above, if use varies significantly pansions that might be foreseen at the time of the application.                                                    seasonally, indicate monthly values. Also, where substan tial holdup or flow changes occur in water use systems, such as in storage ponds or by flow augmentation, On a monthly basis, identify the location, nature, and      indicate the character of the changes.
4.5     Water Resources


amounts of present and projected surface and ground water use (e.g., water supplies, irrigation, reservoirs,            In addition, for ground water users, indicate the types of ground water use, depth of wells, ground water recreation, and transportation) within 50 miles of the          elevation, and return rates (if to surface water), and station where the water supplies may be contaminated            characterize the use by aquifer.
The following water resources -related Category 2 issues require a plant-specific assessment.


by station effluents and the present and projected population associated with each use point, where appro priate. In addition, all population centers taking water                                2.2 Ecology from waterways between the station and the ocean, or such lesser distance as the applicant can technically              In this section, the applicant should describe the flora justify, should be tabulated (distance, uses, amounts,          and fauna in the vicinity of the site, their habitats, and and population). Sources that are river bank wells              their distribution. This initial inventory will reveal should be tabulated separately with their associated            certain organisms which, because of their importance to populations. The effect of present and projected regional      the community, should be given specific attention. A
4.5.1    Surface Water Resources
consumptive water uses by the station on the supplies or        species is "important" (for the purposes of this guide) if vice versa should be identified. Water and sewage              a specific causal link can be identified between the treatment processes should be described where water            nuclear power station and the species and if one or more suppliers may be affected by station effluents.                of the following criteria applies: (a) the species is
                                                            2-3


commercially or recreationally valuable, (b) the species              with the ecology of the region. Locate and describe any is threatened or endangered, 2 (c) the species affects the            ecological or biological studies of the site or its environs well-being of some ivnportant species within criteria (a)             currently in progress.
Surface Water Use Conflicts (Plants with Cooling Ponds or Cooling Towers Using Makeup Water from a River)


or (b), or (d) the species is critical to the structure and function of the ecological system or is a biological
This section applies to nuclear power plants with cooling ponds or cooling towers using makeup water from a river.
                                                                                                                3 indicator of radionuclides in the environment.                                                2.3 Meteorology The initial inventory should establish the identity of                  This section should provide a meteorological descrip the majority of terrestrial and aquatic organisms on or               tion of the site and its surrounding area. The description near the site and their relative (qualitative) abundances.            should include the use of at least one annual cycle from The applicant should identify the "important" species                  the onsite meteorological program for a construction from this list and discuss in detail their quantitative                permit application and at least two annual cycles abundances. The discussion should include species that                (preferably three or more whole years), including the migrate through the area or use it for breeding grounds.                most recent 1-year period, for an operating license Special attention should be given to the relative impor                application, plus examination of additional regional tance of the station area to the total regional area of the            meteorological information. Sufficient data should be living resources (potential or exploited).                              included to permit independent evaluations and assess ments of atmospheric diffusion characteristics and sta The applicant should provide data on the count and                  tion impacts on the environment. A discussion of distribution of important domestic fauna, in particular                climatology, existing levels of air pollution and their cows and goats, that may be involved in the radiological                effects on station operations, the relationship of the exposure of man via the iodine-milk route. A map that                  meteorological data gathered on a regional basis to local shows the distribution of the principal plant communi                  data, and the impact of the local terrain and large lakes ties should be provided.                                                and other bodies of water on meteorological conditions in the area should also be included.


The discussion of species-environment relationships should include descriptions of area usage (e.g., habitat,                   The following data concerning site meteorology, breeding, etc.) for important species; it should include                taken from onsite meteorological measurements and life histories of important regional animals and aquatic                nearby representative stations, should be presented:
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 37 Table B-1 of Appendix B to Subpart A of 10 CFR Part 51 (referred to throughout this section as Table B-1) states the following:
organisms, their normal seasonal population fluctua tions, the density and distribution of their planktonic life stages, and their habitat requirements (e.g., thermal                  1. Diurnal and monthly averages and extremes of tolerance ranges); and it should include identification of             temperature, dewpoint, and humidity;
food chains and other interspecies relationships, particu larly when these are contributory to predictions or                        2. Monthly and annual wind speed and direction data evaluations of the impact of the nuclear station on the                in joint frequency form at all heights of measurement regional biota.                                                        representative of wind characteristics for points of effluent release to, and transport within, the atmos Identify any definable preexisting environmental                  phere;
stresses from sources such as pollutants, as well as pertinent ecological conditions suggestive of such                          3. Monthly and annual joint frequencies of wind stresses. The status of ecological succession should be                direction and speed by atmospheric stability class at described. Discuss the histories of any infestations,                  heights and intervals relevant to atmospheric transport epidemics, or catastrophes (caused by natural phenom                  of effluents;
ena) that have had a significant impact on regional biota.


4. Total precipitation by month, number of hours The irformation should be presented in two separate              with precipitation, rainfall rate distributions, and subsections, the first entitled "Terrestrial Ecology" and            monthly precipitation wind roses;
Impacts could be of small or moderate significance, depending on makeup water requirements, water availability, and competing water demands.
the second, "Aquatic Ecology." The sources of informa tion should be identified. As part of this identification,                5. Frequency of occurrence of winds greater than 50
present a list of pertinent published material dealing                knots by storm type (e.g., orographic or synoptic flow regimes, tornadoes, and hurricanes).
2
  1n the writing and reviewing of environmental reports, specific This information should be fully documented and consideration should be given to possible impact on any species    substantiated as to validity of its representation of (or its habitat) that has been determined to be endangered or      expected long-term conditions at and near the site.


threatened with endangerment by the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce. New terminology defining
Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(A) requires, in part, the following:
                                                                      3
  "endangered or threatened with endangerment" has been                  Data for this section may be drawn from information in Section promulgated in Pub. Law 93-205, 87 Stat. 884.                          2.3 of the Preliminary Safety Analysis Report, as appropriate.


2-4
If the applicants plant utilizes cooling towers or cooling ponds and withdraws makeup water from a river, an assessment of the impact of the proposed action on water availability and competing water demands, the flow of the rivermust be provided.


Guidance on acceptable onsite meteorological measure              For assessment of the impact of station operation on ments and data format is presented in Regulatory Guide        the environment, data summaries (e.g., moisture deficit,
Section 4.5.1.1.9 of the LR GEIS discusses surface water use conflicts. Additional surface water conflict information is needed only for plants withdrawing makeup water from a river. If the plant meets this condition, the applicant should provide the information and analysis described below.
1.23 (Safety Guide 23), "Onsite Meteorological Pro            visibility, solar radiation) should be presented to support grams."                                                      the description given in Section 5.1.4 of the frequency and extent of fogging and icing conditions and other impacts on the atmospheric environment due to station Sufficient meteorological information should also be      presence and operation.


provided to adequately characterize atmospheric trans port processes (i.e., airflow trajectories, diffusion condi      At the time of construction permit application, tions, deposition characteristics) out to a distance of 50    applicants proposing a wet, dry, or wet-dry cooling miles from the nuclear station. The primary source of        tower for main condenser cooling or service water meteorological information is the onsite meteorological cooling should furnish appropriate summaries of joint program. Other sources of meteorological information          humidity data along with the joint wind speed, stability could include available National Weather Service (NWS)        category, and wind direction frequencies for heights stations, meteorological programs that are well main        related to the estimation of cooling tower moisture tained and well exposed (e.g., other nuclear facilities,    dispersion for at least 6 months and preferably one university, private meteorological programs), and addi        annual cycle in order to provide a basis for the tional satellite meteorological facilities established by    estimation of the impact of tower operation on the the applicant to characterize relevant conditions at environment. If the applicant does not have the detailed critical onsite and offsite locations. Adequate characteri    site-specific meteorological data described above, it may zation of atmospheric transport processes within 50            present information applicable to the general site area miles of the station may include examination of meteoro from the National Weather Service or other authoritative logical data from stations farther than 50 miles from the      sources. The detailed site-specific data may be scheduled station when this information can provide additional          in accordance with Section 6, "Environmental Reports,"
Information and Analysis Content
clarification of the mesoscale atmospheric transport          of the Introduction to this guide.


processes. For an assessment of atmospheric transport to distances of 50 miles from the station, the following additional regional meteorological information (based on                                  Hydrology 4
If the plant obtains its water from a river as defined above and uses cooling towers or cooling ponds, the applicant should include the following information in the ER:
                                                                                    2.4 at least a 1-year period of record) should be presented for as many relevant stations as practicable:
                                                                  The effects of station construction and operation on adjacent surface and ground waters are of prime impor
    1. Wind speed and direction data at all heights at        tance. The applicant should describe, in quantitative which wind characteristic data are applicable or have          terms, the physical, chemical, biological, and hydro been measured;                                                logical characteristics, the typical seasonal ranges and averages, and the historical extremes for surface and
    2. Atmospheric stability as defined by vertical tem        ground water bodies.


perature gradient or other well-documented parameters that have been substantiated by diffusion data;                  Information should be provided only for those waters that may affect station effluents and water supply or that may be reasonably assumed to be affected by the
*  Provide estimates of the quantities and timing of cooling water withdrawals and discharges.
    3. Monthly mixing height data; and                         construction or operation of the station. For those water bodies and systems that may receive radionuclides from
    4. Total precipitation by month, number of hours          the station, the data should be supplied out to a radius with precipitation, rainfall rate distributions, and           of 50 miles from the site.


monthly precipitation wind roses.
Estimate current consumptive water use and future consumptive water use during the license renewal period. Provide water level, flow, and stream gauge data so that water balance calculations can be verified.


Expected seasonal and other temporal variations of important parameters such as flow and currents should All meteorological data should be concurrent for each      be described monthly; daily or shorter increments station with the onsite data collection periods, presented    should be provided when they are important in deter by hour, and should be available on magnetic tapes. In        mining the basis for evaluation of environmental effects.
*  Compare the consumptive water use by the heat dissipation system to flows in the source  water body (i.e., the river from which water is withdrawn for cooling tower or cooling pond makeup water). Base this comparison on records of the current license period. Project and compare consumptive use and stream flows during the license renewal period.


addition, a map showing the detailed topographic features (as modified by the station) on a large scale            The applicant should identify, to the extent possible, within a 5-mile radius of the station, a smaller scale map    the source and nature of the background pollutants (e.g.,
*  Estimate the quantities of other ongoing water withdrawals and consumptive water uses in the portion of the water body affected by the plant and indicate whether these withdrawals or uses are expected to change during the license renewal period.
showing topography within a 50-mile radius of the            chemical species and physical chirac-ceristics such as station, and a plot of maximum elevation versus distance from the center of the station in each of the sixteen
                                                              4
  221/4-degree compass point sectors (i.e., centered on true      Data for this section may be drawn from information in north, northnortheast, northeast, etc.) radiating from          Section 2.4 of the Preliminary Safety Analysis Report, as the station to a distance of 50 miles should be presented.      appropriate.


2-5
*  Describe mitigation measures (e.g., limiting withdrawals during droughts) that have been used to reduce the adverse impacts on river flow of consumptive water use and the mitigation measures that are expected to be used during the license renewal period. Briefly explain the rationale for rejecting measures that were considered but not implemented.


color and temperature), the range of concentrations              mates, storage coefficients, dispersion and distribution involved, and the time variations in release. Information (sorption) coefficients, descriptions of pertinent geologic relating to water quality characteristics should include          formations and soil types, including formation depth measurements made on or in close proximity to the site.           throughout the site and to the nearest downgradient well or water body (note that geology is discussed in Section Station construction and operation will affect the            2.5), chemical properties, and time histories of ground hydrologic characteristics in the site area. Information          water fluctuations. The applicant should provide data should be provided to establish the bases for estimates of        concerning any drawdown of ground water caused by the effects. For systems involving water impoundments,            withdrawals from neighboring major industrial and the flow rates (in and out), evaporation, drawdown,              municipal wells that may result in the transport of percolation, evapotranspiration, and net volumes should            material from the site to these or other wells.
4.5.2     Groundwater Resources


be provided. In addition, provide elevation-area-capacity curves. Furnish sufficient site-specific data to justify the          Where features of a proposed station such as founda evaluation of the effects of construction and operation            tions, excavations, artificial lakes, and canals create of the station on established ground water tables and artificial conduits for flow of ground water between and usage.                                                            among aquifers, the applicant should furnish sufficient site-specific detail to justify its evaluation of the effects Where a stream is to be used by the station in any            of construction and operation of the station on estab way, the estimated 7-day, once-in-lO-years low flow              lished ground water tables and usage. (Note that water should be presented, in addition to observed instanta            use at the site is discussed in Section 2.1.3.)
Groundwater Use Conflicts (Plants That Withdraw More Than 100 Gallons per Minute [gpm])
neous and average daily minimums. Furthermore, the period-of-record drought with the monthly flow                        In addition to providing the information described sequence identified above, transposed to the station              above for the hydrologic environment in the immediate intake and adjusted for existing and projected upstream            vicinity of the station, information should also be developments, should be provided. A description of                provided for all points that could be affected by station significant tributaries above and below the site, their            construction and operation within the 50-mile radius monthly flow sequences (if necessary to identify future            where water is withdrawn or where there are significant water use), and the pattern and gradients of drainage in          changes in important parameters. All data for parameters the area should be provided.                                      should be adjusted to both present-day conditions and to those that may reasonably be expected to occur over In order to develop a systematic evaluation of the            the life of the station. Chemical and biological para interaction of proposed releases with the receiving water,        meters of the hydrologic environment should be des and to permit establishment of distributional isopleths          cribed in a like manner.


of temperature or chemical and radionuclide concentra tions, as discussed in Chapter 5 of this guide, detailed              The amount of information required for evaluation of hydrologic descriptions of the site environment to a              radionuclide transport in water should be commensurate radius of 50 miles are necessary. (Note that water use is        with the models used in support of the analysis required discussed in Section 2.1.3.)                                      in Appendix I to 10CFR Part 50.
This section applies to plants using more than an annual average of 100 gallons per minute (gpm) (378 liters per minute [L/min]) of groundwater.


For the surface water environment, site-specific
Table B-1 states the following:
                                                                                          2.5 Geology hydrologic information should include descriptions of both tidal and nontidal flow patterns. For large lakes                A description of the major geological aspects of the and coastal regions, the description of nontidal circula          site and its immediate environs should be provided. The tion should include frequency distributions of current            level of detail presented should be appropriate to the speed direction and persistence.                                  proposed station design and particularly the heat dissipa tion system planned. For example, if holding or cooling The seasonal cycles of temperature and salinity              ponds are to be created, a detailed description of soil structure should be provided. Additionally, information          and bedrock types, etc., should be provided. Except for should be included that describes the bottom and                  those specific features that are relevant to the environ shoreline configuration, sedimentation rates (suspended          mental impact assessment, the discussion may be limited and bed load), sediment gradation analysis, and distrib          to noting the broad features and general characteristics ution (sorption) coefficients.                                    of the site and environs (topography, stratigraphy, and soil and rock types).
    For the ground water environment, the hydrologic information should include descriptions of the major                  2.6 Regional Historic, Archeological, Architectural, aquifers in the area, ground water piezometric contour                        Scenic, Cultural, and Natural Features maps of pre- and postconstruction conditions, hydraulic gradients, permeabilities for representative geologic fea            Areas valued for their historic, archeological, architec tures, total and effective porosities, bulk density esti-        tural, scenic, cultural, or natural significance may be
                                                              2-6


affected. The environmental report should include a                  and cultural properties (36 CFR Part 800) were pub brief discussion of the historic, scenic, archeological,            lished in 39 FR 3366 (January 25, 1974).
Plants that withdraw more than 100 gpm could cause groundwater use conflicts with nearby groundwater users.
architectural, cultural, and natural significance, if any, of the station site and nearby areas with specific attention              The environmental report should also indicate to the sites and areas listed in the NationalRegistry of            whether or not the site has any archeological significance Natural Landmarks and properties included in or eligible            and how this conclusion was reached. Where necessary, for inclusion in the National Register of HistoricPlaces.          professional quality assessments should be undertaken by archeologists.. If such significance or value is present, The NationalRegistry of NationalLandmarks appears                the applicant's plans to ensure its preservation or plans in 37 FR 1496. The NationalRegister of HistoricPlaces              filed in a public agency for this purpose should be is published annually in the FederalRegister; additions              described. The environmental report should contain are published in the Federal Register on the first                  evidence of any steps taken to recover historical and Tuesday of each month. General guidance on the                      archeological data affected by station construction or treatment of historic, archeological, architectural, and            transmission lines in accordance with the Historic and cultural features can be obtained from the National Park            Archeological Preservation Act of 1974 (PL 93-29 1).
Service publication, "Preparation of Environmental Statements: Guidelines for Discussion of Cultural                        In addition, the applicant should provide an assess (Historic, Archeological, Architectural) Resources,"                ment of the visual effects of the station and transmission August 1973.5                                                        lines on nearby valued cultural, scenic, historic, park, and recreation areas. The assessment should include The environmental report should identify those prop              drawings or modified photographs indicating the station erties included in or eligible for inclusion in the National        facilities and their surroundings, if visible from these Register of HistoricPlaces which may be affected by the              nearby important vantage points, and estimates of the construction or operation of a station or its associated            number of people affected.


facilities, including the transmission lines and corridor rights-of-way. Also, the applicant should* discuss its                  It should be stated whether the proposed transmis consultation with the appropriate State Liaison Officer              sion line rights-of-way from the station to the hookup for Historic Preservation concerning the identification of          with the existing system (Section 3.9) will pass through properties included in or eligible for inclusion in the             or near any area or location of known historic, scenic, National Register of HistoricPlaces. The environmental              cultural, natural, or archeological significance.
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 38 Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(C) requires the following:


report should contain evidence of contact with the Historic Preservation Officer for the state involved,                                         2.7 Noise including a copy of his comments concerning the effect of the undertaking on historic, archeological, and cul                  Ambient noise levels obtained from the surrounding tural resources. Procedures for the protection of historic          biotic communities within 5 miles of the proposed station should be reported. Particular attention should be directed toward obtaining acoustic noise levels where
If the applicants plant pumps more than 100 gallons (total onsite) of groundwater per minute, an assessment of the impact of the proposed action on groundwater must be provided.
5 Copies may be obtained from Chief Historian, Room 1226,            high voltage transmission lines are located. Federal and National Park Service, 18th and C Streets NW, Washington, D.C.    State noise standards should be referenced, where
  20240.                                                            applicable.


2-7
Section 4.5.1.2.3 of the LR GEIS discusses this issue. If the applicant can provide withdrawal records or other evidence that the plant does not pump more than an annual average of 100 gpm
(378 L/min) of groundwater, the applicant should note this fact in the ER and need not provide additional information.


CHAPTER 3 THE STATION
Information and Analysis Content
    The operating stationand transmissionsystem should          input should be described. The anticipated maximum be described in this chapter.Since environmentaleffects        and monthly average consumptive use of water by the are of primary concern in the report, the station              station should be shown. The above data that quantify effluents and station-related systems that interact with        station water use should be tabulated for various station the environment should be described in particular              conditions, including maximum power operation, detail.                                                        minimum anticipated power operation, and temporary shutdown, with or without cooling towers and cooling
                  3.1 External Appearance                        ponds (if seasonal usage is planned). To avoid excessive detail on the diagrams, refer to other sections (e.g.,
    The building layout and station perimeter should be        Sections 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, and 3.7) for relevant data.


illustrated and related to the site maps presented in Section 2.1. The station profile should be shown to scale          The station usage above should be compared with the by line drawings or other illustrative techniques. A            low-flow (drought) periods of record on rivers or recent oblique aerial photograph or graphic representa          variable lakes. Based on historical low-flow records, tion of the completed station should be included.              provide the estimated frequency and duration of station outages and emergency systems usage resulting from The applicant should describe efforts made in locat        insufficient supply of operational cooling water. If ing facilities on the site to use existing terrain and         onsite reservoirs are to be created, describe level vegetation to achieve seclusion and sight screening as          fluctuations and the consequences of such fluctuations appropriate to the topography. In addition, the architec        on such environmental factors as vegetation, aquatic tural design efforts made to integrate the facilities into      food chains, and insect breeding.
If the plant pumps more than an annual average of 100 gpm ( 378 L/min), the applicant should provide the following information and analyses to enable the NRC staff to assess the magnitude and significance of potential groundwater use conflicts during operation:


their environmental setting and to create esthetically pleasing buildings and grounds should be noted.                                  3.4 Heat Dissipation System The location and elevation of release points for liquid        Heat-removal facilities for normal operation should and gaseous wastes should be clearly indicated by a            be discussed in detail. Process flow diagrams and scale system of (x,y) coordinates related to the centerline of        drawings of intake and outfall structures should be containment of the first nuclear unit covered by this            presented. The reasons for providing the particular proposal.                                                       facilities (such as water resources limitations or reduc tion of thermal effects) should be note
*  Describe all groundwater aquifers potentially impacted by the operation of the licensees onsite wells and wells that may be on adjacent property that support nuclear power plant operations ,
        including approximate areal extent, thickness, porosities, and hydraulic conductivities of aquifer strata. Discuss significant uncertainties, anisotropies, and inhomogeneities.


====d. The water====
*  Describe existing and known future offsite and onsite wells, including average flow rate, peak flow rate, water use, and completion depth.
          3.2 Reactor and Steam-Electric System                bodies from which cooling water is withdrawn and to which cooling water is returned should be identified.


The reactor type (e.g.., BWR, PWR, HTGR), manu              (Natural temperatures, including monthly changes and facturer, architect-engineer, number of units, and kind          stratification, should be described in Section 2.4.)
*  Include maps of steady-state piezometric surfaces estimated with onsite and offsite wells at peak pumpage, average pumpage, and no pumpage    . These maps should indicate the location of all wells and should annotate each offsite well with the drawdown of the piezometric surf ace attributable to both the onsite and offsite wells.
(make) of turbine generator should be stated. The fuel (cladding, enrichment, etc.) should be described. Rated              Topics to be covered include quantity of heat (license level) and design ("stretch" level) electrical and      dissipated; quantity of water withdrawn; consumptive thermal power of the reactor, as well as the station's          water use, return, design, size, and location of cooling electrical power consumption, should be given.                  towers, cooling lakes and ponds, canals with spray modules, or spray ponds; air and water flow rates, The relationship of station heat rate to the expected      pertinent temperatures, estimates of quantity of drift variation of turbine back pressure for 100%, 80%, and            and drizzle (and methods used in making estimates) for
60% unit load should be furnished for design circulator          cooling towers and spray systems; blowdown volume, flow, and ranges of operational variation should be              rate of discharge, and physical and chemical characteris given. The proposed station operating life (years) should        tics for cooling towers, spray systems, and ponds;
be indicated.                                                    temperature changes, rate of changes, and holdup times in cooling ponds or artificial lakes; and rate of evapora
                  3.3 Station Water Use                        tion of water (by months) from towers, ponds, lakes, or other related cooling facilities. Also include information A quantitative water-use diagram for the station            on dams or dikes where a cooling reservoir is created to showing anticipated- maximum and monthly average                include essential features of the interior flow patterns;
flow rates to and from the various station water systems        design and location of water intake systems or struc (e.g., heat dissipation system, sanitary system, radwaste        tures, including numbers, types, and sizes of screens, and chemical waste systems, process water systems)              water depth, and flow and velocity at design conditions should be presented. The sources of the water for each          and for any anticipated conditions of reduced circulator
                                                            3-1


flow; number and capacity of pumps at intake structure;      3.5.1 Source Term temperature differences between withdrawn and re turned water, including consideration of operational              Provide the sources of radioactivity that serve as variation of circulator flow; time of travel across          input to the liquid, gaseous, and solid radioactive waste condenser and to the end of contained discharge lines,        treatment systems for normal operation and anticipated canals, etc., for different months and flows; point of        operational occurrences. Describe the calculational addition and flow rate of any diluent added to the             model used to determine the activity of each radio cooling water stream; and details of outfall design,          nuclide in the primary and secondary (PWR) coolant.
*  Describe the methods of analysis, including the assumptions used.


including discharge flow and velocity and the depth of        The fraction of fuel releasing radioactivity into the the discharge structure in the receiving water. Descrip        primary coolant or the fission product noble gas release tions should include operational modes of important            rate used as a design basis should be consistent with subsystems. Ranges of operating conditions involving          operating experience.
*  Describe existing and known future water rights (including Tribal water rights).


special conditions, such as operating with reduced circulator flow, should be described.                            Provide a complete derivation of the concentrations of activated corrosion products used in the source term Procedures and schedules for removal and disposal of      calculations. Provide the bases for all assumptions used blowdown, of slimes and algal growth in the system, and      in the derivation. Cite pertinent operating experience of trash collected at the intake structures should be         where data are available. The activation of water and described. The methods used to prevent the initial            constituents normally found in the reactor coolant accumulation of slime and algae and data on relevant            system should also be taken into account. Sources of chemical constituents should be presented in Section          isotopes (e.g., N-16, Ar-41), together with the concentra
*  Describe any wetlands in the vicinity that might be impacted by a lowered water table.
3.6.                                                          tion of each isotope, should be identified.


Seasonal and operational variations in all discharges        Identify sources and appearance rate of tritium in the should be described. This should include deicing, back        reactor coolant. Describe the management of tritiated flushing, and pump maintenance downtime under                liquids during normal operations and anticipated opera worst-case operating conditions.                              tional occurrences. Identify release points for tritiated liquids and gases and the quantity of tritium (curies)
*  Evaluate the significance of the present and future effects of onsite withdrawal on offsite wells.
    Include a description of all details supporting the      expected to be released annually by each pathway.


claims that any of the exemptions regarding the dis charge of heat in hot side blowdown as permitted by              Provide piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs)
Additionally, describe any potential mitigation measures and state whether they will be or have been implemented.
40 CFR Part 423, Section 423.13(1)(2), is warranted            for fuel pool cooling and purification systems and for with respect to the requirement that "there shall be no        fuel pool ventilation systems. Provide the volume of the discharge of heat from the main condensers."                  fuel pool and refueling canal, identify sources of makeup water, and describe the management of water inventories
          3.5 Radwaste Systems and Source Term                during refueling. Provide an analysis of the concentra This section should describe the liquid, gaseous, and      tions of radioactive materials in the fuel pool water solid radioactive waste (radwaste) treatment systems and      following refueling, and calculate the releases of radio the instrumentation used to monitor all effluent release      active materials in gaseous effluents due to evaporation points. The information should include the origin,            from the surface of the fuel pool and refueling canals treatment, and disposal of all liquid, gaseous, and solid      during refueling and during normal power operation.


radioactive wastes generated by the station during            Provide the bases for the values used and cite pertinent normal operation including anticipated operational            operating experience.
Groundwater Use Conflicts (Plants with Closed    -Cycle Cooling Systems That Withdraw Makeup Water from a River)


occurrences (e.g., refueling, purging, equipment down time, maintenance).                                                For purposes of evaluating the effluents from the various ventilation systems, provide estimates of the Describe in detail the capabilities of the proposed        leakage rates from the reactor coolant system and other radwaste treatment systems to maintain releases of            fluid systems containing radioactivity into buildings and radioactive materials in effluents to "as low as is            areas serviced by the ventilation systems. Identify reasonably achievable" levels in conformance with 10          planned operations and anticipated operational occur CFR Parts 20 and 50 including the cost-benefit analysis        rences that may result in release of radioactive materials required by Appendix I to 10 CFR Part 50.                      to the environment. Consider leakage rates and concen trations of radioactive materials for both expected and Since the radwaste systems are discussed and shown        design conditions. Tabulate the sources of leakage and in detail in the applicant's Preliminary Safety Analysis      estimate their contribution to the total quantity. Des Report (PSAR), the applicant may show the radwaste            cribe special design features provided to reduce leakage.
This section applies to plants using cooling towers or cooling ponds that withdraw makeup water from a river.


treatment systems by block diagrams. References to            Provide estimates of the releases of radioactive gases, appropriate sections of the PSAR should be indicated            radioactive particulates, and radioiodines (by radio wherever needed.                                              nuclide) from each leakage source, and describe their
Table B-1 states the following:
                                                          3-2


subsequent transport mechanisms and release paths.              3.5.3 Gaseous Radwaste Systems Provide the bases for the values used. Cite previous pertinent experience from operating reactors, dqscribing            Describe the gaseous radwaste systems and their capa any changes from previous designs that would affect the          bilities to control, collect, process, handle, store, and release of radioactive materials to the environment.            dispose of gaseous and particulate radioactive wastes generated as the result of normal operation and antici Regulatory Guide 1.112, "Calculation of Releases of          pated operational occurrences. Include building ventila Radioactive Materials in Gaseous and Liquid Effluents            tion systems that exhaust potentially radioactive from Light-Water-Cooled Power Reactors," may be                  materials to the environment. Indicate systems that referenced, as appropriate, in providing the above              incorporate high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters information.                                                     and/or charcoal adsorbers in the treatment of building effluents. Provide P&IDs and flow diagrams for all Provide responses to the source term questionnaires          gaseous radwaste systems. Reference may be made to the appropriate sections of the PSAR. Show system and and to the cost-benefit analysis questionnaire which appear as Appendices E, F, and G of this guide.                  component capacities. Provide calculations for gas holdup systems, indicating holdup times, decay factors, and reserve capacity. Identify the normal mode of operation. List estimated quantities and flow rates from
Water use conflicts could result from water withdrawals from rivers during low -flow conditions, which may affect aquifer recharge. The significance of impacts would depend on makeup water requirements, water availability, and competing water  demands.
3.5.2 Liquid Radwaste Systems all sources, expected decontamination factors, and holdup times. Estimated quantities should be given in Describe the liquid radwaste systems and their capa terms of cubic feet, total curie content, and aciivity bilities to control, collect, process, handle, store, and       concentration in pCi/cc.


dispose of liquid radioactive wastes generated as the result of normal operation and anticipated operational Indicate which systems are used continuously and occurrences. Provide piping and instrumentation dia              which are operated only under specific circumstances.
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 39 Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(A) requires, in part, the following:


grams and flow diagrams for liquid radwaste systems.            Note those systems that are shared with other reactors Reference may be made to the appropriate sections in at the site, those systems that are shared between the PSAR. Show tank capacities, system flow rates, and          separate buildings or between units, and also those that design capacities of components. Show all interconnec share a common effluent release point. Identify all tions with other systems and all potential bypass paths.        gaseous radioactive effluent release points including Identify the normal mode of operation. Provide esti            heights above station grade, temperature, and exit mated quantities and flow rates from all sources,                velocity. Provide a summary tabulation of all radio expected decontamination factors, and holdup times.
If the applicants plant utilizes cooling towers or cooling ponds and withdraws makeup water from a river, an assessment of the impact of the proposed action on water availability and competing water demands, the flow of the river  must be provided  . The applicant shall also provide an assessment of the impacts of the withdrawal of water from the river on alluvial aquifers during low flow.


nuclides that will be discharged with each effluent Estimated quantities should be given in terms of gallons, stream, and provide the expected annual average release total curie content, and activity concentration in pCi/ml.
Section 4.5.1.2.4 of the LR GEIS discusses this issue. Additional groundwater use conflict information is needed only for plants withdrawing makeup water from a river. If the plant meets this condition, the applicant should provide the information and analysis described below.


rate (Ci/yr per reactor).
Information and Analysis Content
    Indicate which systems are used separately and which            Provide an evaluation showing conformance with the are shared with other units at the site, as appropriate.        design objectives specitied in Appendix I to 10 CFR Part Provide a summary tabulation of all radionuclides that          50, Section II, Paragraphs B, C, and D. With regard to will be discharged with each effluent stream, and provide        Paragraph D, tabulate the components and the para the expected annual average release rate (Cilyr per              meters considered in the cost-benefit analyses along with reactor).                                                        the dollar/man-rem reduction. Analyses should be based on a 30-year station operating life. Describe the cost An evaluation should be provided showing confor              benefit analysis model in detail sufficient to verify the mance with the design objectives specified in Appendix I        tabulated values. Provide the bases for all assumptions to 10 CFR Part 50, Section II, Paragraphs A and D. With          and the parameters used in the analyses. Give the design regard to Paragraph D, tabulate the components and the          specifications for all equipment involved in the cost parameters considered in the cost-benefit analyses, along        benefit analyses. Regulatory Guide 1.110, "Cost-Benefit with dollarlman-rem reduction. Analyses should be              Analysis for Radwaste Systems for Light-Water-Cooled based on a 30-year station operating life. Describe the          Nuclear Power Reactors," may be referenced, as appro cost-benefit analysis model in sufficient detail that the        priate, in providing the above information.


tabulated values can be verified. Provide the bases for all assumptions and parameters used in the analyses. Pro            3.SA Solid Radwaste System vide design specifications for all equipment involved in the cost-benefit analyses. Regulatory Guide 1.110,                  Describe the solid radwaste system and its capability
If the plant withdraws cooling tower or cooling pond makeup water from a river, the applicant should provide the following information and analyses to enable the NRC staff to assess the groundwater use conflicts during operation:
"Cost-Benefit Analysis for Radwaste Systems for Light          to solidify liquid waste concentrates and to handle, Water-Cooled Nuclear Power Reactors," may be refer              store, and package for shipment the solid radioactive enced, as appropriate, in providing the above informa          wastes generated as a result of normal operation in tion.                                                          cluding anticipated operational occurrence


====s. Include any====
*  Provide a description of alluvial aquifers near the site that could be affected by surface water (see also Section 4.5.1 above) and groundwater withdrawal, including approximate areal extent, thickness, porosities, hydraulic conductivities of aquifer strata, and their interaction with the affected river makeup source as river gage height varies.
                                                            3-3


tanks designed to receive concentrated liquid wastes,        treatment sludge supernatant, filter backwash, steam sludges, or resins prior to processing in the solid            generator blowdown; area rainfall runoff from construc radwaste system. Interconnections with liquid radwaste        tion activities and materials storage piles; waste streams systems should be described. A description of the              or discharges from roof, yard, and other drains; laundry provisions for 'the compaction or baling of dry solid          waste streams which may also contain radionuclides; and wastes should also be included. List estimated quantities      other waste streams that may enter the local environ from all sources. Estimated quantities should be given in      ment as a result of station operation.
*  Describe existing and known future offsite and onsite wells, including average flow rate, peak flow rate, water use, and completion depth.


terms of cubic feet of solid product (as processed and prepared for shipment), total curie content, and activity          Maximum and average concentrations (in mg/liter) of concentration in curies per package, or curies per cubic      chemicals and solids in any brines or cooling system foot. Indicate if the solid radwaste system is shared with    effluents should be given. The expected average and other units at the site.                                      maximum design discharge concentrations of each pollutant for each permitted station discharge should be Describe provisions for the storage of packaged solid      listed in a table along with the chemical concentrations wastes. Estimate the decay time provided in storage            in each of the above-mentioned waste source categories, prior to shipment offsite.                                    where applicable, and the chemical concentration of the intake water supply. Each pollutant in the station's Provide P&IDs and flow diagrams showing the origin,        cooling system effluent should be compared with appli treatment, storage, and shipment provisions for all solid      cable State and Federal (40 CFR Part 423) effluent radwaste generated by the station under consideration.         limitations guidelines and reported in the table. All flow Reference should be made to the appropriate sections of       rates, frequencies of discharge, and regenerant times for the PSAR. Show system and component capacities, and            the waste sources should also be included in the table.
*  Include maps of steady-state piezometric surfaces estimated with onsite and offsite wells at peak pumping rates, average pumping rates, and no pumping. These maps should indicate the location of all wells, and each offsite well should be annotated with the drawdown of the piezometric surface attributable to both the onsite and offsite wells. Describe the methods of analysis, including the assumptions used.


identify the normal mode of operation.                        Quantities of chemicals discharged with treated or partially treated waste streams not covered by 40 CFR
*  Describe existing and known future water rights (including Tribal water  rights).
3.5.5 Process and Effluent Monitoring                        Part 423 should be specifically listed.


Identify all radioactive effluent release points, and          Where discharges of free available chlorine or total indicate which points are continuously monitored. Note        residual chlorine are not in compliance with 40 CFR
*  Describe any wetlands in the vicinity that might be affected by a lowered water table.
those monitors that automatically terminate effluent          Part 423 guidelines, details should be given which discharges upon alarm. Indicate those monitors that,          support any conclusion that the proposed unit(s) cannot upon alarm, automatically actuate standby or alternative      operate at or below this level of chlorination and thus a treatment systems or that automatically divert streams        variance from the effluent limitations of 40 CFR Part to holdup tanks.                                            423 is warranted (as is currently allowed by 40 CFR Part
                                                              423).
            3.6 Chemical and Biocide Wastes Ground deposition and airborne concentrations of The applicant should provide a complete list of all      chemicals and solids entrained in spray fallout should be chemicals (including scaling and corrosion inhibitors,        estimated and the methods and bases for the estimates chemical and biological antifouling agents, and cleaning      stated. The discussion should include a description of compounds) to be used at the proposed station. Chemi          procedures by which all effluents will be treated, cal names should be given in addition to generic or trade    controlled, and discharged to meet State and EPA
names wherever possible. The list should describe in          effluent limitation guidelines and new source perfor tabular form the use of each chemical agent, the              mance standards. Seasonal and operational variations in frequency of use, and the average and maximum                discharges should be described as they relate to effluent limitations and standards of performance. A flow dia quantities (pounds) used annually.


gram (which may also be combined with the liquid The applicant should describe average and expected        radwaste system flow diagram) should be included.
*  Evaluate the significance of the present and future effects of onsite withdrawal on offsite wells.


maximum design discharge concentrations of chemicals, including corrosion products, that may enter the environment as a result of station operation.                            3.7 Sanitary and Other Waste Systems Sources of chemicals discharged by the station should          The applicant should describe any other nonradio be identified by the waste categories specified in 40 CFR    active solid or liquid waste materials such as sanitary and Part 423, "Effluent Guidelines and Standards for the          chemical laboratory wastes, laundry solutions, and de Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Cate            contamination solutions that may be created during gory," issued by the Environmental Protection Agency,        station operation. The description should include esti and should include, where applicable, circulating and          mates of the quantities of wastes to be disposed of, their service water systems; blowdown from recirculating            pollutant concentrations, biochemical oxygen demands cooling water systems; low-volume waste discharge            at points of release as appropriate to the system, and systems such as demineralizer regenerant waste, water        other relevant data. The manner in which they will be
Additionally, describe any potential mitigation measures and state whether they will be or have been implemented.
                                                          34


treated and controlled and the procedures for disposal              section, the applicant is advised to consult the Depart should also be described. Means for control and treat                ment of Interior/Department of Agruculture publica ment of all systems subject to effluent limitation                    tion, Environmental Criteria for Electric Transmission guidelines and standards of performance under FWPCA                  Systems; the Federal Power Commission publication, should be described.                                                Electric Power Transmission and the Environmert; the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) book, Trans The applicant should (a) describe any other gaseous              mission Line Reference Book, 345kV and Above,2 and effluents (e.g., from diesel engines, gas turbines, heating          the National Electrical Safety Code.
Groundwater Quality Degradation      (Plants with Cooling Ponds)


plants, incinerators) created during station operation, (b)
This section applies to plants that have cooling ponds.
estimate the frequency of release and describe how they                  Adequate descriptions of proposed line-related will be treated before release to the environment, and (c)          facilities, such as substations, should be included in the estimate the total quantity of SO 2 and NO, pollutants              report. Sufficient information should be provided on the to be discharged annually.                                          external appearance of the transmission structures to permit an assessment of their esthetic impact.


3.8 Reporting of Radioactive Material Movement This portion of the report should describe the The detailed requirements for the analysis Of environ.          proposed transmission system and include basic design mental impacts involving the transportation of radio                parameters such as voltage, capacity under normal and active materials to and from nuclear power reactors is              emergency load conditions, conductor type and configu ration, ruling spans, and electrical clearances. Illustrate contained in 10 CFR Part 51.
Table B-1 states the following:


the type of transmission structures, and provide profile If the transportation of fuel and waste to and                  drawings of the conductors and transmission structures from nuclear power reactors is within the scope of                  to be located in highly visible areas. Indicate the paragraph (g) of § 51.20, the environmental report need              dimensions, materials, color, and finish of the trans only contain a statement that such environmental                    mission structures, substations, and other related facil impacts are as set forth in Summary Table S4 of 10                  ities.
Sites with cooling ponds could degrade groundwater quality  . The significance of the impact would depend on site-specific conditions includi ng cooling pond water quality, site hydrogeologic conditions (including the interaction of surface water and groundwater), and the location, depth, and pump rate of water wells.


CFR Part 51 (see Appendix A). No further discussion of                   The applicant should supply contour maps or aerial such environmental effects will be required.                         photographs, or both, showing the proposed rights-of way and identifying substations or other points at which If the transportation of fuel and waste to and                    the transmission lines will connect with the existing from nuclear power reactors is not within the scope                  high-voltage system. The lengths, widths, and acreage of of paragraph (g) of §51.20, a full description and                    the proposed rights-of-way should be specified. The detailed analysis of the environmental impacts of                    applicant should characterize the land types to be transportation of radioactive materials under normal                  crossed by transmission lines and indicate the present conditions of transport will be required. An analysis                and expected usage of such land. Any area where of the environmental impacts of transportation of                    construction of the transmission lines will require radioactive materials following the approach set                      permanent clearing of trees and vegetation, changes in forth in WASH-1238 is acceptable. 1                                  topography, or removal of man-made structures should also be indicated, as well as areas where the transmission
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 40
                  3.9 Transmission Facilities                        lines will be placed underground. Indicate where high ways, railways, water bodies, and areas of archeological, The environmental report should contain sufficient                historical, and recreational interest will be crossed.
        Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(D) requires the following:


information to permit evaluation of the environmental                Where transmission lines offer potential hazard to aerial impact of transmission lines and related facilities that are          navigation,    appropriate  FAA standards should be to be constructed between the proposed nuclear installa              referenced.
If the applicants plant utilizes cooling ponds, an assessment of the impact of the proposed action on groundwater quality must be provided.


tion and an interconnecting point or points on the existing high-voltage transmission system, or are                        Identify alternative rights-of-way and terminal loca required elsewhere in the system for stability or power              tions considered, and provide a brief discussion of the distribution purposes directly related to the proposed                rationale for the selection of the proposed rights-of-way.
Section 4.5.1.2.6 of the LR GEIS also discusses this issue.


nuclear installation. For material useful in preparing this          Provide sufficient information (including selection
Information and Analysis Content
1 criteria) for assessment of the alternatives.


A general analysis of the environmental impact of transporting radioactive materials-to and from a light-water-cooled nuclear power reactor has been issued by the Commission. See "Envi ronmental Survey of Transportation of Radioactive Materials to and from Nuclear Power Plants," WASH-1238, December 1972, and Supplement I to WASH-1238, NUREG-75/038, April
If the plant uses cooling ponds, the applicant should provide the following information and analyses to enable the NRC staff to assess the presence and magnitude of groundwater quality degradation during operation:
  1975. Copies of WASH-1238 and NUREG-75/038 may be obtained from the National Technical Information Service,          2Copies may be obtained from Fred Weidner and Son, Printers, Springfield, Virginia 22161.                                          421 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014.


3-5
*  Describe cooling pond characteristics (e.g., liners or impermeable materials used, impermeable soils) that would retard or prevent infiltration into local aquifers.


This portion of the report should identify and           be taken to minimize these effects. 3 Appropriate State evaluate parameters of possible environmental signifi-      and Federal standards should be referenced, as cance, including radiated electrical and acoustic noise,    applicable.
*  Identify the types and concentrations of impurities in the cooling pond water and the chemistry of soils along pathways to local aquifers to determine whether cooling pond water can contaminate the groundwater.


induced or conducted ground currents, corona effects,
*  Describe water quality and other characteristics of local aquifers that could be affected by infiltration of cooling pond water.
                                                            3 and ozone production, and what mitigating actions will        Details of the controls and effects are requested in Section 5.5.


3-6
*  Provide Federal, State, and local groundwater quality requirements with emphasis on any changes to these requirements that have occurred during the plants current license term and any anticipated changes to those requirements during the license renewal term.


CHAPTER 4 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF SITE PREPARATION, STATION CONSTRUCTION,
*  Identify and characterize offsite groundwater users who could be affected by the degradation of aquifers. Include locations and elevations of offsite wells, pumping rates, screened intervals, depth to water, and an estimate of the groundwater needs of local users.
                                  AND TRANSMISSION FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION
    This chapter of the applicant'senvironmental report        disposing of trash and chemical wastes (including oil);
should discuss the expected effects of site preparation          excavating; and land filling. Provide information bearing and station and transmissionfacilities construction. The        on such questions as: How much land will be torn up?
effects should be presented in terms of their physical          For how long? Will there be dust or smoke problems?
impact on the resources and populations described in            How will explosives be used? Where and how often?
Chapter 2. Means selected by the applicant to measure            Indicate the proximity of human populations. Identify and minimize related environmental effects should be            undesirable impacts on their environment arising from outlined. Effects that are primarily economic or social in      noise and from inconvenience due to the movement of charactershould be discussed in Chapter8.                        men, material, and machines, including activities asso ciated with any provision of housing, transportation, and The preparation of the site and the construction of a      educational facilities for workers and their families.


nuclear power station and related facilities will inevitably affect the environment; some of the effects                The applicant should show in tabular form the land will be adverse and some will be beneficial. Effects are        area requirements (in acres) affected by the station and considered adverse if environmental change or stress            station-related facilities. Where applicable, acieage causes some biotic population or natural resource to be          should be specified for the site, station, cooling towers less safe, less healthy, less abundant, less productive, or    (main condenser and service water), switching stations, less esthetically or culturally pleasing, as applicable; if     safe-shutdown and emergency cooling ponds, trans the change or stress reduces the diversity and variety of        mission line corridors (both onsite and offsite), railroad individual choice, the standard of living, or the extent of      spurs (both onsite and offsite) to be constructed, access sharing of life's amenities; or if the change or stress tends    roads, makeup and blowdown pipes, intake structures, to lower the quality of renewable resources or to impair        parking lots, permanent buildings, and any other facility the recycling of depletable resources. Effects are              or pond occupying more than 2 acres.
*  Describe possible mitigation measures, if they are warranted, and whether they will be or have been implemented.


considered beneficial if they cause changes or stresses having consequences opposite to those just enumerated.              An annual schedule of the estimated work force to be involved in site preparation and station construction In the applicant's discussion of adverse environmental      should be presented. Describe any expected changes in effects, it should be made clear which of these are              accessibility of historical, cultural,' and archeological considered unavoidable and subject to later amelioration        sites and natural landmarks in the region.
Radionuclides Released to Groundwater


and which are regarded as unavoidable and irreversible.
Table B-1 states the following:


Those effects that represent an irretrievable commitment            The discussion should also include any effects of site of resources should receive detailed consideration in          preparation and station construction activities whose Section 4.3. (In the context of this discussion, "irretriev    consequences may be beneficial to the . region; for able commitment of resources" alludes to natural                example, the use of spoil to create playgrounds and resources and means a permanent impairment of these,            recreational facilities.
Leaks of radioactive liquids from plant components and pipes have occurred at numerous plants. Groundwater protection programs have been established at all operating nuclear power plants to minimize the potential impact from any inadvertent releases. The magnitude of impacts would depend on site-specific characteristics.


e.g., loss of wildlife habitat; destruction of nesting, breeding, or nursing areas; interference with migratory            The discussion of water use should describe the routes; loss of valuable or esthetically treasured natural      impact of site preparation and construction activities on areas as well as expenditure of directly utilized              regional water (e.g., lakes, streams, ground water). The resources.)                                                     overall plan for protection of water bodies (e.g., recrea tion, reservoir) that may be affected by station construction should be discussed. Activities that might
Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(P) requires the following:
        4.1 Site Preparation and Station Construction            affect water use include the construction of cofferdams and storm sewers, dredging operations, placement of fill The applicant should organize the discussion in terms material in the water, and the creation of shoreside of the effects of site preparation and station construc tion on both land use and water use. The consequences to both human and wildlife populations should be                IDepending on location, the construction of a nuclear power considered and identified as unavoidable, reversible, etc.,      station and associated access roads, docks, landscaping, etc.,
  according to the categorization set forth above.                may have an impact on monuments of the National Geodetic In the land-use discussion, describe how construction        Control Networks. The applicant should list all known markers activities may disturb the existing terrain and wildlife        in the construction area in its review and independently notify the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, habitats. Consider the effects of such activities as            National Geodetic Survey (NGS) of any impending damage to creating building material supply areas; building              markers so that efforts can be made to relocate them prior to temporary or permanent roads, bridges, and service lines;      destruction.


4-1
An applicant shall assess the impact of any documented inadvertent releases of radionuclides into groundwater. The applicant shall include in its assessment a description of any groundwater protection program used for the surveillance of piping and components containing radioactive liquids for which a pathway to groundwater may exist. The assessment must also include a description of any


facilities involving bulkheads, piers, jetties, basins, or                      4.3 Resources Committed other structures allowing ingress to or egress from the station by water. Examples of other pertinent activities            Discuss any irreversible and irretrievable are the construction of intake and discharge structures        commitments of resources (e.g., loss of land, water, for cooling water or other purposes, straightening or          nonrecyclable building materials, destruction of biota)
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 41 past inadvertent releases and the projected impact to the environment (e.g., aquifers, rivers, lakes, ponds, ocean) during the license renewal term.
deepening of a water channel, and operations affecting        that are expected if site preparation and construction of water level (flooding), construction, and dewatering          station and transmission facilities proceed. Commit effects on nearby ground water users. The applicant            ments of material resources involved in the construction should describe the effects of these activities on naviga      of nuclear reactors are discussed in Regulatory Guide tion, fish and wildlife resources, water quality, water        4.10, "Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments of supply, esthetics, etc., as applicable.                        Material Resources." Such losses should be evaluated in Where it is proposed to create a cooling lake or pond,    terms of their relative and long-term net and absolute describe the effects on the local ecology, including the       impacts. (See Section 5.7 for more detailed consider loss of flora and local migration of fauna from the area      ation.)
the lake or pond will occupy. In addition, the expected establishment and development of aquatic plant and                                    4.4 Radioactivity animal life should be described. This discussion may reference any available data based on studies of                    For multiunit stations, provide the estimated annual similarly sited artificial lakes.                              doses at various locations in a new unit construction area from onsite radiation sources such as the turbine systems (for BWRs), the auxiliary building, the reactor building, and stored radioactive wastes and from radio active effluents (e.g., direct radiation from the gaseous radioactive plume). Provide estimated annual doses to
          4.2 Transmission Facilities Construction              construction workers due to radiation from these sources from the adjacent operating unit(s) and the The effects of clearing the rights-of-way and              annual man-rem doses associated with such construction.


installing transmission line towers and conductors on the      Include models, assumptions, and input data. If the environs and on the people living in or traveling through      Safety Analysis Report (SAR) has already been the adjacent area should be discussed in this section.         submitted or will be submitted simultaneously with the (Refer to Section 3.9 for the basic information.)              applicant's ER, reference may be made to the analysis contained in the SAR.
Section 4.5.1.2.7 of the LR GEIS discusses this issue.


The following topics may serve as guidelines for this discussion, but the applicant. should include any                                                                        2 additional relevant material.                                          4.5 Construction Impact Control Program The construction permit may require certain actions
Information and Analysis Content
    1. The proposed techniques for clearing the rights-of      on the part of the applicant to ensure that environ way and any resulting temporary and permanent changes          mental controls to minimize impacts are carried out. In that will be induced in the physical and biological            addition to the discussion of the effects of site prepara processes of plant and wildlife through changes in the        tion and construction, the applicant should furnish hydrology, topography, or ground cover or the use of            details of the program with which it plans to monitor growth retardants, chemicals, biocides, sprays, etc.,          those activities affecting site-related environmental during construction and installation of the transmission      quality. The applicant should state the specific nature of lines.                                                        its control programs and the control procedures it intends to follow as a means of implementing adherence
    2. The methods to be used for erecting the trans            to environmental quality control limits, as applicable.


mission line structures and for stringing conductors, including related environmental effects.                            The applicant should describe measures designed to mitigate or reverse undesirable effects such as noise,
Each Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) member company for their nuclear power plants has committed to following the guidance developed by NEI and contained in NEI 07-07, Industry Ground Water Protection InitiativeFinal Guidance Document, issued August 2007 and revised in 2019 (Ref. 47). The purpose of the voluntary initiative is to improve a nuclear power plants programs for preventing, detecting, and responding to inadvertent releases of radioactive materials that may result in low but detectable levels of plant-related materials in subsurface soils and groundwater. Because each nuclear power plant has developed a site-specific groundwater protection program, the NRC staff must review the implementation of each plants program.
    3. Number and length of new access and service            erosion, dust, truck traffic, flooding, ground water level roads required.                                               modification, and channel blockage. The description should include plans for landscape restoration, protec
    4. Erosion    directly    traceable to   construction      tion of natural drainage channels or development of activities.


2 A  compilation of construction practices is provided in General
For those nuclear power plants that have groundwater monitoring systems composed of wells, the ER should contain the following information, as applicable, with respect to documented inadvertent releases of radionuclides into groundwater (i.e., reports required by 10 CFR 20.2202 (Ref. 48), 10 CFR
    5. Loss of agricultural productivity and other present      Environmental Guidelines for Evaluating and Reporting the uses of rights-of-way.                                           Effects of Nuclear Power Plant Site Preparation, Plant and Transmission FacilitiesConstruction, AIF/NESP-003, February
20.2203, and 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi) (Ref. 49), as well as from reports issued in accordance with the reporting criteria contained in NEI 07-07):
                                                                  1974. Copies may be obtained from the Atomic Industrial Briefly discuss the effects of construction on any            Forum, Inc., 7101 Wisconsin Avenue, Washington, identified endangered species (as defined in Section 2.2).        D.C. 20014.


4-2
*  Provide a site map at sufficient scale to show the location of all monitoring wells and water supply wells.


appropriate substitutes, measures taken to control                  Precautions for handling of fuels, lubricants, oily rainfall runoff, installation of fish ladders or elevators or    wastes, and other chemical waste should be included.
*  Include a table depicting well construction information, such as well depth, diameter, screened interval, and construction material.


other habitat improvement, augmentea water supply for            Describe procedures for disposal of slash and unmer affected surface and ground water users, and flood and            chantable timber and for cleanup and restoration of pollution control.                                                areas affected by clearing and construction activities.
*  Include a table showing depths to water and water-level elevations.


The applicant should describe the means by which compliance with EPA's effluent limitation guidelines or new source performance standards (40 CFR Part 423)                  Describe any other measures planned for the protec applicable to construction activities will be achieved.          tion of fish and wildlife during construction.
*  Provide a groundwater flow direction map for each aquifer or hydrostratigraphic unit beneath the site.


4-3
*  Develop a table and accompanying map showing the distribution of radionuclide concentrations across the site (e.g., tritium concentrations in picocuries per liter). A series of tables and maps, based on available information, may be necessary to depict the concentration at depth.


CHAPTER 5 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF STATION OPERATION
*  For documented inadvertent releases of radionuclides into groundwater, include a description of any ongoing or completed remediation actions and the residual activity remaining after the remediation was completed, if it is not ongoing.
    This chapter should describe the interaction of the            and 2.4) and the aquatic ecology (Section 2.2) are of station and transmission facilities (discussed in Chapter          primary importance in determining what effects the
3) and the environment (discussedin Chapter2). To the              released heat will have on the aquatic environment.


extent possible, the applicantshould avoid repeatingthe material presented in Chapters 2 and 3. Measures                    5.1.1 Effluent Limitations and Water Quality Standards planned to reduce any undesirable effects of station operation (including the transmission facilities) on the                Describe applicable State and Federal (40 CFR Part environment should be described in detail. In the                   423) effluent guidelines and the thermal standards or discussion of environmental effects, as in Chapter 4,              limitations applicable to the water body to which the effects that are considered unavoidable but either                  discharge is made (including maximum permissible inherently temporary or subject to later amelioration              temperature, maximum permissible increase, mixing should be clearly distinguished from those regarded as              zones, and maximum rates of increase and decrease) and unavoidableand irreversible.Those effects that represent            whether and to what extent these standards or limita an irretrievablecommitment of resources should receive              tions have been approved by the Administrator of the detailedconsideration in Section 5. Z                              Environmental Protection Agency in accordance with The impacts of operation of the proposed facility              the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended.
For those nuclear power plants that rely on a system other than a groundwater monitoring system composed of wells, the applicant should describe the program used for detecting and responding to inadvertent releases of radionuclides into subsurface soils and groundwater.


Indicate whether the discharge could affect the quality should be, to the fullest extent practicable, quantified and systematically presented.' In the discussion of each            of the waters of any other State or States.
4.6    Ecological Resources


impact, the applicant should make clear whether the
The following general approach should be used in conducting plant-specific assessments for ecological resources-related Category 2 issues.
                                                                    5.1.2 Physical Effects supporting evidence is based on theoretical, laboratory, onsite, or field studies undertaken on this or on previous occasions. The source of each impact (i.e.,                    Describe the effect that any heated effluent, the station subsystem, waste effluent) and the popula              including service water or closed-cycle system blow tion or resource affected should be made clear in each              down, will have on the temperature of the receiving case. The impacts should be distinguished in terms of              body of water with respect to space and time. Describe changes in temperature caused by drawing water from their effects on surface water bodies, ground water, air, one depth and discharging it at another. The predicted and land.


characteristics of the mixing zone and temperature Finally, the applicant should discuss the relationship          changes in the receiving body of water as a whole should between local short-term uses of man's environment and              be covered. Include seasonal effects. Discuss any model the maintenance and enhancement of long-term pro                    studies and calculations that have been performed to ductivity. As used in this guide, "short term" may be              determine these characteristics, giving references to taken to refer to the operating life of the proposed                reports that provide supporting details. Details of facility and "long term" to time periods extending                  calculational methods used in predicting thermal plume beyond this life. The applicant should assess the action            configurations should be given in an appendix to the for cumulative and projected long-term effects from the            report. The results should be portrayed in graphic form, point of view that each generation is trustee of the                showing isotherms in three dimensions for a range of environment for each succeeding generation. This means              conditions that form the basis for the estimation of considering, for example, the commitment of a water                ecological impact.
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 42
4.6.1    General Approach for Information and Analysis Content for All Ecological Issues


source to use as a cooling medium in terms of impair ment of other actual or potential uses and any other                   Where releases are determined to be affected by tides long-term effects to which the operation of this facility                                                              extent and winds, a probability rose relating directions, Both may contribute.                                                     "of modification, and time should be included.           a daily and an annual probability rose should be developed
The applicant should provide sufficient information in the ER to evaluate how the effects of nuclear power plant operation would affect ecosystem structure and function, alter the stability of plant or animal populations, modify the value or availability of ecosystem services, or noticeably affect other attributes of the ecological environment. Ecosystem services refer to a wide range of conditions and processes through which natural ecosystems, and the species that are part of them, help sustain and fulfill human life. For further discussion of these services, see the 1997 article by Daily et al., Ecosystem Services: Benefits Supplied to Human Societies by Natural Ecosystems    (Ref. 50).
  5. 1 Effects of Operation of Heat Dissipation System            where tides are operative.


Waste heat dissipated by the system described in                5.1.3 Biological Effects Section 3.A alters the thermal conditions of the environ ment. Since the heat transfer is usually effected through              Describe the effects of released heat on marine and the surface of a river, pond, lake, estuary, or ocean or by        freshwater life. Give the basis for the prediction of the evaporation of water in a cooling tower, the meteor            effects. In this discussion, appropriate references to the ology and hydrology of the environment (Sections 2.3                baseline ecological data presented in Section 2.2 should be made. Expected thermal effects should be related to lQuantification of environmental costs is discussed in Chapter      the optimum and tolerance temperature ranges for
For all ecological issues, the same general approach can identify the environmental impacts of license renewal and alternatives. This approach generally follows the EPAs 1998 framework for ecological risk assessment in Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment (Ref. 51).
  10.                                                              important aquatic species (as defined in Section 2.2) and
                                                              5-1


the food base that supports them. The evaluation                  icing, precipitation modification, humidity changes, should consider not only the mixing zone, but also the            "cooling tower blowdown and drift, and noise. Where entire regional aquatic habitat potentially affected by            cooling towers are considered, the discussion should operation of the proposed station.                                include estimates of the dimensions of the visible plume under various stability classes (Pasquill) and the proba Potential hazards of the cooling water intake and              bility distribution of wind directions, air temperature, discharge structures (described in Section 3.4) to fish            and humidity expected at the site. Discuss shadowing populations and food base organisms should be                      effects and esthetic considerations caused by cooling identified, and steps planned to measure and minimize              tower plumes. If fog clouds or icing may occur, the the hazards should be discussed. Diversion techniques              estimated hours per year, distances, and directions should be discussed in the light of information obtained          should be presented, along with transportation arteries from ecological studies on fish population, size, and              (including navigable waters) potentially affected and habitats.                                                          measures to mitigate such effects. Consider possible synergistic effects that might result from mixing of fog The effects of passage through the condenser on                or drift with other effluents discharged into the atmo zooplankton, phytoplankton, meroplankton, and small                sphere from nearby fossil-fueled or industrial facilities.
1. Identify Relevant Sources of Information


nektonic forms such as immature fish should be                    (Environmental effects of chemicals discharged from discussed, as well as the resultant implications for the          cooling tower blowdown and drift should be discussed in important species and functional groups.                          Section 5.3.)
Identify the relevant sources of information, which may include:
    The applicant should discuss the potential biological              In addition to the meteorological effects noted, other effects of modifying the natural circulation of the water          local environmental impacts may occur. These should be bodies affected by the station, especially if water is            described. For example, if a cooling pond or lake is withdrawn from one region or zone and discharged into              created or where ground water is a source of station another. This discussion should consider such factors as          water supply, the effects on ground water may be the alteration of the dissolved oxygen and nutrient                substantial; consequently, the alteration of water table content and distribution in the receiving water, as well as        levels, recharge rates, and soil permeability should be the effects of scouring and suspended sediments. Where            discussed.


natural salinity is modified by station waterflow, the effects should be quantitatively investigated.                          5.2 Radiological Impact from Routine Operation Station-induced changes in the temperature of the                  In this section, the applicant should consider impacts discharged      water subsequent to environmental                on man or on biota other than man that are attributable stabilization can affect aquatic life in the receiving body.      to the release of radioactive materials and to direct Accordingly, the applicant should discuss the possible            radiation from the facility. The biota to be considered effects of reactor shutdown (and other temporary                  are those species of local flora and local and migratory related conditions), including the dependence of effects          fauna defined as "important" in Section 2.2 and whose on the season in which shutdown occurs. An estimate of            terrestrial and/or aquatic habitats provide the highest the number of scheduled and unscheduled shutdowns                potential for radiation exposure. Estimates of the per year should be given. Refueling schedules should be          radiological impact on man via the most significant indicated, particularly where the rate and magnitude of          exposure pathways should be provided.
Studies and monitoring. Summarize any surveys, studies, and monitoring that provide site-specific, local, or regional data on ecological resources and that are relevant to assessing the environmental impacts of license renewal and alternatives. Include the biological entities or ecological attributes chosen for investigation, methodology, results, and conclusions.


temperature change in the receiving waters are likely to be large (e.g., as a result of refueling in winter). Describe procedures for reducing thermal shock to aquatic                  5.2.1 Exposure Pathways organisms during shutdown or refueling. A discussion of operation with reduced circulator flow or increased                  The various possible pathways for radiation exposure temperature differentials should be specifically                  of the important local flora and local and migratory addressed to timing and extent to provide a basis for            fauna should be identified and described in the text and comparison of the effects of such operation with those             flowcharts. (An example of an exposure pathway chart of standard operating modes.                                      for organisms other than man is given in Appendix H.)
If data are more than 5 years old, explain whether the studies are relevant in assessing the impacts of license renewal. For example, show that both the potentially affected resources and the effects of the nuclear power plant on those resources have remained, and can be expected to remain, unchanged or similar over the license renewal term.
                                                                  The pathways should include the important routes of radionuclide translocation (including food chains leading
5.1.4 Effects of Heat Dissipation Facilities                      to important species) to organisms or sites.


Discuss the expected effects of heat dissipation                  The various possible pathways for radiation exposure facilities such as cooling towers, cooling lakes and ponds,        of man should be identified and described in text and spray ponds, or diffusers on the local environment and             flowcharts. (An example of an exposure pathway chart on agriculture, housing, highway safety, recreation, air          for man is given in Appendix H.) As a minimum, the and water traffic, airports, or other installations with          following pathways should be evaluated: direct radiation respect to meteorological phenomena, including fog,                from radioactivity contained within the station, shore-
Communications with    and views of relevant regulatory agencies. Document any communications with Federal and State agencies with special expertise or jurisdiction (e.g., EPA or other water quality permitting agencies concerning impingement and entrainment a    nd thermal impacts; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service  concerning federally listed species and critical habitats; State natural resource agencies) that are relevant to assessing impacts and are not documented elsewhere. Include the views of affected Indian Tribes in cases where culturally significant ecological resources may be affected. Discuss major points of view and significant concerns or objections raised by these entities. If relevant communications are documented el sewhere, refer the reader to the appropriate sections. Include other interested stakeholders, as appropriate.
                                                              5-2


line fishing (radionuclides deposited in sediments),            of Ci/m 2 -yr, at points of potential maximum concentra immersion in airborne effluents, and radionuclides              tion outside the site boundary, at points of estimated deposited on the ground surface and vegetation, and              maximum individual exposure, and at points within a internal exposure from inhalation of airborne effluents          radial grid of sixteen 221/4-degree sectors centered on and from ingestion of milk, drinking water, fish and            true north and extending to a distance of 50 miles from game, invertebrates, and plants. Identify any additional        the station. A set of data points should be located within exposure pathways specific to the region around the              each sector at increments of 0.25 mile to a distance of 1 site that could contribute 10% or more to either                mile from the station, at increments of 0.5 mile from a individual or population doses.                                  distance of 1 to 5 miles, at increments of 2.5 miles from a distance of 5 to 10 miles, and at increments of 5 miles
Other sources. Provide in-text citations to other sources of information relied upon and provide full citations in a literature cited section.
5.2.2 Radioactivity in Environment                              thereafter to a distance of 50 miles. Estimates of relative concentration (x/Q) for noble gas effluents and, if In Section 3.5, the radionuclide concentrations in the      applicable, relative concentration (x/Q) depleted by liquid and gaseous effluents discharged from the station          deposition and relative deposition (D/Q) for radioiodine are listed. In this section, the applicant should consider      and particulate effluents should be provided at each of how these effluents are quantitatively distributed in the        these grid points. In addition, averages of these XiQ
environment. Specifically, estimates should be provided          and/or D/Q values between all adjacent grid points along for the radionuclide concentration (a) in all waters that        the radials should be provided.


receive any liquid radioactive effluent, (b) on land areas, (c) on vegetation (on a per unit area basis) in the environs, and (d) in the atmosphere around the nuclear              5.2.2.1 Surface Water Models. Models are herein station.                                                          classified into two categories: those that estimate physical effects using simplifying, conservative assump If there are other components of the physical                tions and those that are state-of-the-art attempts at environment that may accumulate radioactivity and thus            realistically modeling physical effects. Predicting the result in the exposure of living organisms to nuclear            transport of liquid radioactive effluents may require the radiations, they should be identified and their                  use of both categories of models, each applicable under radioactivity burden estimated. In addition, information          different situations and for different regions of the hydrologic environment. The applicant should discuss concerning any cumulative buildup of radionuclides in the range of applicability of the models used, the the environment, such as in sediments, should be methods used in model calibration and verification, the presented and discussed. Information concerning any error limits of the resulting predictions, and the input relocation of contaminated or potentially contaminated data. Basic hydrologic and station data are discussed in materials in the physical environment, such as occurs in        Sections 2.1.3, 2.4, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, and 6.1. Discussions of dredging operations, should be provided.
2. Identify Potentially Affected Ecological  Resources


the three general types of surface water models (transport, sediment uptake, and water use) that may be Estimate the expected annual average concentrations used in predicting the effects of liquid radioactive of radioactive nuclides (listed in Section 3.5) in receiving    effluents follow.
Identify specific ecological resources and the attributes of those resources potentially at risk.


water at locations where water is consumed or otherwise used by human beings or where it is inhabited by biota of significance to human food chains. (If discharges are             5.2.2.1.1 Transport Models. Mathematical and/or intermittent, concentration peaks as well as annual              physical models may be required to predict the transport averages should be estimated.) Specify the dilution              of liquid radioactive effluents. The size of the region to factors used in preparing the estimates and the locations        be simulated and the required level of detail will depend wheie the dilution factors are applicable.                      on the radionuclide in question, the quantity released, the surface water pathways, and the temporal and spatial The models and assumptions used to determine air              variability of important model parameters (e.g.,
Because ecological systems are complicated, only a subset of resources can be addressed  .
concentration andjor deposition should be described in          diffusion coefficients). In cases where significant levels detail and their validity and accuracy discussed.                of station-discharged radionuclides remain in the surface Guidance on acceptable models is provided in Regula              waters over large distances, Appendix I to 10 CFR Part tory Guide 1.111, "Methods for Estimating Atmospheric            50 requires transport predictions along the surface Transport and Dispersion from Gaseous Effluents in              water pathways ranging from the immediate vicinity of Routine Releases from Light-Water-Cooled Reactors."              the discharge point to a 50-mile radius of the station.


The meteorological data used in these models should be identified and consistent with Section 2.3. From the                Transport predictions will often require the use of atmospheric transport and diffusion models and meteor            different models, each applicable to a given region of the ological data, provide estimates of relative concentra          surface water pathway. In each case, the model should tions (XJQ), where X and Q are expressed in units of            be described in detail. The description should include Ci/m 2 and Ci/yr, respectively, and/or relative annual (or      justification of all model input data and assumptions.
Identify the potentially affected ecological resources. Describe the potentially affected resources in terms of ecosystem or habitat type (e.g., oak-hickory forest, tallgrass prairie, tidal salt marsh). Give special attention to important habitats (e.g., important bird areas, known bat hibernacula, spawning and rearing areas, locally significant habitats, natural heritage areas, wildlife sanctuaries and preserves, federally or State-managed lands and waters).


seasonal) deposition (D/Q), where D is expressed in units        The applicant should describe in detail the methods
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 43 Describe the potentially affected plants and animals in terms of functional groups (e.g., plants, mammals, reptiles, fish, invertebrates) or trophic structure (e.g., producers and consumers). For instance, an aquatic system may include plankton, macrophytes, and periphyton (primary producers); zooplankton and benthic macroinvertebrates (primary consumers); and bottom feeding, planktivorous, and piscivorous fish (secondary and tertiary consumers).
                                                              5-3


employed to obtain model parameters (e.g., diffusion            transport, results should be tabulated separately in the coefficients).                                                   table requested in Section 5.2.2.1.1.
For federally protected ecological resources, identify and describe the potentially affected federally listed species and designated critical habitats protected under the ESA. Include candidate and proposed species and proposed critical habitats, if applicable. Identify and describe EFH, including HAPCs, by federally managed species and life stage, protected under the MSA. Identify and describe any national marine sanctuaries and the living and nonliving resources of those sanctuaries protected under the NMSA.


In the case of physical models, the applicant should            5.2.2.1.3 Water-Use Models. Where water use may present detailed descriptions of the model facilities,         affect or be affected by station discharges, computa scaling requirements, data collection and analysis              tional models may be required to predict projected techniques, and error estimates.                                changes in surface use and flows upstream and down stream (present and projected surface water use is For liquid radwaste transport analysis pursuant to          discussed in Section 2.1.3). Such models may be required Appendix I to 10 CFR Part 50, a tabulation of the              to predict types of water and temporal variations in use expected concentrations and travel times for each of the       over the life of the station. Predictions will often require important radionuclides released to each important              the use of models of varying sophistication which are pathway to man should be provided on a monthly                  compatible with population projections. In each case the average basis for conditions anticipated during station        model and input data should be described in detail.
Identify attributes of those resources potentially at risk. Identify the attributes of the resources of concern that are potentially at risk and that are important to protect (Ref. 51). If adverse effects on a species, habitat, or other ecological resource are possible, the resource should be assessed in terms of spatial scale (e.g., local, regional, or national), temporal scale (e.g., the time frame over which stressors or effects will be evaluated), and resource value (e.g., social, economic, or ecological).


operation.                                                     Descriptions should include discussions of the applicability and validity of the models with supporting evidence to substantiate the applicant's conclusions.
Biodiversity, which refers to the variety of life on Earth at all its levels, including genes, individuals, species, habitats, and ecosystems, is an important attribute to consider. Biodiversity helps maintain the structural diversity and functional integrity of ecosystems and provides a wide pool of biological resources that can respond and adapt to various natural and human-made stressors (Ref. 52).


5.2.2.1.2 Sediment Uptake Models. In some cases, a          Models of water use are necessary in rivers, lakes, substantial portion of certain radionuclides released          estuaries, and oceans where realistic projections of from the station will be removed from solution and              radionuclide transport are undertaken and where the deposited on bottom and suspended sediments.                    sensitivity of concentration estimates to assumptions of Consideration of such removal mechanisms may                    monthly average flow indicates changes in water use that substantially change the ultimate calculated doses to            could significantly change Appendix I to 10 CFR Part 50
3. Explain the Relationships between Nuclear Power Plant Operation and Ecological Resource Attributes
man. If credit is claimed for reduction of radionuclide          objectives. For example, estimates of monthly average concentrations in surface waters by the mechanism of            flow in a river based solely on historical streamflow sediment uptake, analysis and verification should be            records will not indicate the changes in water uses that provided. Such analysis should include actual field and          have occurred historically, nor will they indicate changes laboratory measurements to determine sorption and                to be expected in the future. One way to project flow is transport of radionuclide ions by bottom and suspended          to assumne that long-term recorded historical runoff sediments. The sampling and analyses should cover the            conditions adjusted for the effects of man (e.g.,
area of significant influence of the station and should          reservoirs, diversions, water supply) will be indicative of consider seasonal changes of sediment transport.                the future. This adjusted record is then modified for projected water use by man to the end of the station Mathematical models may be used for calculating the         lifetime. The analyses can be undertaken by simulating
                                                                                                            2 removal of ions by sediment and the transport of                streamflow and water use sequentially.


attached ions in the sediment. Models should be verified by comparison to field studies (e.g., tracers) from water            5.2.2.2 Ground Water Models. The general categories bodies having characteristics similar to those at the of models, as described for surface water in Section station. Data should be provided to substantiate that the        5.2.2.1, are also applicable to ground water models.
Relationships can be examined by identifying the pathways through which potential stressors act on the chosen ecological receptors and expressing these as risk hypotheses (Ref. 50, Section 3.4.1). Risk hypotheses may be very simple, predicting the potential effect of one stressor on one receptor, or extremely complex.


conditions postulated in the model will be typical of Mathematical models may be used for predicting ground those at the site.                                             water use and flow and radionuclide transport in aquifers to provide the assessment required by Appendix In those cases where a proposed site is similar or in        I to 10 CFR Part 50. For ground water use models, the close proximity to an operating station, anticipated            size of the region to be simulated is the area within 50
4. Assess and Characterize Potential Impacts
sediment-related effects may be inferred from the results        miles of the station unless it can be clearly demonstrated of field measurement programs associated with the                that the region within station influence is of smaller operating station.                                              extenL For ground water flow and transport models, the size of the region to be simulated and the required level If the applicant elects to carry out -an analysis of the    of detail will depend on the radionuclide in question, the removal of radionuclide ions by sediment uptake, the            quantity released, potential ground water pathways, and results should also be used to estimate the concentra          temporal and spatial variability of important model tions in the sediments for other pathways to man, such          parameters (e.g., dispersion coefficients). In general, the as direct contact or uptake by benthic organisms.              size of the simulated region should encompass an area Regulatory guides are in preparation to establish both criteria and data collection requirements for sediment uptake and transport models.                                    2One such model involving a computer program is "HEC-3, Reservoir Systems Analysis," available from the U.S. Army If credit is claimed for concentration reductions of        Corps of Enoeers, The Hydrologic Engineer*i Center, Davis, radionuclides resulting from sediment uptake and                California.


5-4
For each potential stressor, multiple ecological receptors may exist, and each receptor may have multiple measurable and susceptible attributes. The effects of nuclear power plant operation on any ecological receptor may be direct or indirect and may vary in spatial or temporal scale. Additionally, the assessment approach may be prospective or retrospective depending on the available data. With such complexity, examining a single line of evidence may not be sufficient to assess a given impact. In such cases, the reviewer should examine several lines of evidence involving several ecological receptors when data allow. If using multiple lines of evidence, explain the qualitative or quantitative method for combining the lines of evidence to arrive at an overall assessment of impact. A typical approach for accomplishing this is to consider weight of evidence (e.g., [Ref. 51], [Ref. 53]).


large enough to reach the nearest significant down                        Data on irrigation usage of the receiving water should gradient surface water body and/or downgradient water                be included, such as the amount of water used, the supply wells within 50 miles of the station.                        number of acres irrigated, locations at which irrigation water is withdrawn (downstream from the site), types of Transport predictions will often require the use of              crops produced on irrigated soils within 50 miles down different models, each applicable to a given region of the          stream of the site, and the yield per acre of each crop.
5. Describe Mitigation Measures


ground water pathway. In each case, the model should be described in detail. The description of the model                    Where downstream users may ingest waters drawn should include justification of all model input data and              from mixing zones or acres of limited dilution, provide assumptions. The applicant should describe in detail the             data on means to provide temporary water supply from methods employed to obtain model parameters such as                  storage or alternative sources dispersion and distribution (sorption) coefficients. Data for model parameters should be presented in Section                        Determine the expected radionudide concentrations
If adverse impacts are identified, describe mitigation measures that have been implemented at the nuclear power plant to reduce such impacts and note whether such measures would continue during the license renewal term. Describe any additional mitigation measures proposed by the applicant or measures that would be required in the future (e.g., conditions anticipated in a future renewed NPDES permit concerning best technology available to minimize impingement mortality and
2.4. The techniques and results of both laboratory and                in aquatic and terrestrial organisms significant to human field calibration and verification studies, including                food chains. (Information and data on aquatic and sensitivity analysi*,-should be presented for each model.            terrestrial organisms are requested in Section 2.13.) Use the bioaccumulation factors given in Section 52.3, or
5.23 Dose Rate Estimates for Biota Other Than Man                    supply others as necessary.


From considerations of the exposure pathways and                      Calculate, using the above information and any other the distribution of facility-derived radioactivity in the            necessary supporting data, the total body and significant environs, the applicant should estimate (1) the                      organ (including GI tract, thyroid, skin, and bone) doses maximum radionuclide concentrations that may be                      (millirem/year) to individuals in the population from all present in important local flora and local and migratory              receiving-water-related exposure pathways, ie., all fauna and (2) the internal dose rates (millirad/year) that            sources of internal and external exposure. Provide details may result from those concentrations. Values of                      and models of the calculation as an appendix.
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 44 entrainment). Evaluate the expected effects of the mitigation measures. Briefly explain the rationale for not implementing any measures that were considered but rejected.


bioaccumulation factorsO used in prepaing the estimates should be based on site-specific data, if available; other                5.2.4.2 Gaseous Pathways. Estimate total body and wise, values from the literature may be used. The                    significant organ doses (millirem/year) to individuals applicant should tabulate and reference the values of                exposed at the point of maximum ground-level bioaccumulation factors used in the calculations. Dose                concentrations offsite.
6. Describe New and Significant Information


rates to important local flora and local and migratory fauna that receive the highest external exposures should                  Estimate the total body and thyroid doses (millirem/
If any new and significant information exists concerning an ecological resource issue, discuss the new information in the impact analysis and explain how it may affect conclusions in the LR GEIS.
be provided along with a description of the calculational            year) and significant doses received by other organs via models.                                                              such potential pathways,4 including direct radiation from surface-deposited radionuclides.


5.2.4 Dose Rate Estimates for Man                                          Provide an appendix describing the transport and dose models used in these calculationsA. 5
4.6.2     Terrestrial Resources
    5.2.4.1 Liquid Pathway.. Provide data (in terms of man-hours) on recreational and similar use of receiving                    5.2.43 Direct Radiation from Faclity. The applicant water and its shoreline, e.g., fishing, picnicking, hunting,          should provide an estimate of the total exter clam digging within 50 miles of the site. Include any                nal dose (millivremyear) received by individuals outside persons who spend the major part of their working time                the facility from direct radiation, e.g., gamma radiation on the water adjacent to the site, and indicate the                  emitted by turbines and vessels for storage of radioactive amount of time spent per year in this activity.                      waste. In particular, the applicant should estimate the expected external dose rates at the site boundary (as defined in Section 2.11.2) and-the dose rate at the most
3 The      acculation      factor for aquatic organisms is the        critical nearby residences, as well as schools, hospitals, or evalue              of the ratio: (concentration in organism)      other publicly used facilities within one mile of the
  /(concentration in wawt). Values of bioaccumulation factors can be obtained from such refrences as SE. Thompson, CA.


Burton, DJ. Quinn, and Y.C. Ng, ConeenbtarionFactorsof zemica Elementfs i Edible Aqueous &punism University 3f Califomri, Lawrence Livemore Laboratory Report UXRL                4Modeh and a-smption    s for calculating doses awe desibed in
The following ecological resources-related Category 2 issues require a plant-specific assessment.
  50564 (Rev. 1), October 1972. Vilues of bioaccumulation              Regulatory Guide 1.109, "Cakulation of Annual Doses to Man factors for terretria organisms can be obtained from Y.C. Ng.        from Routine Release of Reactor Effluents for the Purpose of et 2L, hv&edtk of dte Maximum Dage to man fium the                    Evluting Compliance with 10 MFl Part 50, Appendix L
  Fallout of Nudear Devices - IV. Handbookfor Estmateig the          5 Mahimwum Intenl Dowe from Ravoudiiles ReleMased to the                Resuktoxy Guide 1.1 1, -Methods for Estimating Atmospheric Maheate, USAb. Report, UCRL-50163, Pt. TV, Lawrence                  Transport and Dispersion for Gaseous F.fluents i Routine Radiation Lab., University -of Caifornia, livermore, CA,, 1968.      Releas from Light-Water-Cooled Reactor&"
                                                                  5-5


proposed nuclear unit(s). A summary of data, assump                The effects on the environment of chemicals in the tions, and models used in the dose calculations should be    station's cooling system effluents (including cooling given.                                                        tower blowdown and drift) should also be considered in this section. Using the design discharge contaminant concentrations (see Section 3.6), estimate the resulting
Non-Cooling System Impacts on Terrestrial Resources
    5.2.4.4 Annual Population Doses. Using the above stream concentrations at various distances and water information and any other necessary supporting data, flow variations (including the average 7-day, once calculate the annual total-body man-rem dose and the in-l0-years low flow, normal flow conditions, the lowest annual man thyroid-rem dose to the population ex              control flow, and the lowest recorded minimum for the pected to reside within the 50-mile region at the receiving water body), and compare, in tabular form, the mid-point of station operation. Also calculate the annual      resulting stream concentrations to State water quality total-body man-rem dose and the annual man thyroid            standards. Include a description of the method of rem dose received by the population of the contiguous          calculation.


U.S. at the same time from all liquid and gaseous exposure pathways. Provide an appendix describing the The applicant should furnish sufficient data and models and assumptions used in these calculations.
This issue concerns the effects of nuclear power plant operations on terrestrial resources during an initial LR or SLR term that are unrelated to operation of the cooling system. Such activities include landscape and grounds maintenance, stormwater management, elevated noise levels and vibration, and ground-disturbing activities.


information to allow the NRC to fulfill its responsi bilities under NEPA. Calculated receiving water con
Table B-1 states the following:
5.2.5 Summary of Annual Radiation Doses                        centrations should also be compared with water quality criteria appropriate to the  6 protection of actual uses of The applicant should present a table that summarizes      the receiving water body.


the estimated annual radiation dose to the regional population (during commercial operation of the station)            Any anticipated chemical or biocide contamination from all station-related sources, using values calculated      of domestic water supplies (from surface water bodies or in previous sections. The tabulation should include, out      ground water) should be identified and discussed. Rate to a distance of 50 miles from the site, (a) the total of      of percolation of each contaminant into the water the whole-body doses to the population (man-rem/year)          supply, travel time from the station to points of public from all receiving-water-related pathways, (b) the total      water supply, dilution factors, dispersion coefficients, of the whole-body doses to the population (man-rem/            and the resulting concentrations in the water should be year) attributable to gaseous effluents, and (c) the total    estimated.
The magnitude of effects of continued nuclear power plant operation and refurbishment, unrelated to operation of the cooling system, would depend on numerous site-specific factors, including ecological setting, planned activities during the license renewal term, and characteristics of the plants and animals present in the area. Application of best management practices and other conservation initiatives would reduce the potential for impacts.


of the thyroid doses to the population (thyroid-rem/
Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(E) requires, in part, the following:
year) from radioiodines and particulates. The applicant            If available, applicants should supply copies of the should include a table comparing the calculated                401 water quality certificate and the 402 discharge individual doses with the applicable design objectives of    permit.


Appendix I to 10 CFR Part 50.
All license renewal applicants shall assess the impact of refurbishment, continued operations, and other license-renewal-related construction activities on important plant and animal habitats.


5.4 Effects of Sanitary Waste Discharges
Section 4.6.1.1.1 of the LR GEIS discusses non-cooling system impacts on terrestrial resources.
      5.3 Effects of Chemical and Biocide Discharges                Sanitary waste systems are described in Section 3.7.


The expected discharges should be discussed as in Chemical and biocide discharges and comparisons            Section 5.3 and compared with appropriate effluent with applicable State and Federal (40 CFR Part 423)            guidelines and water quality standards for municipal effluent limitation guidelines are described in Section        systems under 40 CFR Part 133, "Secondary Treatment
This Category 2 issue applies to all nuclear power plants. Each applicant should provide the information and analysis described below.
3.6. Water resources and use are discussed in Sections        Information."
2.4 and 3.3. In this section, the specific concentrations of these wastes at the points of discharge should be                    5.5 Effects of Operation and Maintenance compared with natural ambient concentrations, with                              of the Transmisson Systems applicable State water quality standards, and, where appropriate, with water quality criteria for the protec            The environmental effects of operation and main tion of all other uses of the receiving water body.           tenance of the transmission system required to tie in the proposed facility to the preexisting network should be Dilution and mixing of discharges into the receiving        evaluated. The evaluation of effects should make clear waters should be discussed in detail, and estimates of        the applicant's plans for maintenance of the transmission concentrations at various distances from the point of discharge should be provided. Include a detailed descrip
                                                                6 tion of the method of calculation. The estimated area in        Applicants are encouraged to reference the latest scientific the receiving body of water enclosed by contours                information related to water quality criteria. Other useful corresponding to water-quality-standard values should be        documents include: Water Quality Criteria, 1972, National given. Variation of concentrations with changes in              Academy of Sciences-National Academy of Engineering, Wash ington, D.C., 1972 and Water Quality CWteria, Second Edition, condition (e.g., streamnflow, temperature) of receiving          State Water Quality Control Board, Sacramento, California, water should be discussed.                                      1963.


5-6
Information and Analysis Content


line right-of-way and required access roads. Plans for use        small local population, could be less serious if the same of herbicides and pesticides should indicate types,                species were abundant in neighboring regions. Similarly, volume, concentrations, and manner and frequency of                the loss of a given area of highly desirable land should be use. Include references to authoritative guidelines en            evaluated in terms of the total amount of such land in suring that the applicant's procedures are acceptable.             the environs. These relative assessments should accord Resulting effects on plant life, wildlife habitat, land            ingly include statements expressed in percentage terms resources, and scenic values should be evaluated.                 in which the amount of expected resource loss is related to the total resource in the immediate region and in New access roads may increase the exposure of                  which the total in the immediate region is related to that transmission line corridors to the public. The applicant          in surrounding regions. The latter should be specified in should consider the effect of this increased exposure on          terms of areas and distances from the site.
The ER format should follow the general approach described in RG Section 4.6.1 for all ecological resource issues. Specific information and analysis relevant to this issue are as follows.


resident wildlife.
Describe any known and reasonably foreseeable activities associated with license r enewal unrelated to operation of the cooling system that could affect terrestrial resources. Such activities include landscape and grounds maintenance, stormwater management, elevated noise levels and vibration, and ground-disturbing activities. Ground-disturbing activities may be related to refurbishment or other planned activities during the license renewal period that involve demolition or construction.


In evaluating long-term effects for their net con This section of the report should also discuss the             sequences, the applicant may consider, as an example, potential environmental impacts of any electrical effects          the impact of thermal and chemical dischargeg on fish.
Describe the following, with a focus on the interfaces with the terrestrial environment and how site procedures, permits, and other controls minimize or mitigate impacts on the terrestrial environment.


identified in Section 3.9 and any operating and main              There may be severe losses in the local discharge area.
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 45
    *  Summarize the site and landscape maintenance activities. Identify site procedures and permits related to the impacts of these activities on terrestrial resources.


tenance impacts that will be adopted to minimize these.            The local population change may or may not be a net loss. Therefore, changes in population of important
*  Summarize stormwater management on the site, including any stormwater management plans and NPDES permit conditions related to the impacts of stormwater on terrestrial resources.
                      5.6 Other Effects                            species caused by or expected to be caused by the operation of the station should be examined with the The applicant should discuss any effects of station            view of determining whether they represent long-term operation that do not clearly fall under any single topic          net losses or long-term net gains. The above considera of Sections 5.1 to 5.5. These may include changes in              tions are also applicable to Chapters 9 and 10 of the report.


land and water use at the station site, interaction of the station with other existing or projected neighboring
*  Summarize any elevated noise or vibration levels that would be of particular concern for terrestrial resources, such as those that could disrupt wildlife behavioral patterns or cause animals to avoid certain areas.
                                                                              5.8 Decommissioning and Dismantling stations, effect of ground water withdrawal on ground water resources in the vicinity of the station, and                      The applicant should describe its plans and policies disposal of solid and liquid wastes other than those               regarding the actions to be taken at the end of the discussed in Sections 5.3 and 5.4. Any features of the            station's useful life. Information should be provided on station producing noise levels outside the suggested              the long-term uses of the land, the amount of land levels7 should be specifically identified and discussed in        irretrievably committed, the expected environmental relation to adjacent occupancy, both day and night,                consequences of decommissioning, and an estimate of based on measurements of preconstruction ambient                  the monetary costs involved. The applicant should also levels.                                                              discuss the consideration given in the design of the station and its auxiliary systems relative to eventual
                5.7 Resources Committed                            decommissioning, the amount of equipment and build ings to be removed, and the expected condition of the Any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of                site after decommissioning. It is understood that the resources due to station operation should be discussed.              plans and intentions of applicants for a construction This discussion should include both direct commitments,              permit may not be fully developed at the time of filing.


such as depletion of uranium resources, and irreversible            However, since the environmental impact of terminating environmental losses, such as destruction of wildlife              station operation is, in part, determined by station habitat and consumptive use or diversion of water.                  design, applicants should give attention to the subject in the project planning.
*  Describe general operations and maintenance activities during the license renewal period that could affect terrestrial resources, such as maintenance or repair of existing buildings, roadways, parking lots, piping, fencing, and security-related structures.


In this discussion, the applicant should consider lost resources from the viewpoints of both relative impacts                              5.9 The Uranium Fuel Cycle and long-term net effects. As an example of relative impact assessment, the loss of two thousand fish of a                          z1 srnmntl        rfzpet  for. light -w-atOr coole given species could represent quite different degrees of significance, depending on the total population in the              vrtt      Auml z;zl:, itteladigg the zffzts of uooaiuu immediate region. Such a loss, however, in the case of a              WAiofo and mAiling, the~ przduztieft of uiffltim hezxo fitteriJo, isoteoje efr.iehmeont, fuel fabrizati49, the repro
*  Describe ground-disturbing activities anticipated during the license renewal period that would disturb terrestrial habitat. Include the amount of land to be disturbed, whether disturbance would be temporary or permanent, the ecological characteristics of the habitat, the species found within the area, and any unique or rare features of the habitat or species found within it. Include terrestrial habitat that would be disturbed by transport or delivery of equipment and supplies as well as laydown or storage of materials, structures, and components. Describe any related road, bridge, rail, or barge slip modifications that would occur that would affect terrestrial habitat.
7                                                                  c._in of irradited fu"l, the tr#&rp@rtati4-G of rFad.io See The Industrial Noise Manual, American Industrial Hygiene Association, Detroit, Mich.; Noise Abatement and Control:        "eeti.e Dlteeil, and mangement of lo14 ;YAn Departmental Policy Implementation Responsibility and Stan      -W&i 1e'.'e 'Wztee related to th40  1-Anil"M A-81 2Gcti0io W
  dards HUD Circular 1390.2 (1971); and Information on Levels        wt fath in F.! -MeroyT..ble 6- o~f 10 CTR %it                  1 of Environmental Noise Requisite to ProtectPublicHealth and           1.200~~ AppeniiA A). No Afuthzr diozumion of 8uc
                                                                          1,2 Welfare with an Adequate Margin of Safety, EPA,                  -"'wauMental offsctr in the          nvrmetlreport is~
  550/9-74-004, U.S. Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D.C.                                                           -mwe.d . Deleted August 1976
                                                                5-7


CHAPTER 6 EFFLUENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEASUREMENTS
Discuss relevant regional, State, and Federal permits and controls not already described that would reduce or mitigate non-cooling system impacts on terrestrial resources.
                                            AND MONITORING PROGRAMS
                                                                    In all cases, the applicant should estimate the This chapter should describe in detail the means by statistical validity of any proposed sampling program in which the applicantcollected the baseline data presented in other chapters and should describe the applicant's            order to avoid unnecessary time delay during staff plans and programs for monitoring the environmental              review which might be associated with incomplete impacts of site preparation, station construction, and          descriptions, invalid sampling locations, and level of station operation.                                              sample replication. Information should be provided on instrument accuracy, sensitivity, and (especially for highly automated systems) reliability. Where standard analytical or sampling techniques can be identified, they Section 6.1 addresses the proposed program for            need only be so identified and referenced.


assessing the characteristics of the site and the surround ing region (including transmission corridors) before                For quantitative descriptions of samples collected station operation. The purpose of this program is to            within each area of interest and each time of interest, establish a reference framework for assessing subsequent        descriptive statistics should include, unless justifiably environmental effects attributable to site preparation,        omitted, the mean, standard deviation, standard error, station construction, and station operation.                    and a confidence interval for the mean. In each case the sample size should be clearly indicated. If diversity The applicant should note two considerations perti        indices are used to describe a collection of lake or nent to Section 6.1. First, a given environmental                terrestrial organisms, the specific diversity indices used characteristic or parameter may or may not require              should be stated.
Describe site- or fleet-wide environmental procedures, wildlife management plans, best management practices, and conservation initiatives undertaken or proposed by the applicant that would benefit the terrestrial environment or otherwise mitigate non-cooling system impacts on terrestrial resources.


assessment before site preparation and station construc tion, depending on whether that particular characteristic        6.1 Applicant's Preoperational Environmental programs or parameter may be altered at these stages. Second, in most instances this guide indicates the specific environ            The programs for collection of initial or baseline mental effects to be evaluated; consequently, the para          environmental data prior to operation should be des meters to be measured are apparent. In some cases, the          cribed in sufficient detail to make it clear that the applicant may consider it necessary to establish a             applicant has established a thorough and comprehensive monitoring program based on identification of potential        approach to environmental assessment. The description or possible effects not mentioned in the guide. In such        of these programs should be confined principally to instances, the program should be described. The appli          technical descriptions of technique, instrumentation, cant should carefully review plans for the measurement          scheduling, and procedures.
Water Use Conflicts with Terrestrial Resources (Plants with Cooling Ponds or Cooling Towers Using Makeup Water from a River)


of conditions existing prior to site preparation to ensure that these plans include all environmental parameters              Where an effect of site preparation or facility that must be subsequently monitored during station              construction may alter a previously measured or operation (discussed in Section 6.2), as well as during          observed environmental condition, the program for site preparation and station construction.                      determining the modified condition should be described.
This issue concerns water use conflicts that may arise at nuclear power plants with cooling ponds or cooling towers that use makeup water from a river and how those conflicts could affect terrestrial resources during an initial LR or SLR term.


Refer to the discussion in Section 4.5, as appropriate.
Table B-1 states the following:


If, as permitted by 10 CFR Part 2, §2.101(a), the applicant chooses to make an early separate filing of the          Where information from the literature has been used environmental report prior to obtaining and evaluating a.
Nuclear power plants could consume water at rates that cause occasional or intermittent water use conflicts with nearby and downstream terrestrial and riparian communities.


by the applicant, it should be concisely summarized and full year's environmental data, particular attention            documented by reference to original data sources. Where should be paid to the description of sampling design,          the availability of original sources that support impor Ssampling frequency, and statistical methodology and              tant conclusions is limited, the applicant should provide validity (including calibration checks and standards) in        either extensive quotations or references to accessible order to justify the scope of the proposed program, the         secondary sources.' In all cases, information derived timing and scheduling of the data collection, and other        from published results should be clearly distinguished technical validation that will assure the review staff that    from information derived from the applicant's field sufficient information will be available for the prepara        measurements.
Such impacts could noticeably affect riparian or wetland species or alter characteristics of the ecological environment during the license renewal term. The one plant where impacts have occurred successfully mitigated the impact. Impacts are expected to be small at most nuclear power plants but could be moderate at some.


tion of the Final Environmental Statement.
Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(A) requires, in part, the following:


1Any reports of work (e.g., ecological surveys) supported by the This is especially critical if the timing of partial        applicant that are of significant value in assessing the environ presentations under the procedure may be related to              mental impact of the facility may be included at appendices or seasonal ecological factors such as migration or other            supplements to the environmental report if these reports are not otherwise generally available.
If the applicants plant utilizes cooling towers or cooling ponds and withdraws makeup water from a river, an assessment of the impact of the proposed action on water


phases of critical biological activity.
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 46 availability and competing water demands, the flow of the river, and related impacts onriparian (terrestrial) ecological communities must be provided.


6-1
Section 4.6.1.1.6 of the LR GEIS discusses water use conflicts with terrestrial resources. This Category 2 issue applies to nuclear power plants with cooling ponds or cooling towers that withdraw makeup water from a river. Notably, this issue also applies to nuclear power plants with hybrid cooling systems that withdraw makeup water from a river (i.e., once-through cooling systems with helper cooling towers) (e.g., Ref. 54). Applicants that meet these conditions should provide the information and analysis described below. All other applicants should note in the ER that this issue is not relevant; these applicants need not provide additional information.


6.1.1 Surface Waters                                              Parameters of stress for important species (as defined in Section 2.2) that could be affected by station When a body of surface water may be affected by the          discharges should be identified. The methodology for proposed facility or a practicable alternative, the appli      determining such parameters should be reviewed with cant should describe the programs by which the back            respect to applicability to actual local conditions antici ground condition of the water and the related ecology          pated during operation, including interactive effects were determined and reported in Section 2.4. The                among multiple effluents and existing constituents of applicant should have sufficient data to permit staff          the surface water body concerned.
Information and Analysis Content


verification of any predictive computations or models used in the evaluation of environmental effects.               6.1.2 Ground Water
The ER format should follow the general approach described in RG Section 4.6.1 for all ecological resource issues. Specific information and analysis relevant to this issue are as follows.
    6.1.1.1 Physical and Chemical Parameters. The pro              In those cases in which the proposed facility or a grams and methods for measuring physical and chemical            practicable design alternative may potentially affect parameters of surface waters that may be affected by            local ground watei or in which the ground water construction or operation of the facility should be              environment may serve as a pathway to man, either described. The sampling program should be presented in          directly or indirectly, the program leading to assessment sufficient detail to demonstrate its adequacy with              of potential effects should be described.


respect both to spatial coverage (surface area and depth)
Describe the following, with a focus on the interfaces with the terrestrial environment and how site procedures, permits, and other controls minimize or mitigate impacts on the terrestrial environment.
and to temporal coverage (duration and sampling fre                6.1.2.1 Physical and Chemical Parameters. The pro quency), giving due consideration to seasonal effects.          perties and configuration of the local aquifer, variations This discussion should include a description of the             (spatial and temporal) in ground water levels, and techniques used to investigate any condition that might        ground water quality data are discussed in sufficient lead to interactions with station discharges, such as how      detail in Section 2.4 to permit a reasonable projection of the presence of impurities in a water body may ieact            the effects of station operation on the ground water.


synergistically with heated effluent or how the heated          The methods used to obtain and reduce the data effluent may restrict mixing and dispersion of radio            presented in Section 2.4 should be described, including active effluents. The applicant should describe any            instrumentation (suggested criteria will be presented in a computational models and their bases and verification          forthcoming regulatory guide on hydrologic data collec used in predicting effects described in Section 5.2.2.1.        tion).
Give special attention to riparian, wetland, and marsh habitats that require regular or periodic surface water flow.
    6.1.1.2 Ecological Parameters. The applicant should              6.1.2.2 Models. Models may be used to predict describe the preoperational program used to determine          effects such as changes in ground water levels, dispersion the ecological characteristics presented in Section 2.2.        of contaminants, and eventual transport through aqui Those portions of the program concerned with determin          fers to surface water bodies. The models should be ing the presence and abundance of important aquatic            described and supporting evidence for their reliability and amphibious species (identified in Section 2.2)              and validity presented.


should be detailed in terms of frequency, pattern, and duration of observation. The applicant should describe          6.1.3 Air how taxonomic determinations were made and validated. In this connection, the applicant should                  The applicant should describe the program for obtain discuss its reference collection of voucher specimens or        ing information on local air quality and local and other means whereby consistent identification will be            regional meteorology. Guidance on an acceptable onsite ensured.                                                        meteorological measurement program and on data for mat is presented in Regulatory Guide 1.23 (Safety Guide A description should be provided of the methods              23), "Onsite Meteorological Programs." The description used, or to be used, for observing natural variations of         should show the basis for predicting such effects as the ecological parameters. If these methods involve indicator        dispersion of gaseous effluents to a distance of 50
*  Summarize the baseline hydrologic regime of the affected surface waters, including seasonal fluctuations in flow, and conditions that could lead to extreme periods of low flow.
organisms, the criteria for their selection should be            miles from the station and the alteration of local climate presented. The discussion of methods should include              (e.g., fogging, icing, precipitation augmentation, or other estimates of standard error in making reported                  phenomena) and should present the methodology for determinations.                                                gathering baseline data.


The applicant should discuss the basis for its pre              6.1.3.1 Meteorology. The applicant should identify dictions of any nonlethal physiological and behavioral          sources of meteorological data used in the atmospheric responses of important species which may be caused by           transport models and reported in Section 2.3. Locations construction or operation of the station. This discussion      and elevations of observation stations, instrumentation, should be appropriately correlated with the description        and frequency and duration of measurements should be of the monitoring program, including estimates of the          specified both for the applicant's measuring activities standard error for each correlation.                            and for activities of governmental agencies or other
*  Summarize current and anticipated consumptive water use by the nuclear power pl    ant.
                                                            6-2


organizations on whose information the applicant in            6.1.5 Radiological Monitoring tends to rely. For the applicant's preoperational and operational programs, the applicant should include descriptions of instruments, performance specifications,            The preoperational program should be described in calibration and maintenance procedures, data output            detail in the Environmental Report-Construction Per and recording systems and locations, and data analysis        mit Stage. Specific information should be provided on procedures.                                                    (a) the types of samples to be collected, (b) sampling locations clearly shown on a map keyed to a table listing
*  Identify other users relying on the affected surface waters, including downstream municipal, agricultural, or industrial users, with which the nuclear power plant may compete.
    6.1.3.2 Models. Any models used by the applicant,         sampling locations as a function of direction and either to derive estimates of basic meteorological infor      distance from the proposed site, (c) analyses to be mation or to estimate the effects of effluent systems,        performed on each sample, (d) general types of sample should be described in detail and their validity and          collection equipment, (e) sample collection and analysis accuracy discussed. Guidance on acceptable atmospheric        frequency, (f) lower limit of detection 2 for each transport and diffusion models is provided in Regulatory      analysis, and (g) the approximate starting date and Guide 1.111, "Methods for Estimating Atmospheric              duration of the program. The discussion should include Transport and Dispersion for Gaseous Effluents in              the justification for the choice of. sampling sites, Routine Releases from Light-Water-Cooled Reactors."            analyses, and sampling frequencies. Review of this description will be facilitated if the applicant presents a tabular summary of the 'program.


6.1.4 Land The applicant should also describe how it expects to Data collection and evaluation programs concerning        extend the preoperational program into the operational the terrestrial environment of the proposed facility          phase and in what manner the results of the preopera should be described and justified with regard to both          tional program may be used to effect the design of the scope and methodology.                                         operational program. Guidance for both the preopera tional program and operational program is provided in
*  Identify terrestrial habitats and species that would be especially sensitive to reduced water availability (e.g., riparian, wetland, marsh, and other habitats that require saturation or periodic inundation; amphibians, especially early life stages; wildlife that heavily rely on surface waters, such as beaver [Castor canadensis], muskrat [Ondatra zibethicus], and wading birds).
    6.1.4.1 Geology and Soils. Those geological and soil      Regulatory Guide 4.1, "Programs for Monitoring Radio studies designed to determine the environmental impact        activity in the Environs of Nuclear Power Plants."
of the construction or operation of the facility should be    Additional guidance is provided in Regulatory Guide described. The description should include identification      4.8, "Environmental Technical Specifications for of the sampling pattern and the justification for its          Nuclear Power Plants." In addition, EPA report ORP/
selection, the sampling method, preanalysis treatment,         SID 72.2, Environmental Radioactivity Surveilance and analytic techniques. Other geological and soil studies    Guide, recommends methods for conducting a minimum (e.g., conducted in support of safety analyses) should be      level of environmental radiation surveillance outside the briefly summarized if relevant.                                station site boundary of light-water-cooled nuclear power facilities.


6.1.4.2 Land Use and Demographic Surveys. The applicant should describe its program for identifying the actual land use in the site environs and for acquiring              The applicant should summarize any information demographic data for the region as reported in Section        available from the literature regarding background radi
*  Discuss regional, State, Federal, and Indian Tribes permits and controls concerning water use and any agreements with water resources control boards.
2.1.                                                          ological characteristics of the site which were con sidered in designing the program (reference may be made Sources of information should be identified. Methods        to Section 6.3 as appropriate).3 used to forecast probable changes in land use and demographic trends should be described.                            The Environmental Report-Operating License Stage should discuss the preoperational program which
    6.1.4.3 Ecological Parameters. In this section, the        has gone or will soon go into operation. Any changes in applicant should discuss the program used to assess the        the program (relative to the description supplied at the ecological characteristics of the site, with primary            construction permit stage) should be discussed and the reference to important terrestrial biota identified in          rationale provided for such changes.


Section 2.2. In general, the considerations involved are similar to those suggested in connection with aquatic          2The lower limit of detection (LLD), as defined in HASL-300,
*  Summarize any other current or proposed practices and measures to control or limit operational water use impacts.
biota (Section 6.1.1.2). However, the differences in              revised August 1974, should be stated for the 95% confidence habitat, differences in animal physiology, and other              level.


pertinent factors will, of necessity, influence the design      3 A report on this subject by the National Council on Radiation of .the assessment program. The applicant should pre Protection and Measurements is available; Natural Bacground sent, as in Section 6.1.1.2, an analysis of the program in      Radiation 'n the United States, NCRP Report No. 45. Copies terms of taxonomic validation, rationale for its pre              may be obtained from Publications, NCRP, P.O. Box 30175, dictive aspects, and the details of its methodology.            Washington, D.C. 20014.
*  Describe past water use conflicts with terrestrial resources, if any, and evaluate whether such conflicts would be likely to arise again during the license renewal term.


6-3
Refer to the ER analysis of water use conflicts with surface water resources, to the extent that it is appropriate, to avoid duplication of information.


6.2 Applicant's Proposed Operational                            6.3 Related Envkonmental Measurement Monitoig rgrng ms                                                mnd Monitoring Progiams Operational monitoring programs may not be fully                  When the applicant's site lies within a region for developed at the time of applying for a construction            which environmental measurement or monitoring pro permit. The applicant should, to the extent feasible,            grams are carried out by public agencies or other describe the general scope and objectives of its intended        agencies not directly supported by the applicant, any programs and provide a tentative listing of parameters            such related programs known to the applicant should be that it bel eves should be monitored for detailed                identified and discussed. Relevance of such independent evaluation. This listing should include numerical ex              findings to the proposed facility's effects should be cerpts from water or air standards against which the              described, and plans for exchange of information, if any, proposed monitoring program will be measured as                  should be presented. Agencies responsible for the pro understood at the time of initial submission of the              grams should be identified and, to the extent possible, environmental report. The listing should also include            the procedures and methodologies employed should be parameters that are important for the models described            briefly described. These agencies may have developed in Sections 5.2-2.1 and 5.2.2.2, as required in Section IV        and verified mathematical or physical models that of Appendix I to 10 CFR Part 50.                                  encompass the site area and the surrounding water environs comparable to those discussed in Sections Regulatory Guide 4.8, "Environmental Technical                5.2.2.1 -and 5.2.2.2. Such models may be used either Specifications for Nuclear Power Plants," describes              directly or with minor modifications. When such models information to be submitted with an application for an            are used in support of liquid transport analyses of operating license.                                                radionuclide releases, the same data and technical bases as suggsted'in Sections 5.2.2.1 and 5.22.2 should be In the Environmental Report-Construction Permit                furnished.
4.6.3     Aquatic Resources


Stage, the operational program need only be discussed to the extent that it is expected to differ (if at all) from the ongoing preoperational program, such as the inclusion of                6.4 Preoperational Enviromnental Radiological a census of dairy cattle and vegetable gardens. If, in the                              Monitoring Data Environmental Report-Operating license Stage, there are no differences between the preoperational programs              Data from the preoperational program may not be (as finally formulated) and the operational programs, the        available at the time of submission of the Environmental applicant need only make a statement to that effect and          Report-Construction Permit Stage. Accordingly, the provide a commitment to conduct the operational                  applicant should submit for Section 6.4, as a later program. If there are differences in the operational            supplement to the Environmental Report-Operating program, the applicant should describe the reasons for          License Stage, 6 to 12 months4 of preoperational the differences. The applicant should also discuss any          environmental radiological monitoring data.
The following ecological resources-related Category 2 issues require a plant -specific assessment.


plans and rationale for updating the program during station operation.
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 47 Impingement Mortality and Entrainment of Aquatic Organisms (Plants with Once-Through Cooling Systems or Cooling Ponds)


Final approval of the operational program, as des            fThe minimnum amount of preoperational data may be sub cribed completely in the proposed environmental techni            mitted if it indudesdata from a crop harvest and a complete grang mason. AR media with a collction frequency less than cal specifications, will be given at the end of the                semnammal (e.g., annual or once In 3 years) should be included technical specification review process.                            in the 6 to 12 months of data ubmitted.
This issue pertains to impingement mortality and entrainment of finfish and shellfish at nuclear power plants with once-through cooling systems and cooling ponds during an initial LR or SLR term.


64
This includes plants with helper cooling towers that are seasonally operated to reduce thermal load to the receiving waterbody, reduce entrainment during peak spawning periods, or reduce consumptive water use during periods of low river flow.


CHAPTER 7 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF ACCIDENTS
Table B-1 states the following:
  In this chapter, the applicant should discuss the          environmental report need only contain a statement that potential environmental effects of accidents inolvoing        such environmental risks aem as set forth in Summary the station.                                                  Table S-4 of 10 CFR Part 51 (see Appendix A). No further discussion of environmental risks concerning
      7.1 Station Accidents Involving Radioactivity          the transportation of radioactive materials is needed in the environmental report.


The detailed requirements for analysis of accidents are contained in the proposed Annex to Appendix D of               If the transportation of fuel and waste to and from
The impacts of impingement mortality and entrainment would generally be small at nuclear power plants with once-through cooling systems or cooling ponds that have implemented best technology requirements for existing facilities under Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 316(b). For all other plants, impacts could be small, moderate, or large depending on characteristics of the cooling water intake system, results of impingement and entrainment studies performed at the plant, trends in local fish and shellfish populations, and implementation of mitigation measures.
10 CFR Part 50 (36 FR 22851). Appendix D of 10 CFR          nuclear power reactors is not within the scope of Part 50 has been superseded by 10 CFR Part 51;                paragraph (g) of §51.20, a full description and detailed however, Part 51 does not affect the status of the            analysis of the environmental risk from accidents should proposed Annex to Appendix D of 10 CFR Part 50. (See          be provided. An analysis of the environmental risks from Appendix I of this guide for this Annex.)                     accidents in the transportation of radioactive materials to and from nuclear power reactors following the Applicants may, for purposes of environmental            approach set forth in WASH-1238 is acceptable.'
reports, take the option in the calculation of xJQ values of using either of two meteorological assumptions for all                           7.3 Other Accidents accident cases:
                                                                  In addition to accidents that can release radioactivity
    1. XJQ values may be determined from onsite              to the environs, accidents may occur as a result of meteorological data at the 50% probability level or          station operation that, although they do not involve radioactive materials, have consequences that may affect
    2. xJQ values may be determined at 10% of the levels      the environment. Accidents such as chemical explosions, in Regulatory Guide 1.3, "Assumptions Used for Evaluat        fires, and leakage or ruptures of vessels containing oil or ing the Potential Radiological Consequences of a Loss of      toxic materials can have significant environmental im Coolant Accident for Boiling Water Reactors," or              pact. These possible accidents and associated effects Regulatory Guide 1.4, "Assumptions Used for Evaluat            should be identified and evaluated (see Section 2.2 of ing the Potential Radiological Consequences of a Loss of      Regulatory Guide 1.70, "Standard Format and Content Coolant Accident for Pressurized Water Reactors."              of Safety Analysis Reports for Nuclear Power Plants").
  7.2 Transportation Accidents Involving Radioactivity lAn analysis of the environmentat risks from accidents in the The requirements for analysis of environmental risk        transportation of radioactive materials to and from nuclear power reactors is given in WASH-1238, Environmental Survey from accidents involving the transportation of radio          of Tanaportation of Radioactive Materials To and From active materials to and from nuclear power reactors are        Nuclear Power Plants, December 1972, and Supplement I to contained in 10 CFR Part 51. If the transportation of         WASH-1238, NUREG-75/038, April 1975. Both documents fuel and wastes to and from nuclear power reactors is          may be obtained from the National Technical Information within the scope of paragraph (g) of §51.20, the                Service, Springfield, Vignia 22161.


7-1
Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(B) requires, in part, the following:


CHAPTER 8 ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL EFFECTS OF STATION
If the applicants plant utilizes once-through cooling or cooling pond water intake and discharge systems, the applicant shall provide a copy of current Clean Water Act 316(b)
                                              CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION
        Best Technology Available determinationsor equivalent State permits and support    ing documentation. If the applicant cannot provide these documents, it shall assess the impact of the proposed action on fish and shellfish resources resulting from impingement mortality and entrainment
    This chapter should present the applicant's assess              shortages. The benefits in averting these impacts should ment of the economic and social effects of the proposed              be related to regional experience, if any, with brownouts nuclearfacility.                                                     and emergency load-shedding and the applicant's plans or procedures for meeting such emergencies. If benefits There are, of course, limitations on the extent to              are claimed for recreational uses of the proposed nuclear which the applicant can evaluate all the social and                   station site, the effect of any plan to place additional economic benefits and costs of-the construction and                   generating units at the site at some future time should be operation of a nuclear facility that may have a pro                  discussed.


ductive life of 30 years or more. The wide variety of benefits and costs are not only difficult to assess, but                Other primary benefits of some nuclear electrical many are not amenable to quantification or even to                    generating facilities may be in the form of sales of steam estimation in commensurable units. Some primary bene                  or other products or services. Revenues from such sales fits such as the generated electrical energy are, to a                should be estimated. The use of waste or reject heat for degree, measurable, as are the capital costs and operating            desalination or for other processes could expand the and maintenance costs of the proposed facility. On the                benefits of nuclear stations. Such benefits, if claimed, other hand, numerous environmental costs and their                    should be accompanied by an estimate of the degree of economic and social consequences are not readily                      certainty of their realization.
Section 4.6.1.2.1 of the LR GEIS discusses impingement mortality and entrainment of aquatic organisms. This Category 2 issue applies to nuclear power plants with once-through cooling systems or cooling ponds, including plants with hybrid cooling systems (i.e., once-through cooling systems with helper cooling towers). Applicants that meet these conditions should provide the information and analysis described below. All other applicants should note in the ER that this issue is not relevant; these applicants need not provide additional information.


quantified.'
Information and Analysis Content
                                                                        There are other social and economic benefits that Second- and higher-order costs or benefits (i.e.,                affect various political jurisdictions or interests to a impacts flowing from first-order social and economic                  greater or lesser degree. Some of these reflect transfer impacts) need be discussed by the applicant only where                payments or other values which may partially, if not they would significantly modify the aggregate of costs or            fully, compensate for certain services, as well as external benefits, thus affecting the overall cost-benefit balance.            or environmental costs, and this fact should be reflected in the designation of the benefi


====t. A list of examples====
The ER format should follow the general approach described in RG Section 4.6.1 for all ecological resource issues. Specific information and analysis relevant to this issue are as follows.
                          8.1 Benefits                              follows:
    The primary benefits of the proposed nuclear station                9 Tax revenues to be received by local and State are those inherent in the value of the generated                      governments.


electricity delivered to consumers. The applicant should report, as shown in Table 1, the expected average annual              
Describe impingement and entrainment studies conducted at the nuclear power plant  and any supporting studies and data. Include species and taxa chosen for investigation, methodology, results, and conclusions. Provide estimates of the species and number of organisms impinged and entrained on a daily, monthly, and annual basis. Provide estimates of finfish and shellfish mortality associated with impingement. Describe impingement and entrainment losses in terms of    lost commercial, recreational, and ecosystem service value. If data are more than 5 years old, explain whether the studies are relevant in assessing the impacts of license renewal. Provide full documentation of analytical or modeling techniques used to assess effects.
* Temporary and permanent new jobs created and kilowatt-hours of electrical energy to be generated.                  payroll.


Further, a breakdown of the expected use of electricity in the applicant's service area should be provided for the           
Describe baseline studies and other ecological sampling conducted at or near the nuclear power plant conducted to characterize the composition of aquatic populations or monitor their health over time.
* Incremental increase in regional product (value major classes identified in the Federal Power Commis                  added concept).
sion publication, NationalPowerSurvey. 2


* Enhancement of recreational values through The importance of the proposed station in providing              making available for public use any parks, artificially adequate reserves of generating capacity to ensure a                created cooling lakes, marinas, etc.
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 48 Identify temporal and geographical trends in the data that might indicate whether fish and shellfish populations have increased, decreased, or remained stable during nuclear power plant operation. Explain any relationships between patterns of impingement and entrainment at the nuclear power plant and trends in the affected populations.


reliable supply for the applicant's service area (and associated power pool, if any) is discussed in Section               
Summarize the nuclear power plants current NPDES permit and the status of the permitting authoritys best technology available (BTA) determinations.
* Enhancement of esthetic values through any
1.1. The increase in the probabilities of the extent and            special design measures as applied to structures, artificial duration of electrical shortages if the proposed station            lakes or canals, parks, etc.


(or its equivalent capacity) is not built by the proposed date should be estimated. The applicant should also                    D Environmental enhancement in support of the appraise the likely social and economic impacts of such              propagation or protection of wildlife and the improve ment of wildlife habitats.
*  If the NPDES permitting authority has made BTA determinations for the nuclear power plant pursuant to CWA Section 316(b) in accordance with the current regulations at 40 CFR Part 122 (Ref. 55) and 40 CFR Part 125 (Ref. 56), which were promulgated in 2014 (79 FR 48300)
        (Ref. 57), and the plant has implemented any associated requirements or those requirements would be implemented before the license renewal period, no additional analysis is required. In such cases, provide with the ER copies of the NPDES permit, CWA Section 316(b) BTA
        determinations, studies and information submitted to the NPDES permitting agency pursuant to
        40 CFR 122.21(r), and relevant correspondence with the permitting agency. In cases where the NPDES permit has expired but has been administratively continued by the permitting authority because of timely renewal application submission (i.e., at least 180 days before the permit expiration date), provide a copy of the permit renewal application. If certain requirements associated with the CWA 316(b) determination have yet to be implemented, provide a timeline for such implementation.


IThe estimate of generated electrical energy-should reflect the outages consistent with the applicant's forced outage ratio experience and should include outages induced by natural              9 Creation and improvement of local roads, water phenomena such as floods, droughts, tornadoes, or hurricanes      ways, or other transportation facilities.
*  If the NPDES permitting authority has not made BTA determinations, analyze the potential impacts of impingement mortality, entrainment, or both using a weight-of-evidence approach. In this approach, consider multiple lines of evidence to assess the presence or absence of ecological impairment (i.e., noticeable or detectable impact) on the aquatic environment. For instance, as its lines of evidence, the ER might consider characteristics of the cooling water intake system design, the results of impingement and entrainment studies performed at the facility, and trends in fish and shellfish population abundance indices. The ER should then consider these lines of evidence together to predict the level of impact that the aquatic environment is likely to experience over the course of the license renewal term. In support of this assessment, the applicant should provide with the ER copies of the NPDES permit, NPDES permit renewal application (if applicable), studies and information submitted to the NPDES permitting agency pursuant to 40 CFR 122.21(r), and relevant correspondence with the permitting agency.


(see Sections 2.3 and 2.4).
The impingement mortality and entrainment analysis should also consider
2 Copies may be obtained from the Superintendent of Docu
                                                                        . Increased knowledge of the environment as a ments, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.          consequence of ecological research and environmental
  20402.                                                            monitoring activities associated with station operation,
                                                                  8-1


and technological improvements from the applicant's              report could expedite the staff's review process. Item (6)
*  location of the cooling water intake structure, intake velocities, and withdrawal volumes
research program.                                                would permit the staff to compare detailed cost categories to distinguish any significant differences that


* Creation of a source of heated discharge which            might exist between the applicant's estimate and the may be used for beneficial purposes (e.g., in aquaculture,      CONCEPT model.
*   information on screening device technologies and fish collection and return technologies


in improving commercial and sport fishing, or in industrial, residential, or commercial heating).                      The environmental report should include the esti mated cost of generating electric energy in mills per
*  swimming abilities of local species or their surrogates, including burst, prolonged, or sustained speeds


* Provision of public educational facilities (e.g., a        kilowatt-hour for the proposed nuclear station and for visitors' center).                                              alternative fossil-fueled plants in the detail shown in Table 3. (Alternative energy sources are discussed in
*   other relevant life history characteristics of local species, such as size and susceptibility to impingement or entrainment at various life stages; population abundances and distributions;
        special species statuses and designations; and regional management objectives


* Annual savings in consumption of imported crude            Chapter 9.) It should be stated whether the costs of fuel oil for power generation.                                        and of operation and maintenance are initial costs or levelized costs over some period of operation and, in the The applicant should discuss significant benefits that      latter case, what assumptions are made about escalation.
*   physical or biological factors that might concentrate or attract organisms to the area of the intake


may be realized from the construction and operation of the proposed station. Where the benefits can be ex                    There are also external costs. Their effects on the pressed in monetary terms, they should be discounted to          interests of people should be examined. The applicant present worth. In each instance where a particular              should supply, as applicable, an evaluation plus support benefit is discussed, the applicant should indicate, to the      ing data and rationale regarding such external social and extent practical, who is likely to be affected and for how      economic costs as noted below. 4 For each cost, the long. In the case of esthetic impacts that are difficult to      applicant should describe the probable number and quantify, the applicant should provide illustrations of          location of the population group adversely affected, the significant station structures or environmental modifica        estimated economic and social impact, and any special tions visible to the public in addition to parks or other        measures to be taken to alleviate the impact.
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 49 Effects of Thermal Effluents on Aquatic Organisms (Plants with Once-Through Cooling Systems or Cooling Ponds)


recreational facilities on the site which will be available for public use. The details should be drawn from                      Temporary external costss include: shortages of information presented in Sections 2.6 and 3.1.                  housing; inflationary rentals or prices; congestion of local streets and highways; noise and temporary es thetic disturbances; overloading of water supply and
This issue pertains to acute, sublethal, and community-level effects of thermal effluents on finfish and shellfish from operation of nuclear power plants with once-through cooling systems and cooling ponds during an initial LR or SLR term. This includes plants with helper cooling towers that are seasonally operated to reduce thermal load to the receiving waterbody, reduce entrainment during peak spawning periods, or reduce consumptive water use during periods of low river flow.
                          8.2 Costs sewage treatment facilities; crowding of local schools, hospitals, or other public facilities; overtaxing of com The economic and social costs resulting from the proposed nuclear station and its operation are likewise          munity services; and the disruption of people's lives or complex and should be quantified wherever possible.              the local community caused by acquisition of land for the proposed site.


The primary internal costs are (a) the capital costs of land acquisition and improvement; (b) the capital costs              Long-term external costs6 include impairment of of facility construction; (c) the incremental capital costs      recreational values (e.g., reduced availability of desired species of wildlife and sport fish, restrictions on access of transmission and distribution facilities; (d) fuel costs, to land or water areas preferred for recreational use);
Table B-1 states the following:
including the cost of spent fuel disposition; (e) other deterioration of esthetic and scenic values; restrictions operating and maintenance costs, including license fees on access to areas of scenic, historic, or cultural interest;
and taxes; (f) plant decommissioning costs; and (g)
research and development costs associated with potential        degradation of areas having historic, cultural, natural, or future improvements of the station and its operation and        archeological value; removal of land from present or maintenance. The applicant should discount these costs
                                                                3 to present worth.                                                  H. 1. Bowers and I. T. Dudley, Multi-Unit Power Plant Cost Models For the Concept Code, ORNL-TM-4300, July 1974, The applicant should provide the types of information          Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830
listed in Table 2 for nuclear and alternative power                (and references therein).
generation methods. (Alternative power generation                4 For convenience of treatment, the listed cost examples have methods are discussed in detail in Chapter 9.) If the              been divided into long-term. (or continuing) costs and the applicant includes a coal-fired plant as a viable alterna          temporary costs generally associated with the period of tive to a nuclear power station, information should be            construction or the readjustment of the lives of persons whose jobs or homes will have been displaced by the purchase of land provided for both a coal-fired plant with sulfur removal          at the proposed site.


equipment and one that burns low-sulfur coal.
Acute, sublethal, and community-level effects of thermal effluents on aquatic organisms would generally be small at nuclear power plants with once-through cooling systems or cooling ponds that adhere to State water quality criteria or that have and maintain a valid CWA Section 316(a) variance. For all other plants, impacts could be small, moderate, or large depending on site-specific factors, including ecological setting of the plant;
        characteristics of the cooling system and effluent discharges; and characteristics of the fish, shellfish, and other aquatic organisms present in the area.


SRefer, as appropriate, to the information presented in Chapter In Table 2, items (1) through (5) are necessary to run          4.
Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(B) requires, in part, the following:


the CONCEPT 3 code used by the NRC staff. Inclusion              6 Refer, as appropriate, to the information presented in Chapter of this information in the applicant's environmental              5.
If the applicants plant utilizes once-through cooling or cooling pond water intake and discharge systems, the applicant shall provide a copy of if applicable, a 316(a) variance in accordance with 40 CFR Part 125, or equivalent State permits and supporting documentation. If the applicant cannot provide these documents, it shall assess the impact of the proposed action on fish and shellfish resources resulting from thermal discharges.


8-2
Section 4.6.1.2.4 of the LR GEIS discusses the effects of thermal effluents on aquatic organisms.


contemplated alternative uses; creation of locally adverse  fishermen attributable to environmental degradation;
This Category 2 issue applies to nuclear power plants with once-through cooling systems or cooling ponds, including plants with hybrid cooling systems (i.e., once-through cooling systems with helper cooling towers). Applicants that meet these conditions should provide the information and analysis described below. All other applicants should note in the ER that this issue is not relevant; these applicants need not provide additional information.
meteorological conditions (e.g., fog and plumes from        decrease in real estate values in areas adjacent to the cooling towers, cooling lakes and ponds); creation of        proposed facility; and increased costs to local noise, especially by mechanical-draft cooling towers;        governments for the services required by the reduction of regionial products due to displacement of      permanently employed workers and their families. In persons from the land proposed for the site; lost income    discussing the costs, the applicant should indicate, to the from recreation or tounsim that may be impaired by          extent practical, who is likely to be affected and for how environmental disturbances; lost income of commercial        long.


8-3
Information and Analysis Content


CHAPTER 9 ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES AND SITES
The ER format should follow the general approach described in RG Section 4.6.1 for all ecological resource issues. Specific information and analysis relevant to this issue are as follows.
    This chapter should present the basis for the appli                two different energy sources is regarded as providing two cant's proposed choice of site and nuclear fuel among                  alternatives.


the available alternative sites and energy sources. Ac                                                            2 cordingly, the applicant should discuss the range of                    9.2.1 Selection of Candidate Areas practicable alternatives and the considerations and                        In this section, the applicant should present an initial rationale that led to the proposed site-plant combina                  survey of site availability using any methodology that tion. It is recognized that planning methods differ                    surveys the entire region available to the applicant and among applicants.However, the applicantshould present                  that, after identifying areas containing possible sites, its site-plant selection process as the consequence of an              eliminates those whose less desirable characteristics are analysis of alternatives whose environmental costs and                 recognizable without extensive analysis. The purpose of benefits were evaluated and compared to reveal suitable                this site selection process is to identify a reasonable site-plant combinations which were then subjected to a                  number of realistic siting options. To ensure that detailed cost-effectiveness comparison to make the final                realistic alternatives are presented, two or more site selection.                                                        candidate areas should be chosen for detailed comparison with appropriate site-plant combinations. In This chapter should encompass information relevant                  assessing potential candidate areas, the applicant may both to the availability of alternatives and to their                  place primary reliance on published materials 3 and relative merits. Two classes of alternatives should be                  reconnaissance level information. Guidance on the considered: those that can meet the power demand                        selection of potential sites for nuclear stations is without requiring the creation of new generatingcapac                  presented in Regulatory Guide 4.7, "General Site ity and those that do require the creation of new                      Suitability Criteria for Nuclear Power Stations." The generatingcapacity.                                                    applicant may wish to use the following definitions in discussing its site selection process:
Describe thermal studies conducted at the nuclear power plant and any supporting studies and data. Include species and taxa chosen for investigation, methodology, results, and conclusions. Provide estimates of the species and number of organisms  affected by the thermal effluent on a daily, monthly, and annual basis. Provide areal or volumetric estimates of thermally affected aquatic habitat. Describe effects in terms of lost commercial, recreational, and ecosystem service value. If data are more than five years old, explain whether the studies are relevant in assessing the impacts of license renewal.
      9.1 Alternatives Not Requiring the Creation of New Generating Capacity                                 
* Region of Interest. The geographical area initially considered in the site selection process. This area may Practicable means that meet the projected power                    represent the applicant's system, the power pool or area demand with adequate system reliability and that do                    within which the applicant's planning studies are based, not require the creation of additional generating capac                or the regional reliability council or the appropriate ity should be identified and evaluated. 1 Such alterna                  subregion or area of the reliability council.


tives may include, but not be limited to, purchased energy, reactivating or upgrading an older plant, or base                 
Provide full documentation of analytical or modeling techniques used to assess effects.
* Candidate Areas. Reasonable homogeneous areas load operation of an existing peaking facility. Such                    within the region of interest investigated for potential alternatives should be analyzed in terms of cost, environ              sites. Candidate areas may be made up of a single large mental impact, adequacy, reliability, and other pertinent              area or several unconnected ones. The criteria governing factors. If such alternatives are totally unavailable or if            a candidate area are the same resources and populations their availability is highly uncertain, the relevant facts              on which the potential plant would have an impact and should be stated. This analysis is of major importance                  similar facility costs.


because it supports the justification for new generating capacity.
Describe baseline studies and other ecological sampling conducted at or near the nuclear power plant conducted to characterize the composition of aquatic populations or monitor their health over time. Identify temporal and geographical trends in the data that might indicate whether fish and


* PotentialSite& Sites within the candidate areas that have been identified for preliminary assessment in estab
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 50
      9.2 Alternatives Requiring the Creation of New                  lishing candidate sites.
shellfish populations have increased, decreased, or remained stable during nuclear power plant operation.


Generating Capacity
Explain any relationships between thermal effluent discharges at the nuclear power plant and trends in the affected populations.


* CandidateSites. Sites suitable for evaluation by the applicant during the process of selecting a proposed site.
Summarize the nuclear power plants current NPDES permit and the status of the permitting authoritys CWA Section 316(a) determination.


In this guide, an alternative constituting new gener              To be a candidate site, the site must be considered to be ating capacity is termed a "site-plant combination" in                potentially licensable and capable of being developed.
*  If the NPDES permitting authority has made a determination under CWA Section 316(a) that thermal effluent limits are sufficiently stringent to assure the protection and propagation of a balanced, indigenous population of shellfish, fish, and wildlife in and on the receiving body of water, and the nuclear power plant has implemented any associated requirements, no additional analysis is required. In such cases, provide with the ER copies of the NPDES permit, CWA
        Section 316(a) determination, CWA Section 316(a) demonstration studies and other information submitted to the NPDES permitting authority pursuant to CWA 316(a), and relevant correspondence with the permitting agency. In cases where the NPDES permit has expired but has been administratively continued by the permitting authority because of timely renewal application submission (i.e., at least 180 days before the permit expiration date), provide a copy of the permit renewal application. If certain requirements associated with the CWA 316(a)
        determination have yet to be implemented, provide a timeline for such implementation.


order to emphasize that the alternatives to be evaluated should include both site and energy source options. A                     
*  If the NPDES permitting authority has not granted a CWA Section 316(a) variance, analyze the potential impacts of thermal discharges using a weight-of-evidence approach. In this approach, consider multiple lines of evidence to assess the presence or absence of ecological impairment (i.e., noticeable or detectable impact) on the aquatic environment. For instance, as its lines of evidence, the ER might consider characteristics of the cooling water discharge system design, the results of thermal studies performed at the facility, and trends in fish and shellfish population abundance indices. The ER should then consider these lines of evidence together to predict the level of impact that the aquatic environment is likely to experience over the course of the license renewal term. In support of this assessment, the applicant should provide with the ER copies of the NPDES permit, NPDES permit renewal application (if applicable), CWA Section 316(a)
* ProposedSites. Sites for which an applicant seeks a site-plant combination is a combination of a specific site            license to construct and operate a power station.
        demonstration studies and other information submitted to the NPDES permitting authority pursuant to CWA 316(a), and relevant correspondence with the permitting agency.


(which may include the proposed site) and a particular
The thermal impact analysis should also consider
                                                                      2 category of energy source (nuclear, fossil-fueled, hydro                As used in this chapter, the term area is defined as several electric, geothermal) together with the transmission                    square miles (large enough to contain several sites).
hookup. A given site considered in combination with                    3 Several methods of site selection and evaluation may be found in Nuclear Power Plant Siting-A Generalized Process, AIF/
                                                                        NESP-002, Atomic Industrial Forum, August 1974. Copies may lIf transmission facilities must be constructed in order to secure      be obtained from Atomic Industrial Forum, Inc., 7101 Wiscon the energy from alternative sources, this should be discussed.        sin Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20014.


9-1
*  thermal plume characteristics, such as areal extent of the plume and thermal contour maps


The geographical regions considered by the applicant                11. Major interconnections with other power suppliers may be within or outside the applicant's franchise                    (with emphasis on new rights-of-way).
*  thermal tolerances of local species or their surrogates
service area. It is ekpected that each area considered will be small enough for any site developed within it to have              These considerations may be expanded to include essentially similar environmental relationships (i.e., ther            appropriate factors such as those discussed in Regulatory mal discharge to the same body of water, proximity to                  Guide 4.7.


the same urban area). The areas considered should not be restricted to those containing land actually owned by                  Maps of areas outside the japplicant's service area the applicant.                                                        should include the probable transmission corridor to the applicant's system.
*  other relevant life history characteristics of local species, such as seasonal absence or presence, population abundances and distributions, special species statuses and designations, and regional management objectives


If a State, region, or locality has a power station'
*  data on fish kill events related to nuclear power plant operation
siting law, the law should be cited and any applicable Suitable correlations should be made among the constraints described.


maps. For example, one or more of the maps showing The applicant should display the areas being ap                    environmental features may be to the same scale as a praised by means of maps and charts portraying the                    map showing power network configurations; or present power network, 4 environmental and other features, and                generating sites and major transmission lines may be other relevant information. (A consistent identification              overlaid on the environmental maps, if this is helpful to system should be established and retained on all graphic              the discussion.
*  physical or biological factors that might concentrate or attract organisms to the thermal plume


and verbal materials in this section.) The map or maps should be clearly related to the applicant's service area                The applicant should discuss the availability of fuel or (and adjacent areas if relevant). The maps should display              other energy sources at the areas considered. It is pertinent information such as the following:                          recognized that conditions with regard to alternatives to nuclear fuel vary for different applicant
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 51 Water Use Conflicts with Aquatic Resources (Plants with Cooling Ponds or Cooling Towers Using Makeup Water from a River)


====s. Oil and coal====
This issue concerns water use conflicts that may arise at nuclear power plants with cooling ponds or cooling towers that use makeup water from a river and how those conflicts could affect aquatic resources during an initial LR or SLR term.
    1. Areas considered by the applicant;                              may be readily available in many areas although limitations on maximum sulfur content or transporta
    2. Major centers of population density (urban, high                tion costs may restrict or prevent their use. Hydro density, medium density, low density, or similar scale);              electric and geothermal sources should also be consid ered if available. In some situations, combinations of
    3. Water bodies suitable for use in cooling systems;              energy sources (e.g., coal-fired baseload units plus gas-turbine peaking units may be practical alterna
    4. Railroads, highways (existing and planned), and                tives. The discussion should clearly establish the energy waterways suitable for fuel and waste transportation;                  source alternatives.


5. Important topographic features (e.g., mountains,                  Long-term supplies and forecasted costs of each marshes, fault lines);                                                realistic fuel alternative should be stated. The nature of any supply restriction should be specified as to physical
Table B-1 states the following:
    6. Dedicated land-use areas (e.g., parks, historical              shortages, environmental controls, international trade sites, wilderness areas, testing grounds, airports);                  restrictions, or other factors.


7. Valuable agricultural, residential, recreational, or               Using the materials described above, the applicant industrial areas that may be impacted;                                should provide a condensed description of the major considerations that led to the final selection of the
Nuclear power plants could consume water at rates that cause occasional or intermittent water use conflicts with nearby and downstream aquatic communities. Such impacts could noticeably affect aquatic plants or animals or alter characteristics of the ecological environment during the license renewal term. The one plant where impacts have occurred successfully mitigated the impact. Impacts are expected to be small at most nuclear power plants but could be moderate at some.
    8. Primary generating plants, together with effective              candidate areas. These candidate areas should constitute operating capacity in megawatts, both electrical and                  a complete but realistic listing of areas in which it would thermal, and indication of fuel (all generating units of              be feasible to site a power generation facility. While the the same fuel type at the same location should be                      number of suitable locations for any one siting consider considered a single source);                                          ation may be large, the comparison of factors may constrain the final list of candidate areas to a small
    9. Other generating additions to the network to be                 number with each area displaying several favorable installed before the proposed nuclear facility goes on                characteristics.


line;
Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(A) requires, in part, the following:
                                                                          The following remarks        may apply in specific
  10. Transmission lines of 115 kV or more and                        instances:
termination points on the system for proposed and potential lines from the applicant's proposed facility                      1. The first general geographic screening may be (with emphasis on new rights-of-way); and                              based on power load and transmission considerations.


41TO avoid repetition, the applicant should refer, as appropriate,         2. Certain promising areas may be identified as to material presented in Section 1.1.                                suitable for only one type of fuel; others may be broadly
If the applicants plant utilizes cooling towers or cooling ponds and withdraws makeup water from a river, an assessment of the impact of the proposed action on water availability and competing water demands, the flow of the river, and related impacts on stream (aquatic)ecological communities must be provided.
                                                                  9-2


defined at this stage of analysis (e.g., a stretch of                      The criteria, to be used in selecting the candidate coastline) and may admit several fuel-type options.                   site-plant alternatives are essentially the criteria used in selecting candidate areas. Application of these criteria in
Section 4.6.1.2.10 of the LR GEIS discusses water use conflicts with aquatic resources. This Category 2 issue applies to nuclear power plants with cooling ponds or cooling towers that withdraw makeup water from a river. Notably, this issue also applies to nuclear power plants with hybrid cooling systems that withdraw makeup water from a river (i.e., once-through cooling systems with helper cooling towers) (e.g., Ref. 54). Applicants that meet these conditions should provide the information and analysis described below. All other applicants should note in the ER that this issue is not relevant; these applicants need not provide additional information.
      3. Only the determining characteristics of the                  greater depth may be required, however, since the identified areas need be discussed. Specific tracts need              relative merits of the various site-plant combinations not be identified unless already owned by the applicant.               may be less obvious than those of the initially identified areas. If the site is currently, or expected to be, used for
      4. If areas outside the service area are not consid              agriculture, its soil class should be reported according to ered during this phase of the decision process, the                    the U.S. Soil Conservation Service Soil Classification reasons for not considering them should be provided.                  System, 6 and the number of acres should be indicated.


Furthermore, although a particular geographical area
Information and Analysis Content
      5. If certain fuel types are eliminated in selecting            may have been judged unsuitable for consideration as a candidate areas because of predicted unavailability or                candidate area because of one major overriding disad because of economic factors, supporting information                    vantage, the establishment of the suitability of a given should be supplied.                                                    site-plant combination will (except for choice of fuel)
                                                                        require balancing both favorable and unfavorable factors
      6. In eliminating a fuel type at a site on the grounds          (benefits versus environmental and other costs).
of monetary cost, the applicant should make clear that the excess cost over a preferred alternative outweighs                    The applicant is not expected to conduct detailed any potential advantages of the eliminated fuel type                  environmental studies at alternative sites; only prblim with respect to environmental protection.                              inary reconnaissance-type investigations need be conducted. Neither is it expected that detailed engi
      7. The compatability with any existing land-use                  neering design studies will be made for all alternative planning programs of the development of each candidate                  plants or that detailed transmission route studies will be area should be indicated and the views, if any, of local              made for all alternatives.


planning groups and interested citizens concerning use of the candidate area should be summarized.                                             9.3 Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Candidate Site-Plant Alternatives
The ER format should follow the general approach described in  RG Section 4.6.1 for all ecological resource issues. Specific information and analysis relevant to this issue are as follows.
      8. If it is proposed to add a nuclear unit to a station where there are already thermal electric generating units                  A cost-effectiveness analysis of realistic alternatives in under construction or in operation, the local and                       terms of both economic and environmental costs should regional significance of concentrating a large block of                be made to show why the proposed site-plant combina thermal generating capacity at one location should be                  tion is preferred over all other candidate alternatives for given specific consideration.                                          meeting the power requirement. In presenting the cost-effectiveness analysis, the applicant should use,
      9. Current use of the land should be documented                  insofar as possible, a tabular format showing side-by-side and the potential for preempting other high valued uses                comparison or alternatives with respect to selection of land such as agriculture, recreation, residences, or                criteria.


industry should be noted.
Describe the following, with a focus on the interfaces with the aquatic environment and how site procedures, permits, and other controls minimize or mitigate impacts on the terrestrial environment.


Quantification, while desirable, may not be possible
*  Summarize the baseline hydrologic regime of the affected surface waters, including seasonal fluctuations in flow, and conditions that could lead to extreme periods of low flow.
    10. The availability of a labor pool for power plant                for all factors because of lack of adequate data. Under construction within commuting distance should be                        such circumstances, qualitative and general comparative statements supported by documentation may be used.


estimated.
*  Summarize current and anticipated consumptive water use by the nuclear power plant.


Where possible, experience derived from operation of plants at the same or at an environmentally similar site
*  Identify other users relying on the affected surface waters, including downstream municipal, agricultural, or industrial users, with which the nuclear power plant may compete.
9.2.2 Selection of Candidate Site-Plant Alternatives 5                  may be helpful in appraising the nature of expected environmental impacts.


At this point, the number of suitable areas will have been reduced, making possible investigation of a realistic                Various criteria have been suggested in this guide for set of alternative site-plant combinations. These alterna              use in comparing the alternatives and the proposed tive combinations should be briefly described. The                    facility. The criteria chosen by the applicant should description should include site plans indicating locations            reflect benefits and costs 7 that were evaluated in considered for the plant, access facilities, and any
*  Identify aquatic habitats and species that would be especially sensitive to reduced water availability (e.g., nearshore habitat, aquatic plants, early life stages of fish and shellfish, species that rely on specific microhabitats that may not be available under low flow conditions).
                                                                      6 transmission considerations that significantly affect site              U.S. Department of Agriculture, Land-CapabilityClassiflcation, desirability.                                                            Agriculture Handbook No. 210, 1973, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.


7 The applicant may use, if the necessary data are available, the
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 52
5                                                                      method for calculating generating costs discussed in Chapter The range of candidate site-plant alternatives selected by the        10. The analysis should highlight significant environmental applicant should include other energy source options (coal, oil,     differences among alternative sites which can be balanced hydroelectric, geothermal), as practicable.                          against dollar cost differentials.
    *  Discuss regional, State, Federal, and Indian Tribes permits and controls concerning water use and any agreements with water resources control boards.


9-3
*  Summarize any other current or proposed practices and measures to control or limit operational water-use impacts.


selecting the site-plant candidates. The following            OperatingFactors itemization of evaluatory factors may be helpful as a              Load-following capability checklist:                                                          Transient response Engineeringand EnvironmentalFactors                            Alternative Site Cost Factors Meteorology                                                    Land and water rights Geology                                                        Base station facilities Seismology                                                      Main condenser cooling system Hydrology                                                      Main condenser cooling intake structures and dis Population density in site environs                                charge system Access to road, rail, and water transportation                  Transmission and substation facilities Fuel supply and waste disposal routes                          Access roads and railroads Cooling water supply                                            Site preparation including technical investigations.
*  Describe past water use conflicts with aquatic resources, if any, and evaluate whether such conflicts would be likely to arise again during the license renewal term.


Water quality Sensitivity of aquatic and terrestrial habitats affected Commitment of resources Dedicated areas Projected recreational usage                                    9.4 Costs of Alternative Power Generation Methods Scenic values The applicant should provide cost information for Transmission Hookup Factors                                      alternative power generation methods and the proposed Access to transmission system in place                      nuclear station. (Costs for the proposed nuclear station Problems of routing new transmission lines                  are discussed in Chapter 8.)
Refer to the ER analyses of water use conflicts with surface water resources and terrestrial resources, to the extent that these are appropriate, to avoid duplication of information.
    Problems of transmission reliability Minimization of transmission losses                              In order to supplement the economic information provided in Chapter 8 of the environmental report, the ConstructionFactors                                            cost information shown in Table 2 should be provided Access for equipment and materials                          for (1) coal-fired units (one use that would utilize Access, housing, etc., for construction workers              low-sulfur coal and a second that would use high-sulfur coal with stack gas cleaning), (2) oil-fired units, and (3)
Land-Use Factors (including compatibility with zoning          nuclear power units.


or use changes)
4.6.4    Federally Protected Ecological Resources
                                                                    The environmental report should also include the InstitutionalFactors(e.g., State or regional site certifica      estimated cost of generating electric energy in mills per tion)                                                        kilowatt-hour for the proposed nuclear station and for alternative fossil-fueled plants in the detail shown in Cost Factors                                                    Table 3. It should be stated whether the costs of fuel Construction costs including transmission                    and of operation and maintenance are initial costs or Fuel costs (annual)                                          levelized costs over some period of operation and, in the Operating and maintenance costs (annual)                    latter case, what assumptions are made about escalation.


9-4
The following ecological resources-related Category 2 issues require a plant-specific assessment.


CHAPTER 10
Endangered Species Act: Federally Listed Species and Critical Habitats Under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Jurisdiction
                                              STATION DESIGN ALTERNATIVES
    This chapter should show how the applicantarived                Different designs for systems that are essentially identi at the design of the proposed station through consider              cal with respect to environmental effects should be ation of alternative designs of identifiable systems and             considered only if their costs are appreciably different.


through their comparative assessment.                              The applicant should include alternatives that meet the following criteria: (1) they provide improved levels of The significant environmental interfaces of a nuclear           environmental protection (in the case of systems subject power station will be associated with the operation of              to 40 CFR Part 423, the analysis should focus on certain identifiable systems. The applicant's proposed              alternative systems that comply with 40 CFR Part 423 station should incorporate a combination of these                  but that are a better environmental solution, taking into identifiable systems, each of which has been selected              account impacts on air quality, esthetics, etc.) and (2)
This issue concerns the potential effects of continued nuclear power plant operation during an initial LR or SLR term on federally listed species and critical habitats protected under the ESA and under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
through a cost-effectiveness analysis of economic and               although not necessarily economically attractive, they other factors as the preferred choice within its category.          are based on feasible technology available to the In some instances, the interaction of these systems may            applicant during the design state.


be such as to require their selection on the basis of a preferred combination rather than on the basis of                          In cases where the system proposed in the applica individual preferred systems. For example, an alternative          tion does not comply with thermal effluent limitations cooling system may have to be evaluated in combination              under Sections 301 and 306 of Public Law 92-500 [the with a preferred chemical effluent system that would be            Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA) as used with it.                                                      amended] and no disposition of any request for waiver under Section 316(a) is expected until after issuance of a The applicant's discussion should be organized on the          construction permit, the environmental report should basis of station systems and arranged according to the              clearly identify the most feasible alternative cooling following list:                                                     system that would be selected in the event that alternative thermal effluent limitations are not imposed.
Table B-1 states the following:


* Circulating water system (exclusive of intake and discharge)                                                              2. Normalization of cost comparison. Alternatives should be compared on the basis of an assumed fixed
The potential effects of continued nuclear power plant operation and refurbishment on federally listed species and critical habitats would depend on numerous site-specific factors, including the ecological setting; listed species and critical habitats present in the action area; and plant-specific factors related to operations, including water withdrawal, effluent discharges, and other ground-disturbing activities. Consultation with the U.S.


* Intake system for circulating water                          amount of energy generated for distribution outside the station. Thus, any effect of an alternative on station
Fish and Wildlife Service under Endangered Species Act Section 7(a)(2) would be required if license renewal may affect listed species or critical habitats under this agency's jurisdiction.


* Discharge system for circulating water                        power consumption should be discussed.
Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(E) requires the following:


* Other cooling systems (including intake and dis                  3. Effect of capacity factor. The projected effect of charge where not treated in the preceding three items)            alternatives on station capacity factor should be given and explained for capacity factors of 60, 70, and 80
All license renewal applicants shall assess the impact of refurbishment, continued operations, and other license-renewal-related construction activities on important plant and animal habitats. Additionally, the applicant shall assess the impact of the proposed action on federally protected ecological resources in accordance with Federal laws protecting such resources, including but not limited to, the Endangered Species Act, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act.


* Biocide systems (all cooling circuits)'                      percent.
Section 4.6.1.3.1 of the LR GEIS discusses federally listed species and critical habitats under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service jurisdiction. This Category 2 issue applies to all nuclear power plants whose operation may affect federally listed terrestrial and freshwater species or their critical habitat. Listed species under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service jurisdiction are likely to occur near most operating nuclear power plants. Applicants that meet these conditions should provide


* Chemical waste treatment1                                          4. Monetized costs. The acquisition and operation costs of individual systems and their alternatives (as well
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 53 the information and analysis described below. All other applicants should note in the ER that this issue is not relevant; these applicants need not provide additional information.


* Sanitary waste system                                        as costs of the total station and transmission facility and alternatives) should be expressed as power generating
Information and Analysis Content


* liquid radwaste systems (see Section 10.7)                    costs. The latter will be derived from cost elements compounded or discounted (as appropriate) to their
The ER format should follow the general approach described in RG Section 4.6.1 for all ecological resource issues. Specific information and analysis relevant to this issue  are as follows. Notably, in addition to analyzing the impacts of this issue, the ER should contain  sufficient information to support the NRC staffs interagency consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.


* Gaseous radwaste systems (see Section 10.8)                  present values as of the date of initial commercial operation and will be converted to their annualized
Analyze the potential effects of license renewal on each federally listed species and designated critical habitat determined in Chapter 3 of this RG to be potentially present in the action area. Consistent with the suggested contents of a biological assessment at 50 CFR 402.12(f), consider including th    e following information, as applicable:
    "*Transmission facilities                                      values. The method of computation is shown in Table 4.


The individual cost items in this table should be used as
*   the results of site surveys, studies, and inspections of the action area to determine if listed or proposed species are present or occur seasonally
    "*Other systems.                                                applicable. The total cost will be the sum of:
    The following should be considered in preparing the
                                                                        0 Capital to be expended up uritil the scheduled date discussion:                                                          of operation.2
    1. Range of alternatives. The applicant's discussion should emphasize those alternative station systems that               
* Interest to the date of operation on all expendi tures prior to that date.


appear promising in. terms of environmental protection.
*  the views of recognized experts on the species at issue


'systems that are subject to effluent limitation guidelines and     2For operating license proceedings, costs should be based on new source performance standards of 40 CFR Part 423.                  capital to be expended to complete the facility.
*  a review of pertinent scientific literature and related information


10-1
*  an analysis of the effects of the action on the species and habitat, including cumulative effects, and the results of any related studies


* Expenditures subsequent to the scheduled date of                       b. Suggested units to be used for measurement operation discounted to that date. In calculations, the               (Column 4). The NRC recognizes the difficulty, if not applicant should assume a 30-year station life.
*   an analysis of alternate actions If formal consultation12 may be required, provide the following information in accordance with
50 CFR 402.14(c):


3              the impossibility, of using the assigned units for every item in Table 5 in each case, given the current state of In computing the annualized present value of station              the art. The applicant may elect to use other units, systems and their alternatives, the following cost ele                provided they are meaningful to the informed public and ments are suggested:                                                   adequately reflect the impact of the listed environmental effects.
*  a description of the proposed action and any mitigation measures in sufficient detail to assess the effects of the action on protected species and critical habitat, including the following:


e Engineering design and planning costs c. A suggested methodology of computation
o  the purpose, duration, timing, and location of the action
    0 Construction costs                                            (Column 5). Computation of effects in response to each block in Table 5, e.g., 1.1, 1.2, etc., should be given


* Interest on capital expended prior to operation                without adjustment for effects computed in other blocks for the same population or resource affected. However,
o  the specific components of the action and how they will be carried out


* Operating, maintenance, and fuel (if applicable)              provision is made in Table 5 (i.e., 1.9 and 4.9) to costs over the 30-year life of the station                            account for combined effects that may be either less than or greater than the sum of individual effects.
o  maps, drawings, blueprints, or similar schematics of the action


"* Taxes In discussing environmental effects, the applicant
o  any other available information related to the nature and scope of the proposed action relevant to its effects on protected species or critical habitat
      "* Insurance costs                                              should specify not only the magnitude of the effect (e.g., pounds of fish killed or acres of a particular habitat
      "* Cost of modification or alteration of any other               destroyed) but also the relative effect, that is, the station system if required for accommodation of alterna                fraction of the population or resource that is affected.


tives to maintain station capacity (see Item 2 above)                (See the discussion in Section 5.7.)
*  a map or description of the action area


* Maintenance costs for the transmission facility (if                In some specific cases, accurate estimation of an applicable)                                                          effect which the applicant believes to be very small may require a data collection effort that would not be
*   available information on the presence, abundance, density, or periodic occurrence of listed species and the condition and location of the species habitat, including any critical habitat
      0 Cost of supplying makeup power during a delay                  commensurate with the value of the information to be resulting from an alternative design choice that will                  obtained. In such cases, the applicant may substitute a not meet the power requirement by the scheduled                        preferred measure which conservatively estimates envi inservice date.                                                        ronmental costs for the effect in question, provided the substituted measure is clearly documented and realisti cally evaluates the potentially detrimental (ie., worst
      5. Environmental costs Environmental effects of                  case) aspects of the effect, and provided the measure is alternatives should be documented and supported by                    applied consistently to all alternatives.


available information. To the extent practicable, the magnitude of each effect should be quantified. Where                      6. Supporting details. In the following sections, the quantification is not possible, qualitative evaluations                applicant should discuss design alternatives for each of should be expressed in terms of comparison to the                      the relevant station systems (e.g., cooling system, intake effects of the subsystem chosen for the proposed design.               system). The discussion should describe each alternative, In either case, the derivation of the evaluations should              present estimates of its environmental impact, and be completely documented.                                             compare the estimated impact with that of the proposed system. The assumptions and calculations on which the Table 5 presents a set of environmental factors that            estimates are based should be presented. Engineering should be considered in comparing alternative station                design and supporting studies, e.g., thermal modeling, systems in the cost-effectiveness analysis. Although                  performed to assess the impact of alternative station incomplete, the factors listed are believed to represent              systems should be limited in scope to those efforts the principal environmental effects of power station                  required to support the cost-effectiveness analysis that construction and operation that can be evaluated by                  led to selection of the proposed design.
12  Formal ESA Section 7 consultation is appropriate when a Federal agency determines that an action may affect and is likely to adversely affect listed species or critical habitats. For any action in which take of listed species or destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat may occur, formal consultation is required. See Section 4.6.1.3.1 of the LR GEIS and Section 4.10.11 of the ESRP for more information on this topic.


generally accepted techniques. The table provides for three key elements of environmental cost evaluation:                      7. Presentation of alternative desnks The results should be tabulated for each station system in a format a. A description of each effect to be measured                consistent with the definitions in Table 5.
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 54
    *  a description of the effects of the action and an analysis of any cumulative effects


(Column 3).
*  a summary of any relevant information provided by the applicant or licensee
                                                                              The monetized costs of the proposed systems and alternatives should be presented on an incremental bas.


3Uwe 30-year life for steamelectic generatiMg stationi For other This means that the costs of the proposed system should types of electric pneafting prints, m genewal accepted Vahes                                                                appear as zeroes in appropriate columns of summary
*  any other relevant available information on the effects of the proposed action, including any EISs, EAs, or other relevant reports
                                                                    10-2


tables and costs of the other alternative systems should                            10.2 Intake System appear as cost differences, with any negative values enclosed in parentheses. The environmental costs are not          The applicant should identify and describe alterna incremental, and the tabulations should therefore show        fives to the proposed intake system design, such as these as total costs, whether monetized or not. (If an        shoreline and offshore intakes, traveling screens (vertical, environmental effect is considered beneficial, the entry      horizontal, angle-mounted, single entry-double exit),
Report findings in accordance with terminology used in the ESA and its implementing regulations as identified in Table 4-1. Make individual effect determinations for each listed species and critical habitat; the number of ESA findings for a given license renewal will depend on the number of listed species and critical habitats present in the action area.
should be enclosed in parentheses.)                            barriers (lower, electric, sound, light, bubble),
                                                              perforated-pipe intakes, and infiltration-bed intakes.


In addition to the information displayed in the tables.   Estimates of environmental effects should be prepared the applicant should provide a textual description of the      and tabulated. Alternatives should be referenced to any process by which the tradeoffs were weighed and               requirements for intake systems imposed under Section balanced in arriving at the proposed design. This              316(b) of PL 92-500.
Table 4-1. Possible ESA Effect Determinations Made by the Federal Action Agency Listed Species                  Proposed Species              Designated or Proposed Critical Habitat may affect and is likely to     may affect and is likely to  is likely to destroy or adversely adversely affect                adversely affect                    modify may affect but is not likely to may affect but is not likely to  is not likely to destroy or adversely affect                adversely affect              adversely modify no effect                      no effect                      no effect


discussion may include any factors not provided for in the tabulation.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to coordinate with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on this issue during preparation of the ER, especially for those license renewals that may require formal consultation. Include copies of any relevant correspondence in the ER and give special consideration to the Services views when making ESA effect determinations.


10.3 Discharge System The applicant should identify and describe alterna
Endangered Species Act: Federally Listed Species and Critical Habitats Under National Marine Fisheries Service Jurisdiction
      10.1 Circulatifg System (exclusive of intake            tives to the proposed discharge system design. Estimates and dschaW)                            of environmental effects should be prepared and tabu lated. Appropriate graphic illustrations of visible plumes The applicant should identify and describe altema          or hydraulic mixing zones (air or water as applioable)
tives to the proposed cooling system deign. Estimates of      should be included.


environmental effects should be prepared and tabulated.
This issue concerns the potential effects of continued nuclear power plant operation during an initial LR or SLR term on federally listed species and critical habitats protected under the ESA and under the jurisdiction of the National Marine Fisheries Service.


Where cooling towers are discussed, the analysis should include variations in drift and blowdown and optional                        10.4 Chemical Waste Treatment control ranges that might minimize the environmental impact to the receiving air, water, or land with respect to        Alternative chemical systems that meet EPA effluent time or space.                                                guidelines but involve differing external environmental impacts associated with ultimate waste disposal of end When an applicant proposes to create a lake or pond        products should be evaluated. Management of corrosion for primary cooling, the environmental report at the          and resulting corrosion products released with cooling construction permit stage should consider the effects of      tower blowdown should be treated in detail. The variations in the size of the cooling reservoir on the          description should include specification of both maxi performance of the power station, the enviromnental            mum and average concentrations and dilution sources.
Table B-1 states the following:


impacts (including the loss of agricultural lands and         (If a discharge is not continuous, the discharge schedule woodlands and the products therefrom and the impacts          should be specified.) Any toxicity and lethality to on terrestrial and aquatic life), and the economic costs.      affected biota should be documented for all potential The enviromnental report should also discuss the matter        points of exposure. Specifically, information should be of making the cooling reservoir and its surroundings a        sufficient to define the impacts to entrained organisms multiple-use facility, including a public recreational        at their points of exposure, as well as the impacts resource, and should present the reasons for the decision      beyond the point of discharge. Estimates of environ in favor of or opposing such a development.                    mental effects should be prepared and tabulated.
The potential effects of continued nuclear power plant operation and refurbishment on federally listed species and critical habitats would depend on numerous site-specific factors, including the ecological setting; listed species and critical habitats present in the action area; and plant-specific factors related to operations, including water withdrawal, effluent discharges, and other ground-disturbing activities. Consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service under Endangered Species Act Section 7(a)(2) would be required if license renewal may affect listed species or critical habitats under this agency's jurisdiction.


If the applicant decides to provide a recreational facility, the environmental report kt the construction                            10.5 Biocide Treatment permit stage should contain a general plan to provide for public recreational use. The specific plan for public              The applicant should describe alternatives to the use recreational use should be provided at the operating          of biocide for control of fouling organisms, including license stage. The plan should include a discussion of        both mechanical and chemical methods where such recreational needs in the area; a description (including      alternatives may be expected to have less severe gnviron maps and artist conceptions) of the proposed recrea            mental effects than the proposed system. The informa ti6nal facilities, lake management and fisheries stodking      tiou provided on chemical biocides should be similar to program, and associated landscaping; a schedule of            that specified above for chemical effluent treatment.
Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(E) requires the following:


installation, estimated costs of construction, operation        Estimates of environmental effects should be prepared and maintenance, and the source of funds to pay these          and tabulated.
All license renewal applicants shall assess the impact of refurbishment, continued operations, and other license-renewal-related construction activities on important plant and animal habitats. Additionally, the applicant shall assess the impact of the proposed action on federally protected ecological resources in accordance with Federal laws protecting such resources, including but not limited to, the


costs; and estimated public use of the facilities. Describe the participation in planning, if any, by local, State, and                     10.6 Sanitmy Waste System Federal governments. A commitment to implement the plan must be made if the potential benefit is considered            Alternative sanitary waste systems that meet EPA
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 55 Endangered Species Act, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act.
in balancing the costs and benefits.                           guidelines for municipal waste treatment should be
                                                            10-3


identified and discussed with regard to the environ                      10.8 Gaseous Radwaste Systems mental implications of both waste products and chem ical additives for waste treatment. Estimates of environ        Consideration of systems for the disposal of gaseous mental effect on receiving land, water, and air should be    radwaste is subject to the qualifying condition noted in considered and tabulated to the extent that measurable      Section 10.7 above.
Section 4.6.1.3.2 of the LR GEIS discusses federally listed species and critical habitats under National Marine Fisheries Service jurisdiction. This Category 2 issue applies to all nuclear power plants whose operation may affect federally listed marine and anadromous species or their critical habitat. In general, listed species and critical habitats under National Marine Fisheries Service jurisdiction are only of concern at nuclear power plants that withdraw or discharge from estuarine or marine waters. However, anadromous listed species under National Marine Fisheries Service jurisdiction may be seasonally present in the action area of plants located within freshwater reaches of rivers well upstream of the saltwater interface. Applicants that meet these conditions should provide the information and analysis described below. All other applicants should note in the ER that this issue is not relevant; these applicants need not provide additional information.


effects can be identified.
Information and Analysis Content


10.9 Transmission Facilities
The ER format should follow the general approach described in RG Section 4.6.1 for all ecological resource issues. Specific information and analysis relevant to this issue are as follows. Notably, in addition to analyzing the impacts of this issue, the ER should contain sufficient information to support the NRC staffs interagency consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service.
              10.7 Liquid Radwaste Systems The applicant should discuss the cost and environ For proposed light-water-cooled reactor installations    mental effects of alternative routes for new transmission in which the quantities of radioactive material in          facilities required for tie-in of the proposed facility to effluents will be limited to levels that are within the      the applicant's system. The documentation should numerical guides for design objectives and limiting        include maps of the alternative routes. These maps conditions of operation set forth in Appendix I of 10        should clearly indicate topographic features important CFR Part 50, no further consideration need be given to      to evaluation of the routes and boundaries of visually the reduction of radiological impacts in formulating        sensitive areas. The applicant may find the documents alternative plant designs. If the reactor is not a light.  cited in Section 3.9 helpful in this analysis. Estimates of water-cooled reactor, the possibility must be explored of    environmental effects should be prepared and tabulated.


an alternative radwaste system that reduces the level of radioactivity in the effluents and direct radiation to the                      S10.10 Other Systems levels in Appendix I. In any case, for reactors to which Appendix I does not apply, the applicant should Any station system, other than those specified above, demonstrate sufficient consideration of alternative rad      that is associated with an adverse environmental effect waste systems and their radiological output to ensure        should be discussed in terms of practicable add feasible that releases from the proposed facility will be as low as  alternatives that may reduce or eliminate this environ is reasonably achievable.                                   mental effect.
The recommended content for this issue is identical to the information and analysis content identified above under the issue of Endangered Species Act: Federally Listed Species and Critical Habitats Under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Jurisdiction.


104
Applicants are strongly encouraged to coordinate with the National Marine Fisheries Service on this issue during preparation of the ER, especially for those license renewals that may require formal consultation. Include copies of any relevant correspondence in the ER and give special consideration to the Services views when making ESA effect determinations.


CHAPTER 11 SUMMARY COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS
Magnuson-Stevens Act: Essential Fish Habitat
    This chapter should demonstrate through a cost              consistent with the underlying concept of cost-benefit benefit analysis of the proposed station why in the            analysis.


applicant's judgment the aggregate benefits outweigh the aggregatecosts. The NRC will independently prepare              The following considerations may be helpful to the a cost-benefit analysis of the proposed station in the          applicant in preparing the analysis. As indicated above, it Environmental Statement; nevertheless, the applicant            is incumbent on the applicant to demonstrate that the should perform its own analysis in order to aid the NRC        benefits of the proposed facility are considered to in its evaluation.                                              outweigh the aggregate costs. Beyond this, the degree to which the benefits may outweigh the costs is a factor Although the cost-benefit analysis approach discussed        that will be considered in the NRC's Environmental in this guide is conceptually similar to the cost-benefit        Statement. In selecting each proposed station system approach classically employed in a purely economic              from a set of alternative systems, the cost-effectiveness context, the method recommended differs from it                  analysis of Chapter 10 will have maximized the net procedurally. This is because the benefits and costs to be      benefit (i.e., aggregate of benefits minus the costs).
This issue concerns the potential effects of continued nuclear power plant operation during an initial LR or SLR term on EFH protected under the MSA.
evaluated will not all be monetized by the applicant. The incommensurable nature of the benefits and costs makes              In presenting the cost-benefit analysis, the applicant it virtually impossible to provide a concise assessment of      should first consider the benefits identified and de costs versus benefits in classical quantitative terms. Even      scribed in Chapters 1 and 8. Second, the applicant though a simple numerical weighing of benefits against          should consider generating, environmental, and other costs is clearly not feasible here, the applicant can            cost items identified in Chapters 4, 5, 8, 9, and 10; these evaluate the factors on a judgmental basis that is              costs should be summarized in tabular form.


11-1
Table B-1 states the following:


CHAPTER 12 ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVALS AND CONSULTATION
The potential effects of continued nuclear power plant operation and refurbishment on essential fish habitat would depend on numerous site-specific factors, including the ecological setting; essential fish habitat present in the area, including habitats of particular concern; and plant-specific factors related to operations, including water withdrawal, effluent discharges, and other activities that may affect aquatic habitats.
    List and give the status of all licenses, permits, and          If a discharge could alter the quality of the water or other approvals of station construction and operations         air of another State, indicate the State or States that required by Federal, State, local, and regional authorities    may be affected and their applicable limitations, stan for the protection of the environment.                          dards, or regulations.


list all laws or ordinances applicable to the proposed transmission system and the status of approvals that                In view of the effects of the station on the economic must be obtained. Indicate any public hearings held or          development of the region in which it is located, the to be held with respect to the proposed transmission            applicant should also note the State, local, and regional system.                                                        planning authorities contacted or consulted. OMB Circu lar A-95 1 identifies the State, metropolitan, and regional The listing should cite the relevant statutory or other    clearinghouses 2 that should be contacted as appropriate.
Consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service under Magnuson-Stevens Act Section 305(b) would be required if license renewal could result in adverse effects to essential fish habitat.


authority requiring approvals with respect to the con struction and/or operation of the station and should be categorized by the environmental impact to which the                Where consumptive water uses involve permits or adjudication, applicants should show evidence of such approval is addressed. These categories could include, for with respect to State, Federal, or Compact or Commis example, air, land, and water use and planning, fish diversion, and construction effects.                           sion authorities having purview over the proposed diversion.
Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(E) requires the following:


Discuss the status of efforts to obtain a water quality certification under Section 401 and discharge permits under Section 402 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA), as amended. If certification has          'lnquiries concerning this circular may be addressed to the not already been obtained, indicate when it is expected.          Office of Management and Budget, Washington, D.C. 20503.
All license renewal applicants shall assess the impact of refurbishment, continued operations, and other license-renewal-related construction activities on important plant and animal habitats. Additionally, the applicant shall assess the impact of the proposed


If certification is not required, explain. Any other            2 actions such as a pending request based on Section                A listing of the clearinghouses that serve a particular site area
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 56 action on federally protected ecological resources in accordance with Federal laws protecting such resources, including but not limited to, the Endangered Species Act, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act.
316(a) of Public Law 92-500 (FWPCA) for alternative                may be obtained from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commis sion, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Division of Site effluent limitations should be explained.                          Safety and Environmental Analysis, Washington, D.C. 2055,.
                                                          12-1


CHAPTER 13 REFERENCES
Section 4.6.1.3.3 of the LR GEIS discusses EFH. This Category 2 issue applies to all nuclear power plants whose operation may affect EFH, including HAPCs. EFH may occur at nuclear power plants located on or near estuaries, coastal inlets and bays, and the ocean. EFH is generally not relevant for license renewal reviews of plants located on rivers well above the saltwater interface or confluence with marine waters; plants located on freshwater lakes, including the Great Lakes; or at plants that draw cooling water from human-made cooling ponds or canals that do not hydrologically connect to natural surface waters. One exception is in cases where a plant draws cooling water from the freshwater portion of a river that is inhabited by diadromous prey of federally managed species (herein referred to as EFH
  The applicant should provide a bibliography of             References should be cited by numerical designation sources used in preparation of the environmental report.   and listed at the end of the chapter to which they refer.
species) with designated EFH downstream of the plant. Applicants that meet these conditions should provide the information and analysis described below. All other applicants should note in the ER that this issue is not relevant; these applicants need not provide additional information.


13-1
Information and Analysis Content


TABLES
The ER format should follow the general approach described in RG Section 4.6.1 for all ecological resource issues. Specific information and analysis relevant to this issue are as follows. Notably, in addition to analyzing the impacts of this issue, the ER should contain sufficient information to support the NRC staffs interagency consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service.
                                                                                          TABLE 1 PRIMARY2 BENEFITS TO BE CONSIDERED IN
                                                                  COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS
Drect Benefits Expected average annual generation in kWh ..............                                                                      ...............................
  Capacity in kW ...................                                            ............................................
  Proportional distribution of electrical energy (Expected annual delivery in kWh)
          Industrial ...................                                        ............................................
          Commercial      ....................                                              ..........................................
          Residential .......................                                                      ..........................................
          Other      . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  Expected average annual Btu (in millions) of steam sold from the facility                                                                  ..................
                                                                                                                                            physical units)                        .        .........
  Expected average annual delivery of other beneficial products (appropriate Annual revenues from delivered benefits Electrical energy generated                                                                                                                .................
      Steam sold        . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                                                                    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
      Other products            . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                                                                . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Indirect Benefits (as appropriate)
                                                                    S.                                                                                                              .    .      .    .      . .  .    .    .    .    .
  Taxes (local, State, Federal ).......                                  .      .      .    .    .  .    .    .  .    .
                                                                                                                                                                                      S.  .      .    .      . .  .    .    .    .    .
  Research      ......                                            .    .      .      .    .    .  .    .    .  .
                                                                                                                                                                                      .  .      .    .    .  .  .    .    .    .    .
  Regional product . . .                                            .    .        .    .    .    .  .    .  .  .    .
  Environmental enhanceme'
                                        °..    .  .    .  .  .      ..        °. .        .    .  .    .  .* .      .    .  .  .    .    .    .  .    .    .* .        .  .        .  .      . .    .* .      .  .      .
      Recreation        ....                                                                                                            .    .    .° .    .    .    .    .    .  .        .  .      . .    .* .      .  .      .
                                        .  .  .  .    .  .  .  .    .        .    .      .    .    .    .  .    .    .    .    .
      Navigation        .
      Air Quality:
          SO
                                        S..    .  .  .  .  .  .      .      .      ° o
                                                                                          .°        .    .    .    .  .    .  .* .    .    .    .    .* .      .      .    .    .    .      .    .    .  .  .    .    .    .    .
          NO    . .    .  .  .  .
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                .    .    .
          Particulates..                .    .  .  .  .  .  .  .      °      o. .      .    .  .    .  .  .    .  .    .  .    .      .  .    .    .      .    .    .    .* .        .    .  .  .    .
                                                          .  .  .  .      .      .    .    .    .    .    .  .    .    .* .    .    .    .    .    .  .    .      .* .      .    .      .    .                  .        .
                                          o    °. .    .
          Others .......
    Employment .......                                                                                  .    .  .. .      .    .  .        .    .°* ..      .    .    .    .        .      .    .o* .    .    .  .    .*      ..
                                        .    .  .  .  .  .  .    .    .      .    .    .    .
    Education .........
    Others .......
%wsceectin &I.1 T-1


TABLE 2 COST INFORMATION FOR NUCLEAR AND
Analyze the potential effects of license renewal on the EFH by species and life stage determined in Chapter 3 of this RG to be present in the affected area. Consistent with the required contents of an EFH
                                      ALTERNATIVE POWER GENERATION METHODS
assessment at 50 CFR 600.920(e)(2) (Ref. 58), include the following information:
  1. Interest during con struction                                                             


===4. Average site labor===
*   a description of the action
                                          %/year,                                pay rate (including compound rate                          fringe benefits) ef fective at month and
   2. Length of construc year of NSSS order tion workweek                        hours/week                                                        -$S/hour


===5. Escalation rates===
*   an analysis of the potential adverse effects on EFH and EFH species
   3. Estimated site labor Site labor                      %(year requirement                        man-hours/kWe                              Materials                  -      Jyear Composite esca lation rate                      %/year
                                                        6. Power Station Costa Direct Costs                  Unit I            Unit 2                      Indirect Costs                  Unit I            Unit 2 a. Land and land                                                            a. Construction rights                                                                      facilities, equip b. Structures and                                                                ment, and serv site facilities                                                            ices c. Reactor (boiler)                                                        b. Engineering and plant equipment                                                            construction d. Turbine plant                                                                management equipment not                                                                services including heat                                                          c. Other costs rejection systems                                                      d. Interest during e. Heat rejection                                                                construction system                                                                      ((R            %1 f. Electric plant                                                              year)
        equipment g. Miscellaneous                                                      Escalation equipment                                                              Escalation during h. Spare parts al                                                          construction lowance i. Contingency al                                                          year lowance                                                            Total Cost Total Station Cost,
                                                                              @Start of Com Subtotal                                                          mercial Operation aCost components of nuclear stations to be included in each cost category listed under direct and indirect costs in Part 6 above are described in "Guide for Economic Evaluation of Nuclear Reactor Plant Designs," U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, NUS-531, Appendix B, available from National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22161.


T-2
*  conclusions regarding the effects of the action on EFH


TABLE 3 ESTIMATED COSTS OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY GENERATION
*  proposed mitigation, if applicable
                                                Milh1/Kilowatt-Hour Fixed Chargsa Cost of money Depreciation Interim replacements Taxes Fuel Cycle CoStab For fossil-fueled plants, costs of high-sulfur coal, low-sulfur coal, or oil For nuclear stations:
              Cost of U 308 (yellowcake)
              Cost of conver sion and enrich ment Cost of conver sion and fabrica tion of fuel ele ments Cost of proces fn spent fuel Carrying charge on fuel Inventory Cost of waste dis posalc Credit for pluto nium or U-233 Costs of Operation and nItensanced Fixed component Variable component Costs Of in ance Property insurance Liability insurance GGive the capacity factor assumed in computing those charges, and sie the total fixed-chape mte as a percentage of station investment bIndude shipping charges as appropriate. Give the heat rate in BtU/lowatt hour.


cif-ao costs are available, the applicant may ue the cost aswmptims as d= in the most recent publication of Nucdw Induriy.      -    .      ..    .
*  If appropriate, the EFH assessment should also include the following (50 CFR 600.920(e)(4)):
        separately the fixed component that in dollars per year does not depend on capacity factor and the variable component that in dollars per yea is proportional to capacity factor.


T-3
o  the results of site surveys, studies, and inspections that evaluate the habitat and the site-specific effects of the project


TABLE 4 MONETIZED BASES FOR GENERATING COSTSa Item                      Symbol            Unit                                Item Description Total outlay required to                C,                $          All capital outlays including interest expense to be in bring facility to operation                                          vested in completion of the facility compounded to present value as of the scheduled inservice date of operation.
o  the views of recognized experts on the habitat or species that may be affected


Annual operating cost                  Ot                $          This is the total operating and maintenance cost of sta tion operation in year "t."
o  a review of pertinent scientific literature and related information
Annual fuel cost                        Ft                $          This is the total fuel cost in year "t."
Cost of makeup power pur                Pt                $          Cost of power purchased or supplied internally in year chased or supplied in year                                            "t" to make up deficiency of power associated with
    ".It.,,
                                                                          any alternative that introduces delay~b Discount factor                        P                              v = (I + if 1 where i is the applicant's estimated average cost of capital over the life of this station.


30                  30
o  an analysis of alternate actions
Total generating cost                  GCp              $          GCp = C 1 +          A(0t +"Ft) +      vtPt present value                                                                    t=!
Total generating cost                                          $~                    (1 + 13 0
  present value annualized                                                = GCp X-(1+1)3 -0-1 aFor conventional (nuclear or fossil fuel) steam-electric stations bDelay to be computed from the time of tiling for a construction permit (10 CFR Part 51,
                                                                                            § 51.20)
                                                                  T-4


K                                                                                                                                                                              K
o  any other relevant information
                                                                                        TABLE 5
                                                                                                                                                        1 of 16)
                        ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS TO BE USED IN COMPARING ALTERNATIVE STATION SYSTEMS (Page Unit of                          Method of Impact Primary Primay                                              or Population wAfeter                                                                              Computation I                            (Sp eciyoaurals Resources    Affected                  Descrptn                    Measurea
1. NATURAL SURFACE WATER                          (Specify natural water BODY                                          body affected)
                                                    1.1.1    Fishb              Juveniles and adults are sub        Percent of har          Identify all important species as de
    1.1    Impingement or entrapment                                                                                  vestable or adult        fined in Section 2.2. Estimate the ject to attrition.


by cooling water intake                                                                                    population de            annual weight and number of each structure                                                                                                  stroyed per year        species that will be destroyed.
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 57 Consider prey of EFH species in the analysis. For instance, if a given species with designated EFH downstream of a nuclear power plant consumes diadromous fish that occur upriver of the facility, effects of license renewal on those prey fish would be relevant to the analysis.


for each impor          (For juveniles destroyed, only the tant species             expected population that would have survived naturally need be considered.) Compare with the estimated weight and number of the species population in the water body.
Report findings in accordance with terminology used in the MSA and its implementing regulations as identified in Table 4-2. Make individual effect determinations for each EFH species and life stage; the number of EFH findings for a given license renewal will depend on the number of EFH
species and life stages with EFH present in the affected area. Importantly, EFH effect determinations characterize the effects on the habitat of the EFH species and their life stages. They do not characterize the effects on the species or the life stages themselves. Similarly, effect determinations for EFH prey characterize the effects on the prey as a food resource rather than the effects on the prey species themselves. For instance, a proposed action that involves water withdrawal from a river for cooling purposes could cause habitat loss (i.e., temporary or permanent physical loss of a portion of the water column). Associated effluent discharge could cause chemical or biological (i.e., temperature and dissolved oxygen content) alterations to the habitat. With respect to prey species, water withdrawals could impinge or entrain prey organisms, which would represent a reduction in available food resources for EFH species within that habitat.


Plankton population (ex            Percent changes          Field studies are required to esti
Table 4-2. Possible EFH Effect Determinations Made by the Federal Action Agency EFH Effect Determinations              Spatial Extent                    Duration substantial adverse effects     surface area, depth, and more than minimal but less than seasonality described in writing substantial adverse effects   with explicit measurements, to      temporary v. permanent minimal adverse effects    the extent possible, or pictorially  short-term v. long-term no adverse effects                  on a map
    1.2   Passage through or reten                1.2.1    Phytoplankton                                                                    mate (1) the diversity and produc and zooplankton     cluding fish) may be changed        in production tion in cooling systems                                                                                    rates and species        tion rates of readily recognizable due to mechanical, thermal, and chemical effects.               diversity                groups (e.g., diatoms, green algae, zooplankton) and (2) the mortality of organisms passing through the condenser and pumps. Include in direct effectsc which affect mortality.


to the unit of measure shown in this table.
Give special attention to HAPCs. The Fishery Management Councils and National Marine Fisheries Service identify HAPCs within designated EFH based on the importance of the habitats ecological function; the extent to which the habitat is sensitive to human-induced environmental degradation; whether, and to what extent, development activities are, or will be, stressing the habitat type;
and the rarity of the habitat type (50 CFR 600.815(a)(8)). If an HAPC is present, make separate effect determinations for the EFH and the HAPC within that EFH. Actions that occur in HAPCs may receive more scrutiny by the National Marine Fisheries Service during EFH consultation when developing conservation recommendations.


aApplicant may substitute an alternative unit of measure where convenient. Such a measure should be related quantitatively bFgih as used in this table includes shellfish and other aquatic invertebrates harvested by man.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to coordinate with the National Marine Fisheries Service on this issue during preparation of the ER, especially for those license renewals that may require EFH
consultation. Include copies of any relevant correspondence in the ER and give special consideration to the Services views when making EFH effect determinations.


metabolic rates, hatching of fish out of phase with food cIndirect effects could include increased disease incidence, increased predation, interference with spawning, changed organisms.
National Marine Sanctuaries Act: Sanctuary Resources


TABLE 5 ( )
This issue concerns the potential effects of continued nuclear power plant operation during an initial LR or SLR term on sanctuary resources protected under the NMSA.
                              Population or                                            Unit of                          Method of Primary Impact      Resources Affected                                        Measurea                        Computation
                          1.2.2 Fish              All life stages (eggs, larvae,    Percent of har      Identify all important species as de etc.) that reach the condenspr    vestable or adult  fined in Section 2.2. Estimate the are subject to attrition.          population de      annual weight and number of each stroyed per year    species that will be destroyed. (For for each impor    larvae, eggs, and juveniles destroyed, tant species        only the expected population that would have survived naturally need be considered.) Compare with the estimated weight and number of the species population in the water body.


1.3 Discharge area and 1.3.1  Water quality,  The rate of dissipation of the    Acres and acre      Estimate the average heat in Btu's thermal plume            excess heat      excess heat, primarily to the      feet                per hour -dissipated to the receiving atmosphere, will depend on                            water at full powe
Table B-1 states the following:


====r. Estimate the====
The potential effects of continued nuclear power plant operation and refurbishment on sanctuary resources would depend on numerous site-specific factors, including the ecological setting; national marine sanctuaries present in the area; and plant-specific
-1                                                both the method of discharge                          water volume and surface areas and the state of the receiving                        within differential temperature water (i.e., ambient tempera                          isotherms of 2, 3, and 5*F under ture and water currents).                              conditions that would tend, with respect to annual variations, to maximize the extent of the areas and volumes.


1.3.2 Water quality,   Dissolved oxygen concentration    Acre-feet          Estimate volumes of affected waters oxygen avail    of receiving waters may be                            with concentrations below 5, 3, ability          modified as a consequence of                          and 1 ppm under conditions that changes in the water temper                          would tend to maximize the impact.
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 58 factors related to operations, including water withdrawal, effluent discharges, and other activities that may affect aquatic habitats. Consultation with the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries under National Marine Sanctuaries Act Section 304(d) would be required if license renewal could destroy, cause the loss of, or injure sanctuary resources.


ature, the translocation of water of different quality, and aeration.
Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(E) requires the following:


1.3.3  Fish            Fishb.may be affected directly    Net effect in      Field measurements are required to (nonmigratory)  or indirectly because of ad      pounds per year    establish the average number and verse conditions in the plume.    (as harvestable    weight (as harvestable or adults)
All license renewal applicants shall assess the impact of refurbishment, continued operations, and other license-renewal-related construction activities on important plant and animal habitats. Additionally, the applicant shall assess the impact of the proposed action on federally protected ecological resources in accordance with Federal laws protecting such resources, including but not limited to, the Endangered Species Act, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act.
                                                                                    or adult fish by    of important species (as defined species of          in Section 2.2). Estimate their interest)          mortality in the receiving water from direct and indirect effects.c
                                                                                                                                    (


K                                                                                                                  K
Section 4.6.1.3.4 of the LR GEIS discusses sanctuary resources. This Category 2 issue applies to all nuclear power plants whose operation may affect the resources of a national marine sanctuary.
                                            TABLE 5 ( )
                      Population or                  Description            Unit of                  Method of Primary Impact  Resources Affected                                      Measurea                Computation
                    1.3.4 Wildlife (in.      Suitable habitats (wetland or Acres of defined Determine the areas impaired as water surface) may be        habitat or nest  habitats because of thermal dis cluding birds                                                    charges, including effects on food affected                      ing area and aquatic and resources. Document estimates of amphibious                                                        affected population by species.


mammals and reptiles)
National marine sanctuaries occur in coastal and marine waters as well as within certain Great Lakes.
                    1.3.5  Fish (migratory)  A thermal barrier may inhibit Pounds per year  Estimate the fraction of the stock migration, both hampering    (as adult or    that is prevented from reaching spawning and diminishing      harvestable fish spawning grounds because of station the survival of returning    by species of    operation. Prorate this directly fish.                        interest)        to a reduction in current and long-term fishing effort supported by that stock. Justify estimate on basis of local migration patterns, experience at other sites, and,
-J
                                                                                              applicable State standards.


TABLE 5 (page 4 of 16)
This issue is generally not relevant for license renewal reviews of plants located on rivers or freshwater lakes or at plants that draw cooling water from human-made cooling ponds or canals that do not hydrologically connect to natural surface waters. Applicants that meet these conditions should provide the information and analysis described below. All other applicants should note in the ER that this issue is not relevant; these applicants need not provide additional information.
          Primary Impact          Population or Resources                                              Unit of            Method of Affected            DescriptionMeasure                        Computation
    1.4 Chemical effluents  1.4.1    Water quality,  Water quality may be        Acre-feet, %    The volume of water required to chemical        impaired.                                   dilute the average daily discharge of each chemical to meet applicable water quality standards should be calculated. Where suitable standards do not exist, use the volume re quired to dilute each chemical to a concentration equivalent to a selected lethal concentration for the most important species (as defined in Section 2.2) in the receiving waters. The ratio of this volume to the annual minimum value of th'e daily net flow, where applicable, of the receiving waters should be ex p-3 pressed as a percentage and the
60                                                                                              largest such percentage reported.


Include the total solids if this is a limiting factor. Include in this calculation the blowdown from cooling towers and other closed-cycle cooling systems.
Information and Analysis Content


1.4.2    Fish            Aquatic populations may be  Pounds per year Total chemical effect on important affected by toxic levels of (by species of  species of aquatic biota should be discharged chemicals or by  fish)          estimated. Biota exposed within reduced dissolved oxygen                    the facility, as well as biota in re concentrations.                            ceiving waters, should be considered.
The ER format should follow the general approach described in RG Section 4.6.1 for all ecological resource issues. Specific information and analysis relevant to this issue are as follows. Notably, in addition to analyzing the impacts of this issue, the ER should contain sufficient information to support the NRC staffs interagency consultation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.


Supporting documentation should include reference to applicable standards, chemicals discharged, and their toxicity to the aquatic populations affected.
Analyze the potential effects of license renewal on sanctuary resources of the national marine sanctuary determined in Chapter 3 of this RG to be potentially present in the affected area. Consistent with the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Overview of Conducting Consultation Pursuant to Section 304(d) of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (Ref. 59), consider including the following information, as applicable:


(
*  the purpose or objectives of the proposed action


K
*   the location of the action and any alternative locations
                                                    TOLE 5 ( )
                                  Population 9D                                        Unit of            Method of Primry impact          ResourcaAffacted              Description              Measurea          Computation
                          1.4.3   Wildlife            Suitable habitats for wildlife Acres          Estimate the area of wetland or Q(Oluding          may be affected.                              water surface impaired as a wildlife
                                  )6irds and                                                        habitat because of chemical con aquatic and                                                        tamination, including effects on amphibious                                                        food resources. Document the mammals and                                                       estimates of affected population reptiles)                                                          by species.


Recreational water uses        Lost annual    The volume of the net flow to the
*  the methods and means for carrying out the action and any alternative methods available
                          1.4.4  People (boating, fishing, swim        user days and   receiving waters required for dilution ming) may be inhibited.        area (acres) or to reach accepted water quality shoreline miles standards must be determined on for dilution    the basis of daily discharge and converted to either surface area or miles of shore. Cross-sectional and annual minimum flow character istics should be incorporated where applicabl


====e. The annual number of====
*  the equipment proposed to be used and any alternative equipment
'0
                                                                                                      visitors to the affected area or shoreline must be obtained. This permits estimation of lost user-days on an annual basis. Any possible eutrophication effects should be estimated and included as a de gradation of quality.


1.5   Radionuclides dis .1.5.1  Aquatic organisms  Radionuclide discharge may    Rad per year    Sum dose contributions from introduce a radiation level                    radionuclides expected to be charged to water                                                                              released.
*   documentation that supports the determination of the likelihood of the action causing injury to sanctuary resources


body                                          that adds to natural back ground radiation.
*  the results of site surveys, studies, and inspections that evaluate the affected area of the project


TABLE 5 ( )
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 59
                                Population or                                          Unit of             Method of Primary Impt    Resources Affected                                        Measureg            Computation
     *  the views of recognized experts on the sanctuary resources that may be affected
                          1.5.2   People, external     Radionuclide discharge may   Rem per year for  Sum annual dose contributions introduce a radiation level individual; man    from nuclides expected to be re that adds to natural back    rem per year for  leased.


ground radiation for water   estimated popu.
*   a review of pertinent scientific literature and related information


Users.                      lation at the midpoint of station operation
*  an analysis of alternate actions considered
                        1.5.3    People, ingestion    Radionuclide discharge may  Rem per year for  Estimate biological accumulation introduce a radiation level  individuals (whole  in foods and intake by individuals that adds to natural back    body and organ);  and population. Calculate doses ground radiation for in      man-rem per year  by summing results for expected gested food and water.      for population at  radionuclides.


the midpoint of station operation
*  copies of any Federal, territory, State, local, or Indian Tribes authorizations, permits, licenses, or other forms of approval (or applications for authorizations, permits, or licenses, if not yet granted)
0
        required for the project or a summary of such approvals that have been sought
  1.6 Consumptive use  1.6.1    People              Drinking water supplies      Gallons per year  Where users withdraw drinking drawn from the water                            water supplies from the affected body may be diminished.                        water body, lost water to users should be estimated. Relevant delivered costs of replacement drinking water should be included.


1.6.2   Agriculture          Water may be withdrawn      Acre-feet per year Where users withdraw irrigation from agricultural usage,                       water from the affected water and use of remaining water                      body, the loss should be evalu may be degraded.                                ated as the sum of two volumes:
*   copies of pertinent reports, including, but not limited to, any EIS, environmental assessment, or biological assessment prepared, and any other relevant information
                                                                                                      the volume of the water lost to agricultural users and the volume of dilution water required to re duce concentrations of dissolved solids in station effluent water to an agriculturally acceptable level.


I                                                                                                                                  (
Report findings in accordance with terminology used in the NMSA as identified in Table 4-3.


TABLE 5 ( )
Table 4-3.  Possible NMSA Effect Determinations Made by the Federal Action Agency NMSA Effect Determinations may affect and is likely to destroy, cause the loss of, or injure may affect but is not likely to destroy, cause the loss of, or injure no effect
                                Population or                                       Unit of           Method of Primary impact      Resources Affected              Description            Measure'          Computation
                            1.6.3  Industry          Water may be withdrawn      Gallons per year for industrial use.


1.7.1  Water quality,   Turbidity, color, or temper Acre-feet and acres The volume of dilution water re
Notably, sanctuary resources can include historic resources in addition to ecological resources.
1.7  Plant construction (in                                                                           quired to meet applicable water cluding site prepara          physical          ature of natural water body may be altered.                                quality standards should be cal tion)                                                                                            culated. The areal extent of the effect should be estimated.


Water quality may be       Acre-feet, %        To the extent possible, the appli
Thus, this analysis should be coordinated with the historic and cultural resource analysis if any historic sanctuary resources are present, and the two analyses may be cross-referenced, as appropriate.
                            1.7.2 Water quality,                                                     cant should treat problems of spills chemical          impaired.


and drainage during construction in the same manner as in Item 1.4.1.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to coordinate with the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries on this issue during preparation of the ER, especially for those license renewals that may require NMSA
consultation. Include copies of any relevant correspondence in the ER and give special consideration to the Services views when making sanctuary resource effect determinations.


The applicant should describe and
4.7    Historic and Cultural Resources
1.8  Other impacts                                                                                    quantify any other environmental effects of the proposed station that are significant.


Where evidence indicates that the
The following Category 2 issue requires a plant-specific assessment.
1.9  Combined or inter                                                                                combined effect of a number of active effects                                                                                  impacts on a particular population or resource is not adequately indi cated by measures of the separate impacts, the total combined effect should be described.


1.10 Net effects                                                                                        See discussion in Section 5.7.
Historic and Cultural Resources


TABLE 5 ( )
Table B-1 states the following:
                                        Population or        Description              Unit of            Method of Primary Impact        Resources Affected                                Measurea            Computation


===2. GROUND WATER===
Impacts from continued operations and refurbishment on historic and cultural resources located onsite and in the transmission line ROW are analyzed on a plant-specific basis.
        2.1  Raising/lowering of  2.1.1    People      Availability or quality of  Gallons per year  Volume of replacement water for
            :ground water levels                        drinking water may be                          local wells actually affected decreased, and the func                        should be estimated.


tioning of existing wells may be impaired.
The NRC will perform a National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 review, in accordance with 36 CFR Part 800 which includes consultation with the State and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Indian Tribes, and other interested parties.


2.1.2    Vegetation  Trees and other deep-rooted  Acres            Estimate the area in which ground vegetation may be affected.                    water level change may have an adverse effect on local vegetation.
Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(ii)(K) requires the following:


Report this acreage on a separate schedule by land use. Specify such uses as recreational, agricultural, and residential.
All applicants shall identify any potentially affected historic and cultural resources and historic properties and assess whether continued operations and any planned refurbishment activities would affect these resources in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and in the context of the National Environmental Policy Act.


i.l*
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 60
         2.2 Chemical contamina  2.2.1    People      Drinking water of nearby    Gallons per year   Compute annual loss of potable tion of ground water                      communities may be                            water.
         Section 4.7 of the LR GEIS discusses historic and cultural resources. Section 106 of the NHPA
requires that Federal agencies consider the effects of the agencys undertaking (including issuance of a license) on historic properties included in, or eligible for, the NRHP and, before approval of an undertaking, give the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation a reasonable opportunity to comment on the undertaking. The NHPA defines undertakings as any project or activity that is funded or under the direct jurisdiction of a Federal agency, or any project or activity that requires a Federal permit, license, or approval. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation   s regulations at 36 CFR Part 800, Protection of Historic Properties, set forth the procedures that define how Federal agencies meet Section 106 responsibilities.


(excluding salt)                          affected.
The applicant should provide the information and analysis needed for the NRC to comply with Section 106 requirements in a manner that minimizes the potential for delays in the environmental review.


2.2.2    Vegetation  Trees and other deep-rooted Acres              Estimate area affected and report vegetation may experience                      separately by land use. Specify toxic effects.                                such uses as recreational, agri cultural, and residential.
The applicant should identify any activities and impacts associated with continued operations (including maintenance activities) and any refurbishment activities that could affect historic properties within the direct and indirect APE. Applicants should involve and seek input from the SHPO, local historic preservation officials, THPO, Indian Tribes, and interested parties in the assessment and include letters that support these interactions. The applicant should also consider the effects of continued nuclear plant operations and refurbishment activities on historic and cultural resources that do not meet the criteria to be considered a historic property under the NHPA, but could be considered by the SHPO, THPO, Indian Tribes, or local historians to have local historic value and could contribute substantially to an areas sense of historic character.


2.3 Radionuclide con    2.3.1    People      Radionuclides that enter    Rem per year for  Estimate intakes by individuals and tamination of                              ground water may add to    individuals (whole populations. Sum dose contributions ground water                              natural background radia    body and organ);  for nuclides expected to be released.
Information and Analysis Content


tion level for water and    man-rem per year food supplies.              for population at the midpoint of station operation
The applicant should include the following information in the ER (with appropriate reference to Chapter 3 of the ER to avoid duplication of information):
                                                                                                                                      (


K                                                                                                                                K
*   Identify any activities associated with continued operations, maintenance, and refurbishment that could affect onsite or offsite historic and cultural resources located within the direct and indirect APEs. Such activities include ground-disturbing activities (e.g., land clearing, grading, excavating, road work), increases in traffic, and noise and visual intrusions.
                                                      TABLE 5 (Page9 of 16)
        Primary Impact        Population or                                      Unit of            Method of Resources Affected                                    Measurea          Computation
                            2.3.2   Vegetation and   Radionuclides that enter  Rad per year      Estimate uptake in plants and animals          ground water may add to                      transfer to animals. Sum dose natural background radia                    contributions for nuclides ex tion level for local plant                  pected to be released.


forms and animal popu lation.
*  Identify and assess effects to historic properties found in the direct and indirect APEs that may be affected by the proposed undertaking (i.e., initial LR or SLR). Use the criteria specified in 36 CFR 800.5 to assess adverse effects on historic properties. Provide a basis and documentation for how a conclusion is reached.


2.4 Other impacts on                                                                          The applicant should describe and ground water                                                                              quantify any other environmental effects of the proposed station that are significant.
*  Identify and assess effects to historic and cultural resources that are not determined to be historic properties but may be considered important in the context of  NEPA (e.g., sacred sites, cemeteries, local gathering areas).


3. AIR
*  Discuss the direct and indirect effects (e.g., ground disturbance, physical, visual, auditory, atmospheric such as fugitive dust, light, and traffic), if any, from the proposed project, and from any associated transmission lines on nearby historic properties or important historic and cultural resources.
    3.1 Fogging and icing  3.1.1  Ground transpor    Safety hazards may be      Vehicle-hours per Compute the number of hours per (caused by evapora        tation            created in the nearby      year              year that driving hazards will be tion and drift)                              regions in all seasons.                      increased on paved highways by fog and ice due to cooling towers and ponds. Documentation should in clude the visibility criteria used for defining hazardous conditions on the highways actually affected.


3.1.2  Air transportation Safety hazards may be      Hours per year,  Compute the number of hours per created in the nearby      flights delayed  year that commercial airports will regions in all seasons.   per year          be closed to visual (VFR) and in strumental (IFR) air traffic because of fog and ice from cooling towers.
The assessment should lead to one of three conclusions for NHPA (see 36 CFR 800.4):


Estimate number of flights delayed per year.
*  No historic properties present, the undertaking will have no effect to historic properties


3.1.3  Water transpor    Safety hazards may be      Hours per year,   Compute the number of hours per tation            created in the nearby re  number of ships  year ships will need to reduce speed gions in all seasons.      affected per year because of fog from cooling towers or ponds or because of warm water added to the surface of the river, lake, or sea.
*  Historic properties present, but the undertaking will have no adverse effect upon them


TABLE 5 ( )
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 61
                                                                      Description                Unit of         Method of Primary Impact          Population or                                                              Computation rtReources Affeted                                          Measurem
    *   Historic properties present: the undertaking will have an adverse effect upon them (see
                                3.1.4   Vegetation         Damage to timber and crops    Acres by crop      Estimate the acreage of potential may occur through intro                          plant damage by crop.
         36 CFR 800.5)


duction of adverse conditions.
If a qualified professional has recommended a no historic properties present determination, then the applicant should provide supporting documentation in the ER.


3.2 Chemical discharge to 3.2.1  Air quality,       Pollutant emissions may di    % and pounds or   The actual concentration of each ambient air                    chemical          minish the quality of the     tons              pollutant in ppm for maximum local ambient air.                                daily emission rate should be ex pressed as a percentage of the applicable emission standard. Re.
If a qualified professional has recommended a finding of no adverse effect to historic properties, the applicant should develop a plan that outlines protective measures to minimize or avoid these effects. The applicant should engage the SHPO, THPO, Indian Tribes, and interested parties in the formalization of these protection plans and document this within the ER.


port weight for expected annual emissions.
If a qualified professional determines that adverse effects to historic properties could occur, the applicant should engage with the SHPO, THPO, Indian Tribes, and interested parties and document this determination in the ER. The ER should describe any procedures and cultural resource management plans developed by the applicant to protect historic and cultural resources as well as any measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects. These procedures should also include steps to take in the event of inadvertent discoveries, including the discovery of human remains.


3.2.2  Air quality, odor  Odor in gaseous discharge      Statement          A statement must be made as to or from effects on water                          whether odor originating in station body may be objectionable.                        is perceptible at any point offsite.
The applicant should be aware that the NRC, as a Federal agency, is responsible for consulting with the SHPO, THPO, Indian Tribes, and interested parties as part of the Section 106 compliance process. If the NRC determines an adverse effect may occur, it will, in accordance with 36 CFR Part 800,
develop proposed measures in consultation with identified consulting parties that might avoid, minimize, or mitigate such effects. Such measures, as appropriate, would be discussed in the NRC staffs SEIS. The applicant will have the responsibility for implementing the measures identified and agreed upon by the consulting parties to avoid, minimize, or mitigate the effects.


3.3 Radionuclides dis      3.3.1  People, external  Radionuclide discharge or      Rem per year for  Sum dose contributions from p.-
For historic or cultural resources that do not meet the criteria to be considered a historic property under the NHPA, the applicant should assess whether there are any potential impacts through the NEPA
          charged to ambient                                direct radiation may add      individuals (whole nuclides expected to be released.
process as a result of continued operations and provide documentation to support the assessment in the ER.


air and direct radia                              to natural background          body and organ);
4.8     Socioeconomics
          tion from radioactive                            radiation level.               man-rem per year materials (in plant or                                                          for population at being transported)                                                              the midpoint of station operation
                                3.3.2    People, ingestion Radionuclide discharge may    Rem per year for  For radionuclides expected to be add to the natural radioac     individuals (whole released, estimate deposit and tivity in vegetation and in    body and organ);  accumulation in foods. Estimate soil.                          man-rem per year  intakes by individuals and popu for population at  lations and sum results for all ex the midpoint of    pected radionuclides.


station operation
Socioeconomic impacts are evaluated in the LR GEIS and are generic (the same or similar at all plants) or Category 1. The applicant should discuss any new and significant information in the ER, if applicable; otherwise, socioeconomic impacts do not need to be analyzed.
                                3.3.3    Vegetation and   Radionuclide discharge may    Rad per year      Estimate deposit of radionuclides animals          add to natural background                          on and uptake in plants and radioactivity of local plant                      animals. Sum dose contributions and animal life.                                for radionuclides expected to be released.


t                                                                                                                                    ((
4.9    Human Health


TABLE 5 ( )
The following human health-related Category 2 issues require a plant-specific assessment.
                                          Population or                                        Unit of                Method of Primary Impct              Resources Affected              DMcription              easure$                Computation
      3.4 Other impacts on air                                                                                    The applicant should describe and quantify any other environ mental effects of the proposed plant that are significant.


===4.  LAND===
Microbiological Hazards to the Public
      4.1 Site selection          4.1.1  Land, amount          Land will be preempted for      Acres            State the number of acres preempted construction of nuclear                          for station, exclusion zone, and power station, station' facil                    accessory facilities such as cooling ities, and exclusion zone.                      towers and ponds. By separate schedule, state the type and class of land preempted (e.g., scenic shoreline, wet land, forest land, etc.).
      4.2 Construction activities 4.2.1  People (amenities)    There will be a loss of desir  Total population The disruption of community life U'        (including site                                        able qualities in the environ  affected, years  (or alternatively the degree of preparation)                                          ment due to the noise and                        community isolation from such movement of men, material,                      irritations) should be estimated.


and machines.                                    Estimate the number of residences, schools, hospitals, etc., within area of visual and audio impacts. Esti mate the duration of impacts and total population affected.
Table B-1 states the following about the public health effects of microbiological (thermophilic)
organisms:


4.2.2  People (accessi        Historical sites may be af    Visitors per year Determine historical sites that might bility of historical  fected by construction                          be displaced by generation facilities.
These microorganisms are not expected to be a problem at most operating plants except possibly at plants using cooling ponds, lakes, canals, or that discharge to publicly accessible surface waters. Impacts would depend on site-specific characteristics.


sites)                                                                  Estimate effect on any other sites in plant environs. Express net impact in terms of annual number of visitors.
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 62 Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(G) requires the following:


TABLE 5 ( )
If the applicants plant uses a cooling pond, lake, canal, or discharges to publicly accessible surface waters, an assessment of the impact of the proposed action on public health from thermophilic organisms in the affected water must be provided.
                                Population or                                           Unit of             Method of Primary Impact      Resources Affected                                          Measure'          Computation
                          4.2.3  People (accessi.  Construction activity may      Qualified opinion  Summarize evaluation of impact on bility of archeo  impinge upon sites of                            archeological resources in terms logical sites)    archeological value.                              of remaining potential value of the site. Referenced documentation should include statements from responsible county, State, or Federal agencies, if available.


4.2.4  Wildlife            Wildlife may be affected.     Qualified opinion   Summarize qualified opinion in cluding views of cognizant local and State wildlife agencies when available, taking into account both beneficial and adverse effects.
Section 4.9.1.1.3 of the LR GEIS discusses this issue. Nuclear plants that use cooling ponds, lakes, canals, or that discharge to publicly accessible surface waters have a potential to enhance the concentration of thermophilic microorganisms   . Microbiological organisms of concern for public and occupational health include enteric pathogens (bacteria that typically exist in the intestines of animals and humans [e.g., Pseudomonas aeruginosa]), thermophilic fungi, bacteria (e.g., Legionella spp. and Vibrio spp.), free-living amoebae (e.g., Naegleria fowleri and Acanthamoeba spp.), as well as organisms that produce toxins that affect human health (e.g., dinoflagellates [Karenia brevis] and blue-green algae).


4.2.5  Land (erosion)    Site preparation and station  Cubic yards and    Estimate soil displaced by construc construction will involve cut acres              tion activity and erosio
Information and Analysis Content


====n. Beneficial====
If the applicant can show that the nuclear plant does not use cooling ponds, lakes, canals and does not discharge to publicly accessible surface waters, the ER should note this fact, and further information or analysis need not be provided. If the plant does use cooling ponds, lakes, canals, or discharges to publicly accessible surface waters, the applicant should provide the following information in the ER:
'-4                                                  and fill operations with                        and detrimental effects should be accompanying erosion                            reported separately.


potential.
*  If the State advises that tests should be conducted for concentration of N. fowleri or other thermophilic microorganisms in the receiving waters, perform the tests when the facility has been operating at a power level typical of the level anticipated during the license renewal period for at least 1 month to ensure a steady-state population during the sampling. Collect samples at locations of potential public use.


4.3 Station operation 4.3.1   People (amenities) Noise may induce stress.      Number of resi    Use applicable State and local codes dents, school      for offaite noise levels foisasessifig populations,      impact. If there Is no code, consider hospital beds      nearby land use, current zoning, and ambient sound levels in asse~giig impact. The predicted sound level may be compared with the published guidelines of the Environmental Pro tection Agency (EPA), American Industrial Hygiene Association, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
*   Assess the data collected to determine the magnitude of potential impacts  of thermophilic microorganisms on public health during the license renewal  term.
                                                                                                                                  (


K
*  Describe proposed mitigation measures to    minimize the exposure to members   of the public and the rationale for not implementing any measures that were considered but rejected.
                                                  TABLE 5 ( )
      Primary Impact        Population  or              Description              Unit of              Method of Resources  Affected                                    Measurea              Computation
                      4.3.2  People (esthetics)  The local landscape as viewed   Qualified opinion Summarize qualified opinion, in from adjacent residential areas                  cluding views of cognizant local and neighboring historical,                      and regional authorities when scenic, and recreational sites                    available.


may be rendered esthetically objectionable by station structures.
Electric Shock Hazards


4.3.3  Wildlife          'Wildlife may be affected.      Qualified opinion Summarize qualified opinion, in cluding views of cognizant local and State wildlife agencies when available, taking into account both beneficial and adverse effec*
Table B-1 states the following:
                      4.3.4  Land, flood        Health and safety near the     Reference to      Reference should be made to regula control            water body may be affected      Flood Control    tions of cognizant Flood Control by flood control.              District approval Agency by use of one of the follow ing terms: Has No Implications for flood control, Complies with flood control regulation.


4.4 Salts discharged  4.4.1  People            Intrusion of salts into        Pounds per        Estimate the amount of salts dis from cooling                                ground water may affect        square foot per  charged as drift and particulates.
Electrical shock potential is of small significance for transmission lines that are operated in adherence with the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC)    . Without a review of conformance with NESC criteria of each nuclear power plants in    -scope transmission lines, it is not possible to determine the significance of the electrical shock potential.


towers                                      water supply.                  year              Report maximum deposition.
Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(H) requires the following:


Supporting documentation should include patterns of deposition and projection of possible effect on water supplies.
If the applicants transmission lines that were constructed for the specific purpose of connecting the plant to the transmission system do not meet the  recommendations of the National Electrical Safety Code for preventing electric shock from induced currents, an assessment of the impact of the proposed action on the potential shock hazard from the transmission lines must be provided  .


TABLE 5 ( )
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 63 Section 4.9.1.1.5 of the LR GEIS discusses this issue, which concerns only the in-scope transmission lines. Sections 3.1.1 and 3.1.7 of the LR GEIS specifically define which transmission lines are considered in-scope with respect to license renewal environmental reviews. The issue of electric shock potential is reviewed as part of the construction permit. Most transmission lines were designed to comply with the NESC recommendations for electric shock hazard. However, unless the utility has had an active program of transmission line management aimed at reviewing changes in land use in the ROW and the operating characteristics of the transmission line, as well as ensuring compliance with changes in the NESC, the line may not meet current NESC recommendations.
                                Population or                                    Unit of               Method of Pimary Impact      Resources Affected            Description            Measurea            Computation
                          4.4.2  Vegetation and   Deposition of entrained salts Acres            Salt tolerance of vegetation in af animals          may be detrimental in some                    fected area must be determined.


nearby regions.                                That area, if any, receiving salt deposition in excess of tolerance (after allowance for dilution) must be estimated. Report separately an appropriate tabulation of acreage by land use. Specify such uses as recreational, agricultural, and residential. Where wildlife habitat is affected, identify popula tions.
Information and Analysis Content


4.4.3  Property      Structures and movable        Dollars per year If salt spray impinges upon a local resources      property may suffer de                        community, property damage may gradation from corrosive                      be estimated by applying to the effects.                                       local value of buildings, machinery,
If the in-scope transmission lines meet current NESC clearance standards, the discussion in the ER should demonstrate that fact. The demonstration should take one of two forms, either (1) a calculation that demonstrates adherence to the current NESC standard and a description of an ongoing program of transmission line ROW supervision and management aimed at ensuring that current electrical shock provisions of the NESC are met, or (2) a transmission line survey. The survey should consider the transmission line characteristics, clearances, and human uses of the transmission corridor and describe measures that could be taken to meet the standards, the measures the applicant plans or proposes to undertake, and whether those measures will meet the standards. It should also consider basic electrical design parameters, including transmission design voltage or voltages, line capacity, conductor type and configuration, spacing between phases, minimum conductor clearances to ground, maximum predicted electrical field strength(s) at 1 meter above ground, the predicted electrical field strength at the edge of the ROW in kilovolts per meter, and the design bases for these values.
00                                                                                                and vehicles a differential in average depreciation rates between this and a comparable seacoast community.


4.5 Transmission route 4.5.1  Land, amount    Land will be preempted for    Miles, acres    State total length and area of new selection                                  construction of transmission                   rights-of-way. Estimate current line systems.                                 market value of land involved.
Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(iii), if any in-scope transmission lines do not meet current NESC
clearance standards, the applicant should describe the mitigating alternatives available for reducing any adverse impacts. If applicable, the applicant should explain in detail the rationale for concluding that the standards are not appropriate to the situation (such as other governing standards) or the rationale for not making modifications to me  et the standards.


4.5.2  Land use and    Lines may pass through        Miles, acres,    Total length of new transmission land value      visually sensitive (that is,  dollars          lines and area of rights-of-way sensitive to presence of                      through various categories of transmission lines and                        visually sensitive land. Estimate towers) areas, thus imping                    minimum loss in current property ing on the present and po                      values of adjacent areas.
Postulated Accidents


tential use and value of neighboring property.
In the June 2013 Revisions to Environmental Review for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating License, Final Rule (78 FR 37282) (Ref. 60), the Commission reaffirmed that a plant-specific consideration of severe accident mitigation alternatives (SAMAs) will be required at the time of license renewal unless the applicant has previously performed a SAMA analysis for a given  nuclear plant. If an applicant has not previously performed a SAMA analysis for their plant, then  refer to RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Revision 1 (Ref. 61). In the revised LR GEIS (NUREG-1437, Revision 2), the NRC
reviewed postulated accidents including severe accidents and determined they  are Category 1. Further information regarding postulated accidents is provided in Chapter 5 of this RG.


(
4.10    Environmental Justice


K
The following Category 2 issue requires a plant-specific assessment.
                                                        TABLE 5 ( )
                                    Population or            Description              Unit of                Method of Primary Impact      Resources Affected                                    Measuren            computation
                          4.5.3 People            Lines may present visually      Number of such  Estimate total number of visually undesirable features..          features        undesirable features, such as (esthetics)
                                                                                                    number of major road crossings in vicinity of intersection of inter changes; number of major water way crossings; number of crest, ridge, or other high point crossings; and number of "long views" of transmission lines perpendicular to highways and waterways.


4.6 Transmission      4.6.1   Land adjacent    Constructing new roads for      Miles            Estimate length of new access and facilities                to rights-of-way access to rights-of-way may                      service roads required for alter construction                                have environmental impact.                        native routes.
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 64 Impacts on Minority Populations, Low-Income Populations, and Indian Tribes


4.6.2 Land, erosion      Soil erosion may result from      Tons            Estimate area with increased erosion
Table B-1 states the following:
'0                                                  construction activities.        per year        potential traceable to construction activities.


4.6.3  Wildlife        Wildlife habitat and access      Number of im    Identify important species that may to habitat may be affected.      portant species be disturbed (Section 2.2).
Impacts on minority populations, low-income populations, Indian Tribes, and subsistence consumption resulting from continued operations and refurbishment associated with license renewal will be addressed in nuclear plant-specific reviews.
                                                                                    affected
                          4.6A    Vegetation        Vegetation may be affected.


4.7 Transmission line  4.7.1  Land use          Land preempted by rights-of      %, dollars      Estimate percent of rights-of-way operation                                    way may be used for addi                          for which no multiple-use activities tional beneficial purposes                        are planned. Annual value of such as orchards, picnic areas,                  multiple-use activities less cost of nurseries, and hiking and                        improvements.
Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(N) requires the following:


riding trails.
Applicants shall provide information on the general demographic composition of minority and low-income populations and communities (by race and ethnicity)  and Indian Tribes in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant that could be disproportionately affected by license renewal, including continued reactor operations and refurbishment activities.


4.7.2 Wildlife          Modified wildlife habitat may    Qualified        Summarize qualified opinion in result in changes.               opinion          cluding views of cognizant local and State wildlife agencies when available.
Section 4.10 of the LR GEIS discusses environmental justice. Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions To Address Environ  mental Justice in Minority Populations and Low -Income Populations, issued February 11, 1994 (Ref. 62), directs each Federal agency to make achieving environmental justice part of its mission by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of its programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income populations. Independent agencies, including the NRC, are not required to follow the terms of Executive Order 12898,  but are requested to comply with the provisions of [the]
order. In a letter to the President, former NRC Chairman Ivan Selin pledged the NRC would endeavor to carry out the measures set forth in Executive Order 12898  as part of NRCs efforts to comply with NEPA (Ref. 63).


TABLE 5 ( )
CEQ has oversight of the Federal governments compliance with Executive Order 12898 and NEPA. In consultation with EPA, the Environmental Justice Interagency Working Group, and other affected agencies, CEQ developed guidance to further assist Federal agencies with their NEPA
          Primary Impact  Population or          Description        Unit of         Method of Resources Affected                        Measurea        Computation
procedures so that environmental justice concerns are effectively identified and addressed. On December 10, 1997, CEQ issued Environmental Justice: Guidance under the National Environmental Policy Act (Ref. 64). CEQ developed this guidance to further assist Federal agencies with their National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures. As a matter of policy, the NRC considers CEQ
4.8  Other land. impacts                                                    The applicant should describe and quantify any other environmental effects of the proposed station that are significant.
guidance on environmental justice in its NEPA review process.


4.9  Combined or                                                            Where evidence indicates that the interactive effects                                                     combined effects of a number of impacts on a particular popula tion or resource are not adequately indicated by measures of the separate impacts, the total com bined effect should be described.
CEQ provides the following information on disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects in its guidance:


Both beneficial and adverse inter actions should be indicated.
Disproportionately High and Adverse Human Health Effects - Adverse health effects are measured in terms of the risks and rates of fatal or nonfatal exposure to an environmental hazard and are evaluated as to whether they are significant (as employed by NEPA), or above generally accepted norms. Adverse health effects may include bodily impairment, infirmity, illness, or death. Disproportionately high and adverse human health effects occur when the risk or rate of exposure to an environmental hazard by a minority population, low-income population, or Indian Tribe to an environmental hazard is significant (as employed by NEPA) and appreciably exceeds  or is likely to appreciably exceed the risk or exposure rate for the general population or for another appropriate comparison group.  The ER should also consider w hether health effects occur in a minority population, low-income population, or Indian Tribe affected by cumulative or multiple adverse exposures from environmental hazards.


4.10 Net effects                                                             See discussion in Section 5.7.
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 65 Disproportionately High and Adverse Environmental Effects - Disproportionately high and adverse environmental effects occur when an impact on the natural or physical environment significantly (as employed by NEPA) and adversely affects a minority population, low-income population, or Indian Tribe. Such effects may include ecological, cultural, human health, economic, or social impacts on minority communities, low-income communities, or Indian Tribes when those impacts are interrelated with impacts on the natural or physical environment; the environmental effects are significant (as employed by NEPA) and are or may be having an adverse impact on minority populations, low-income populations, or Indian Tribes that appreciably exceeds or is likely to appreciably exceed those on the general population or other appropriate comparison group; and the environmental effects occur or would occur in a minority population, low-income population, or Indian Tribe affected by cumulative or multiple adverse exposures from environmental hazards.


(
In 2004, the Commission issued its Policy Statement on the Treatment of Environmental Justice Matters in NRC Regulatory and Licensing Actions (69 FR    52040) (Ref. 65), which states, The Commission is committed to the general goals set forth in E.O. 12898, and strives to meet those goals as part of its NEPA review process. This policy statement further states that the NRCs goal is to identify and adequately weigh or mitigate effects on low-income and minority communities by assessing impacts peculiar to those communitiesEJ is a tool, within the normal NEPA context, to identify communities that might otherwise be overlooked and identify impacts due to their uniqueness as part of the NRCs NEPA review process. The following guidance is consistent with this policy statement.


APPENDICES
The environmental justice review involves identifying minority and low -income populations and Indian Tribes in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant that may be affected by license renewal and any concerns and potential environmental and human health effects that may affect these populations. This includes identifying the geographic areas of comparison (e.g., the percentage of minority and low-income populations and Indian Tribes that geographically reside within affected census block(s) as compared to the average percentage of these populations within a 50-mile [80-kilometer] radius of the site), as well as the significance of any concerns and potential environmental and human health effects and whether these effects would be disproportionately high and adverse when compared to impacts on the general population. The appropriate unit of geographic analysis may be a political jurisdiction, county, region, or State or other similar unit that is chosen so as not to artificially dilute or inflate the affected minority population. If the effects would be disproportionately high and adverse, the review should consider possible mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate these effects. The NRC will perform the environmental justice review to determine whether there would be disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects on minori  ty populations, low-income populations, and Indian Tribes for the plant-specific SEIS. The review will be based on information provided in the ER and scoping.
                                                    APPENDIX A
§51.20. 10 CFR PART 51, -APPUCANT-S ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT-CONSTRUCTION PERMIT STAGE"
            (a)    Invmmh    nta    consderatlkw              atswards and kequirenents (including.


Bach applicant I for a permit to construct            but not limited to. applicable zoning and a production or utilization facility cur              Iand-se regulations auO thermal and ered by i 51.5(a shl submit with its                  Other Water polution limitatlons or re application a separate document. en                    quiremnt promulgated or imposed Pur titled -Appncnt's Environmental Re                      mutt to the Federal Water Polluton port-        tu      Permit Stage:" which            ftntrl Act) which have been imposed contains a description of the proposed                by      derml State, regional, and local action, a statement of its purposer, and a description of the environment af                    agaeues having responsibility for en fected, and which discusses the follow                virnmmtal protection. 7he discussion Ing considerations:                                    ri alternative. In the Report shall In
Information and Analysis Content
            (1) -The probable tmpact of the pro                dude a dliscussion wether the alterna posed action on the environment:                      ttve wm cmnpl with msch ipplicable
            (2) Any probable adverse environ mental effects which cannot be avoided                Menrnmental quality standards and re should the proposal be Implemented;                    qulrent        The envihronental impact
            (3) Alterma~e      to the SZroposed              of the facility and alternatives shall be Action;                                                ful cdacumsed with respect to matters
            (4) 22    relationship between local                  - 1r such standards and require short-term uses of mup' environment                    ments irrsectv


====e. of whether a cerU====
The applicant should include the following information in the ER to assist NRC staff in its environmental justice review:
        and .ie maintenance and enhancement ef long-term Productivity: and                          ficaton or license from the appropriate
            (5) An Irreversible and Iratrievable                autortly has been obtained (including, comnmileni of resources which would                    lbt not limlted to. saw certification ob be involved In the proposed action should               ttned purmuant to section 401 of the it be hnpleaented. The discusfn o                      Feden a Water Pollution Control Act ".
        alternatives to the proposed action re                  Bach discumson shaml be reflected in the quired by paragraph (a) (3) shall be aut                  ooW-bemsM analysis prescribed in para iciently complete to aid the Commission              graph (b). While satisfaction of Com in deweloin and explorinL pursuant to                    emm standards and crteria pertain section 102(2) (D) of lPA. -appropri.;                  nog to radiological effects wil be neces ate alternatives        *in  any proposal            saw to meet the licensin requirements bi involvs unesved                aonfflts om            CC the Atomic Energy Act, the cest-bete cemn alterative mea al avallabel                      fit analysis prescribed In paragraph (b)
          resources."                                            saoll, for the purposes of NEPA. consder (b) Cost-benefit analyde. 'The Mk                  the radkfolgal effects -together with vhmentsl Report required by parr                      OWa other effecte. at the facility and gra*h (a) shall include a cost-bmmit                  altenatives.


anl-ys wbich considems and balances                      (d) The information submitted por the environmental effects of the faciit                innt to paragrups (a)-(c) of this see grd the alternatives avalable for reduc                donUsh. ld not be confined to data sup lug or avoiding adverse environmental                     - x the p-            acUo but should efeet. as well as the envitrimnmental.                Inhale adverse data as well.
*  Based on information about minority and low  -income populations, Indian Tribes, and communities residing in the immediate vicinity of the nuclear power plant (as presented in Section 3.10 of this RG that addresses ER Section 3.10), identify any potential human health and environmental concerns these populations and communities may have about continued reactor operations. Also discuss the potential for disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects on these populations and communities.


ee minic technical and other benefits                      fe) In the Environmental Report re of the facility. The cost-beneft analysis                  I Id by paragraph (a) for lftht-water-:
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 66
          dm.n, to the ftulest extent practicable.                 -oienuclear power reactors. -the con qufnmy the varioum factors cdder-ei                    tributtiou -otU
    *  To the extent that information is available, describe any observed subsistence consumption behavior patternsspecifically fish and wildlife consumptionby minority and low-income populations and Indian Tribes in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant (see Section 4-4 of Executive Order 12898). This subsistence consumption behavior could consist of hunting, fishing, and trapping of game animals and any other general food-gathering activities (e.g.,
                                                                              te      tovraimental effecits of.
        collecting nuts and berries) conducted by minority and low-income populations and Indian Tribes in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant.


7a the extent that such factors canmnt                  rn      sob mn      and mmrml the pmotd be quantified, Whey shall be discussed In qualitative terms The Environmetal                    fam at wanhon hezafillorlde. &Isovtoi Report honecontain sucen data to                      enrichment ful fabrication. repmcesm aid the Commission tn its development                  tug of Irzadi*ted fuel. transportation of radctivm matls              m and     nagement cc an iependent costbeneft analysis.                    of Jow level wastes and highklel      wastes (G) btt      of complianc    The En vUnmUMtal Report required by para                      related to uranium fuel cyle activities graph (a) shall include a dlscusso of                  to the environmental omI a licensing the staus of compliance of the facility                the maclew pomwer reactor. shall be a set with applicable environmental quality                  forth *t      ftollownf table No further diocuoi    of such envuriamental effectb shul be requir aWkAm the "appisUt'*. maumd In Ute                  Th paragraph does n=t apy to ary part. b a Fedkral agncy. difetet a-ranve                appilicaf    environental report          ub mmtS for -mplemenwltg ]UFA "mybe mae puramnt to the GOuideni estabaitbed by                      f) -Number of copies. Each applicant the Counc on &Tukooaina        Qeuelty.                Xlor a permit to construct a production or
*  To the extent that information is available, provide any information about current or past wildlife sampling and testing for radioactivity in game animals such as deer, squirrel, turkey, pheasant, duck, and other game birds and animals that may have been conducted in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant.
              *No permit or UemelS w,   of    ou-. be          .utlization facility covered by § 51.5(a)
            Ateod with mepect to an, acvity for wVhcha            shall submit the number of copies, as a Amwimiao zequtrd by secUon    401 o th              specified in § 51.40, of the Environmen yederal Watur loituta Control Act bha na"              tal Report required by § 51.5(a).
          bem obtatG&L
                                                          A-I


I
*   If it is determined that reactor operations and other license renewal-related activities could affect minority and/or low-income populations and Indian Tribes, describe any mitigation measures that have been or could be implemented.
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(g) (1) The Environmental Report re                                                        (1) The reactor is a light-water-cooled quired by paragraph (a) for light-water                                                  Auclear power reactor with a core cooled nuclear power reactors shall con                                                  thermal power level not exceeding 3,800
4.11    Waste Management
tain either (I) a statement that the                                                      megawatts;
transportation of cold fuel to the reactor                                                    (II) The reactor fuel is In the form of and irradiated -fuel from the reactor to                                                  sintered uranium dioxide pellets encap a fuel reprocessing plant and the trans                                                  sulated in zircaloy rods with a uranium portation of solid radioactive wastes from                                                235 enrichment not exceeding 4% by the reactor to waste burial grounds is                                                    weight;
within the scope of this paragraph, and                                                        (Mi) The average level of irradiation as the contribution of the environmental                                                  of the irradiated fuel from the reactor effects of such transportation to the en                                                  does not exceed 33.000 megawatt days vironmental costs of licensing the nu                                                    per metric ton and no irradiated fuel clear power reactor, the values set forth                                                  assembly Is shipped until at least 90 days in the following Summary Table S-4; or                                                    have elapsed after the fuel assembly was (iI) If such transportation does not fanl                                                discharged from the reactor:
within the scope of this paragraph, a                                                          (iv) Waste (other than Irradiated full description and detailed analysis of                                                  fuel) shipped from the reactor is In the the environmental effects of such trans                                                    form of packs ged, solid wastes; and portation and. as the contribution of                                                          (v) Unirradiated fuel Is shipped to the such effects to the environmental costs of licensing the nuclear power reactor,                                                  reactor by truck; Irradiated fuel Is the values determined by such analyses                                                    shipped from the reactor by truck, railL
for the environmental Impact under nor                                                    or barge; and waste other than Irradi mal conditions of transport and the                                                      ated fuel is shipped from the reactor environmental risk from accidents In                                                      by truck or rail.


transport.                                                                                    (3) ThIs paragraph does not apply to
Impacts associated with waste management activities evaluated in the LR GEIS are generic (the same or similar at all plants) or Category 1. The applicant should discuss any new and significant information in the ER, if applicable; otherwise, waste management impacts do not need to be analyzed.
    (2) This paragraph applies to the                                                      any applicant's environmental report transportation of fuel and wastes to and                                                  submitted prior to Februwy 5, 1975.


from a nuclear power reactor only if:
4.12    Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change
        *uMAzT TABLZ S-4.HEnvirornta impact of Ounepottaiean of fuel mul-wade to mit from Iv lit                                      leow                  e acto It?
                                                            lNormal conditiomoftrnsportl                                I
      "Iest(..r hmdi&WbyfaeFederal  cask In tnsit)                          ............ ....z27                  MOW.


Wei&t (governed                      or Statrt                    ......................            rAM ~p              k      toW , ae4        w lraflle density:
Impacts associated with GHG emissions are evaluated in the LR GEIS and are generic or Category 1. The applicant should discuss any new and significant information in the ER, if applicable;
            Uj..lRTf            il *............................
otherwise, the impact on climate change from the plants GHG emissions does not need to be analyzed.
                      .a ...........................
                  .................                              ...........          .............
                                                                                      -------              Lothin.1pedi L iestba lpr Erstneted          Rang. of dowes to expused          Cmaulatlve doss to expoee4
                    ]iposed population                              pertoai of nomber            Individuals    2 (per reacte year)                              lm (per Reactor populetion expose
      "Traresportailon ileueral public:
                            workers..*.................
                              *
                                                                              20WOotono0mrem *. .................. 4on-ia.


Onlookers .............................                        I,100 0.0      to 13lmilrem ...............-             mre-iM.
The following Category 2 issue requires a plant-specific assessment.


Alid g Routell~ ......................................................----                                        -::::t AMUDSMN IN TMAX110
Climate Change Impacts on Environmental Resources
                                                                                                                                        F
    Common            miradiological) causes.                                                            ll-taiinl        k ylh100yeactoryear      I Doohd*
                                                                                                              in~ay in 10 resew year 5475 1101-ty arwresetoryes.


aData supporting this table are given In the Commisim's "Enel                                  nae .i'ey ofi                        of Rat e..
Table B-1 states the following:
    ecU,. Materials to and from Nucler Po                            Plat.                                      17.    d Sup. , NUIREG-74"kS
                                                                                                                    =AH13.Dmib Awl t975. Both documeuts are available for insec*io and co a g nIthe                                    Commissio's Pu..c Document Roo,
    1f17 H St. NW., Washington. D.C.. and miay be otane                                                Technical nnormat. Service.              n edf*,
    Ve. 216L WASH-119 is available from NTIS at a cost of $545 (microejoe, $.*))and NUREG-7,-4= -s av                                                l at a cost of S325 (microfiche.          -2.25).
          ' The Federal itudiation Council has recommended that the radiation doses from el sourcets                              of racdaion other them satural background and medical expoue should be limited to 5,000 williremuspr yewr                                  for individuals as a result at occupational exposure and should              be imited to 50 m~lr              .nper year ior individu in        thegeneral population. Thdoss toindivhiuals due to average natural background radiation is about 130il                                  per-year."rem summnation of whvole body doses to Indivduals ina group. T"lu.                  Iiteaehm*eber of aMan-reri is an exprewsion for the Spopulatlon group of 1,000 people were to rcceiveadodeof0O.Ul reut UI                      unllrem), or f 2people were to receive a ma
    0                nillir.mn) each, tha total man-rei doas iIn each ease would be I maism rem (80,*10
        4Although the environmnental risk of rVadIiogC31                  effects  stenindug    ftrom  transportation accidents is curetl.yinca pable of being numerically quantliled. the risk3rentllm ma.ll regordl                                wnt      it s in      appi    t  a single re actor oraimnultireartoite.


A-3
Climate change can have additive effects on environmental resource conditions that may also be directly impacted by continued operations and refurbishment during the license renewal term. The effects of climate change can vary regionally and climate change information at the regional and local scale is necessary to assess trends and the impacts on the human environment for a specific location. The impact s of climate change on environmental resources during the license renewal term are location-specific and cannot be evaluated generically.


APPENDIX B
Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(Q) requires the following:
§51.21, 10 CFR PART 51, "APPLICANT'S ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT-OPERATING LICENSE STAGE"
                                Each applicant for a license to operate a production or utilization facility cov
                          .ered by § 51.5(a) shall submit with it%appli cation the number of copies, as specified in
                            § 51.40, of a separate document,* to be en titled "Ap plicant's Environmental Report-OP
                            erating License Stage," which discusses the same matters described in 1 51.20
                            but only to the extent that they differ from those discussed or reflect new in formation In addition to that discussed in the final environmental Impact state ment prepared by the Commission In connection with the construction permit.


The "Applicant's Environmental Re port-Operating License Stage" may in corporate by reference any itformation contained in the Applicant's Environ mental Report or final environmental impact statement previously prepared in connection with the construction permit.
Applicants shall include an assessment of the effects of any observed and projected changes in climate on environmental resource areas that are affected by license renewal.


With respec; to the operation of nuclear reactors, the applicant, unless otherwise required by the Commission, shall sub mit the "Applicant's Environmental Re port-Operating License Stage" only in connection with the first licensing action that would authorize full power opera tion of the facility.
Section 4.12 of the LR GEIS discusses GHG emissions and climate change impacts.


*Aniended 41 I.R IS32.
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 67 Information and Analysis Content


B-I
The climate change impact analysis should focus on the climate change impacts on those resource areas where there are incremental impacts from continued nuclear power plant operations and any refurbishment activities during the license renewal term. The applicant should include the following information in the ER:


APPENDIX C
*  Climate change projections: Future regional climate change projections for the 20-year license renewal term from climate change models, studies, and reports (e.g., U.S. Global Climate Change Research Program). The geographic scope considered for climate change projections should not be greater than the U.S. National Climate Assessment regions (Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, etc.), and when available, local scale projections should be used. Changes in climate parameters (e.g., climate change indicators) should be quantified, including changes in, but not limited to, ambient temperature, precipitation, surface water temperature and levels, length of growing season, and flooding, as appropriate. Climate change projections presented in the ER should specify which future GHG emission scenario(s) were considered.
                                    DATA RETRIEVAL SYSTEM (PROPOSED)
  With a view toward improving the usability of data    center is planned as an appendix in a future revision of presented by applicants, an outline format for a stan    this guide. Specific-use categories will be developed for dardized data retrieval system for storage in a computer  the following guide outline topics:
                                              DATA CATEGORIES
  1. Station purpose                                         


===3. A Heat dissipation===
*  Climate change impacts: The scope of the climate change impact analysis should focus on those resource areas that could be incrementally affected by the proposed action (license renewal),
    1.1 Demand analysis                                       3.5 Radiation data
        including consideration of any observed and projected changes in climate on environmental resource areas. The reasonably foreseeable climate change impacts  should be discussed in proportion to their significance. The analysis should discuss the impacts and implications from projected climate change parameters on the resource area baseline conditions that were discussed in Chapter 3 of the ER (e.g., elevated water intake temperatures can result in increases in cooling water withdrawals). This establishes the future environmental baseline.
    1.2 Energy conservation                                  3.6 Chemical effluent
    1.3 Reserve margins                                      3.7 Sanitary waste data
    1.4 Supporting references                                3.8 Transportation data
                                                              3.9 Electrical transmission
2. Site and resource interface summaries
    2.1 Geography and demography                          6. Preoperational program summary
    2.2 Ecology
    2.3 Meteorology and climatology                        8. Socioeconomic data summary
    2.4 Hydrology
    2.5 Geology                                            9. Cost-benefit summary
    2.6 Esthetic and cultural data
                                                          10. Design alternatives summary
  3. Station and unit data summaries
    3.1 Building grounds data                            12. Permit and certification summary
    3.2 Reactor and steam-electric system
    3.3 Water use                                        13. Reference list C-1


APPENDIX D
*  Mitigation measures: Describe mitigation measures, including adaptation and climate change resilience measures, to avoid or minimize adverse climate change impacts on resource areas that are impacted by the proposed action.
                                          USE OF U.S. AGE GROUP POPULATION
                                                    DISTRIBUTION DATA
    The distribution by age of the U. S. population may        surrounding the site. It assumes that dependent age be used provided there is no knowledge that the area          groups, i.e., 0 to 18 years, are in about the same within a radius of 50 miles of the site has a significantly  proportion for various areas since they generally migrate different distribution. The test of significance is to be    with their parents. Moreover,. this procedure takes made by.a determination of whether the age distribution      advantage of the tendency of birth rate changes across in the county in which the proposed station is to be        regions to follow similar patterns of changes with located varied more than 10 percent from the U. S.            different lead-lag relations. The forecasts to be used are population in the 1970 decennial census. If this occurred    for the year of the midpoint of the station operating life.


for any of the three age groups, a refinement of the U. S.    Specific year figures can be obtained by interpolation or age group distribution should be made as described          extrapolation from the years that are available. The below.                                                      percent of the BEA region population forecasted to be in the 12- to 18-year age group should be found from The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), U. S.              the following equation:
4.13   Cumulative Effects
Department of Commerce, has unpublished data on age distribution for 157 BEA regions covering the U.S.                                    AfBxC
                                                                                              D
These data were compiled for the Office of Business Economics, Department of Commerce and Economic.


Research Service (OBERS), Department of Agriculture,        where projections. The age groups are 0 to 14 years, 15 to 64 years, and over 64 years. These data may be obtained            A = % of BEA region population forecasted to be in without charge by request to the U.S. Department of          the 12- to 18-year age group at the midpoint year of
The following Category 2 issue requires a plant-specific assessment.
            1 Commerce.                                                    station operation, B = % of U.S. population forecasted to be in the 12 In employing the OBERS regional forecasts, the            to 18-year age group at this midpoint year of station ratio-trend method may be used for the disparate class        operation, intervals of the age groups. First, select the BEA region containing the county in which the proposed station is            C = % of BEA region population forecasted to be in to be located. Obtain the age distribution of the region      0 to 14-year age group at the midpoint year of station from the above reference. The 0 to 11-year age group          operation, and population for the BEA area at the midyear of the assumed 30-year operating life of the proposed station            D = % U.S. population forecasted to be in 0 to can be considered to be 80% of the 0 to 14-year age          14-year age group at the midpoint year of station group since the former was 77% of the latter as of July      operation.


1, 1974, and is forecasted at 79% by July 1, 2000. The
Cumulative Effects
12- to 18-year age group requires a different approach.          A is then used to estimate the number of persons in The procedure that should be used makes use of existing      that age group for the area within 50 miles of the forecasts to estimate this age group for the area            proposed site by multiplying the percentage distribution calculated from the above equation by the total popula tion projected for this local area. The population of the
1 Henry De Graff, Assistant Chief, Regional Economic Analysis 19-years-and-over age group can be obtained by subtrac Division, Bureau of Economic Analysis, U. S. Department of  ting the sum of the 0 to 11-year and 12- to 18-year age Commerce, Washington, D. C. 20230; Telephone: (202)          groups from the projected total population of the local
523-0528.                                                    area.


APPENDIX E
Table B-1 states the following:
                                    DATA NEEDED FOR RADIOACTIVE SOURCE TERM
                                  CALCULATIONS FOR PRESSURIZED WATER REACTORS
    The applicant should provide the information listed                      c. Concentration of fission, activation, and in this appendix. The information should be consistent          corrosion products in the primary and secondary coolant with the contents of the safety analysis report (SAR)            (uCi/g). Provide the bases for the values used.


and the environmental report (ER) of the proposed pressurized water reactor (PWR). Appropriate sections                    4. The quantity of tritium released in liquid and of the SAR and ER containing more detailed discussions            gaseous effluents (Ci/yr per reactor).
Cumulative effects or impacts of continued operations and refurbishment associated with license renewal must be considered on a plant-specific basis. The effects depend on regional resource characteristics, the incremental resource-specific effects of license renewal, and the cumulative significance of other factors affecting the environmental resource.
or backup data for the required information should be referenced following each response. Each response,                   II. PrimarySystem however, should be independent of the ER and SAR. 1 This information constitutes the basic data required to                  1. The total mass (ib) of coolant in the primary calculate the releases of radioactive material in liquid          system, excluding the pressurizer and primary coolant and gaseous effluents (the source terms). All responses          purification system at full power.


should be on a per-reactorbasis. Indicate systems shared between reactors.                                                        2. The average primary system letdown rate (gpm)
Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(O) requires the following:
                                                                  to the primary coolant purification system.


The following data should be provided in Appendix E:                                                                      3. The average flow rate (gpm) through the pri mary coolant purification system cation demineralizers.
Applicants shall provide information about other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions occurring in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant that may result in a cumulative effect.


I. General                                                    (Note: The letdown rate should include the fraction of time the cation demineralizers are in service.)
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 68 Section 4.13 of the LR GEIS discusses cumulative effects. CEQ defines cumulative effects in
      1. The maximum core thermal power (MWt) evalu ated for safety considerations in the SAR. (Note: All of                 4. The average shim bleed flow (gpm).
40 CFR 1508.1(i)(3) as effects on the environment that result from the incremental effects of the action when added to the effects of other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions regardless of what agency (Federal or non-Federal) or person undertakes such other actions . Cumulative effects can result from actions with individually minor but collectively significant effects taking place over a period of time. Cumulative  effect analyses should consider new and ongoing activities, such as license renewal that are conducted, regulated, or approved by a Federal agency. The goal of the analysis is to introduce environmental considerations into the planning process as early as needed to improve decisionmaking.
the following responses should be adjusted to this power leveL)                                                              I1


===1. Secondary System===
The analysis should focus on environmental resources that could be affected by the  proposed license renewal action, including continued reactor operations and refurbishment activities. CEQ discusses the assessment of cumulative effects in its 1997 publication Considering Cumulative Effects Under the National Environmental Policy Act (Ref. 66). EPA presents useful perspectives on assessing cumulative impacts in EPA 315-R-99-002, Consideration of Cumulative Impacts in EPA Review of NEPA
      2. Core properties:                                                1. The number and type of steam generators and the carryover factor used in the applicant's evaluation a. The total mass (lb) of uranium and pluto              for iodine and nonvolatiles.
Documents, issued May 1999 (Ref. 67).


nium in an equilibrium core (metal weight),
The cumulative effects analysis in the ER should include the following considerations:
                                                                          2. The total steam flow (lb/hr) in the secondary system.


b. The percent enrichment of uranium in reload fuel, and                                                                 3. The mass of steam in each steam generator (lb)
*  The geographic region of influence that encompasses the areas of potential environmental effects and the distance at which the environmental effects of the proposed action and past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions may be experienced. Geographic regions of influence vary by affected resource.
                                                                  at full power.


c. The percent of fissile plutonium in reload fuel.                                                                     4. The mass of liquid in each steam generator (lb)
*  The timeframe for the cumulate effects analysis incorporates the incremental effects of the proposed action (initial LR or SLR) with past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions because these combined effects may accumulate  or develop over time . Past and present actions include all actions up to and including the date of the license renewal request. The timeframe for the consideration of reasonably foreseeable actions is the 20-year license renewal (initial LR or SLR)
                                                                  at full power.
        term. Reasonably foreseeable  actions include current and ongoing planned activities, approved and funded for implementati on, or generally have a high probability of being implemented.


3. If methods and parameters used in estimating the source terms in the primary coolant are different                    5. The total mass of coolant in the secondary from those given in Regulatory Guide 1.112, "Calcula              system (lb) at full power. For recirculating U-tube steam tion of Releases of Radioactive Materials in Gaseous and          generators, do not include the- coolant in the condenser Liquid Effluents from Light-Water-Cooled Power Reac              hotwell.
*  The environmental effects from past and present actions are accounted for in baseline assessments presented in affected environment discussions in Chapter 3 of the ER. Chapter 4 of the ER accounts for the incremental effects or impacts of license renewal.


tors," describe in detail the methods and parameters used. Include the following information:                                6. The primary to secondary system leakage rate (lb/day) used in the evaluation.
*  The incremental effects of the proposed action (license renewal) when added to the effects from past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions result in the overall cumulative effect. A
        qualitative cumulative effects analysis is conducted in instances where the incremental effects of the proposed action (license renewal) and past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions are uncertain or not well known.


a. Station capacity factor,
*  For some resource areas (e.g., water and aquatic resources), the incremental contributions of ongoing actions within a region are regulated and monitored through a permitting process (e.g.,
                                                                          7. Description of the steam generator blowdown b. Fraction of fuel releasing radioactivity in the      and blowdown purification systems. The average steam primary coolant (indicate the type of fuel cladding),            generator blowdown rate (lb/hr) used in the applicant's evaluation. The parameters used for steam generator blowdown rate (lb/hr).
        NPDES) under State or Federal authority. In these cases, it may be assumed that cumulative effects are managed as long as these actions (e.g., facility operations) are in compliance with their respective permits.
IThe ER or SAR may be referenced as to the bases for the parameters used; however, the parameters should be given with           8. The fraction of the steam generator feedwater the responses in this appendix.                                 processed through the condensate demineralizers and the E-1


decontamination factors (DF) used in the evaluation for           V. Gaseous Waste ProcessingSystem the condensate demineralizer system.
If, however, the cumulative effects analysis indicates that moderate to large impacts would occur because of license renewal, the ER should identify mitigation measures to reduce and/or avoid any adverse effects. Recent license renewal reviews have found cumulative effects to be small for most environmental resources near a nuclear power plant, with some exceptions.


1. The volumes (ft3 /yr) of gases stripped from the
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 69
      9. Condensate demineralizers:                            primary coolant.
4.14    Impacts Common to All Alternatives


a. Average flow rate (lb/hr),                              2. Description of the process used to hold up gases stripped from the primary system during normal opera b. Demineralizer type (deep bed or powdered          tions and reactor shutdown. If pressurized storage tanks resin),                                                        are used, include a process flow diagram of the system indicating the capacities (ft3 ), number, and design and c. Number and size (ft3 ) of demineralizers,          operating storage pressures for the storage tanks.
4.14.1    Uranium Fuel Cycle


d. Regeneration frequency,                                  3. Description of the normal operation of the system, e.g., number of tanks held in reserve for e. Indicate whether ultrasonic resin cleaning is      back-to-back shutdown, fill time for tanks. Indicate the used and the waste liquid volume associated with its use,      minimum holdup time used in the applicant's evaluation and                                                            and the basis for this number.
Impacts associated with the uranium fuel cycle evaluated in the LR GEIS are generic (the same or similar at all plants) or Category 1. The applicant should discuss any new and significant information in the ER, if applicable; otherwise, uranium fuel cycle impacts do not need to be analyzed.


f. Regenerant volume (gal/event) and activity.             4. If HEPA filters are used downstream of the pressurized storage tanks, provide the decontamination factor used in the evaluation.
Transportation is a Category 1 issue, and impacts are small as long as nuclear fuel is not enriched beyond 5-percent uranium-235 and the average level of burnup for the peak rod does not exceed
62,000 megawatt-days per metric ton of uranium (MWd/MTU). Applicants that use or plan to seek approval for use of nuclear fuel enriched beyond 5-percent uranium-235 or operate at an average burnup for the peak rod beyond 62,000 MWd/MTU should request early guidance from NRC staff on how to address this issue in the ER.


IV. Liquid Waste ProcessingSystems
4.14.2    Termination of Nuclear Power Plant Operations and Decommissioning
                                                                      5. If a charcoal delay system is used, describe this
      1. For each liquid waste processing system (includ        system and indicate the minimum holdup times for each ing the shim bleed, steam generator blowdown, and              radionuclide considered in the evaluation. List all para detergent waste processing systems), provide in tabular        meters, including mass of charcoal (lb), flow rate (cfm),
form the following information:                                operating and dew point temperatures, and dynamic adsorption coefficients for Xe and Kr used in calculating a. Sources, flow rates (gpd), and expected          holdup times.


activities (fraction of primary coolant activity, PCA) for all inputs to each system,                                          6. Piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs)
Impacts associated with the termination of plant operations and decommissioning are generic (the same or similar at all plants) or Category 1. The applicant should discuss any new and significant information in the ER, if applicable; otherwise, termination of reactor operations and decommissioning impacts do not need to be analyzed.
                                                                and process flow diagrams for the gaseous radwaste b. Holdup times associated with collection,         systems, along with other systems influencing the source processing, and discharge of all liquid streams,                term calculations.


c. Capacities of all tanks (gal) and processing VI. Ventilation andExhaust Systems equipment (gpd) considered in calculating holdup times, For each building housing systems that contain d. Decontamination factors for each processing      radioactive materials, the steam generator blowdown step,                                                          system vent exhaust, and the main condenser air removal system, provide the following:
Chapter 5      Assessment of New and Significant Information
          e. Fraction of each processing stream expected to be discharged over the life of the station;,                      1. Provisions incorporated to reduce radioactivity releases through the ventilation or exhaust systems.


f. For demineralizer regeneration provide: time between regenerations, regenerant volumes and activ                  2. Decontamination factors assumed and the bases ities, treatment of regenerants, and fraction of regen          (include charcoal adsorbers, HEPA filters, mechanical erant discharged (include parameters used in making            devices).
Section C.1 of this RG discusses the regulatory requirement to report new and significant information. While new and significant information can be identified from site visits, environmental audits, and public comments on the draft SEIS, it is also critical for the applicant to identify new and significant information prior to the beginning of the initial LR or SLR environmental review. For each Category 1 issue, the applicant must determine whether any new and significant information exists that would provide a seriously different picture of the environmental consequences of the proposed (license renewal) action than previously considered in the LR GEIS, such as an environmental impact finding different from that codified in Table B-1 (see Section C.1 of this RG for a definition of new and significant information) and if so, describe those differences and assess any relevant plant-specific environmental impacts. Applicants should also describe the methods used to identify potential new and significant information. Chapter 5 of the ER should summarize the following information:
these determinations), and
                                                                      3. Release rates for radioiodine, noble gases, and g. liquid source term by radionuclide in Ci/yr        radioactive particulates (Ci/yr), and the bases.


for normal operation, including anticipated operational occurrences.                                                        4. Release points to the environment, including height, effluent temperature, and exit velocity.
*  Describe the process for gathering and reviewing new and significant information for the ER.


2. Piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs)
Explain how the process resulted in the identification of any new and significant information for Category 1 issues and any other issues. The explanation should address (1) the process used to identify new information and (2) the process for determining the significance of any new information. The process for identifying new information could include the review of environmental monitoring reports, scientific literature, interviews with environmental and operations staff, discussions with licensees and other peer groups and industry organizations, consultations with experts knowledgeable about the local environment, and consultations with other Federal, State, and local agencies, environmental justice communities, and Indian Tribes, as well as natural resource, permitting, and land use planning agencies. If there is no new and significant information, the applicant should state this determination in the ER.
and process flow diagrams for the liquid radwaste                    5. For the containment building, provide the systems along with all other systems influencing the            building free volume (ft') and a thorough description of source term calculations.                                       the internal recirculation system (if provided), including E-2


the recirculation rate, charcoal bed depth, operating        (Ci/yr per reactor) of principal radionuclides, along with time assumed, and mixing efficiency. Indicate the            bases for values usd.
*  Describe any environmental impacts associated with the new and significant information.


expected purge and venting frequencies and duration and continuous purge rate (if used).                                2. Provide information on onsite storage provi sions (location and capacity) and expected onsite storage VII. Solid Waste ProcessingSystems                          times for all solid wastes prior to shipment.
*  Describe any mitigation measures considered, and implemented, for any adverse impact.


1. In tabular form, provide the following informa              3. Provide piping and instrumentation diagrams tion concerning all inputs to the solid waste processing    (P&IDs) for the solid radwaste system.
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 70
      The applicant need not include a detailed description about the discovery of any new and significant information, but such information should be referenced in the ER and made available for review by NRC staff.


system: source, volume (fts/yr per reactor), and activity E-3
If a SAMA review has previously been completed, an applicant must provide an assessment of new and significant information with respect to a prior SAMA analysis. If the probability-weighted consequences of a severe accident have gone down since the applicants SAMA review (no adverse impact), it is unlikely that any cost beneficial SAMAs would be found. One acceptable method is provided in NEI 17-04, Revision 1, Model SLR New and Significant Assessment Approach for SAMA,
dated August 2019 (Ref. 68). NEI 17-04, Revision 1 is endorsed in this RG for plant-specific environmental reviews.


APPENDIX F
Chapter 6      Summary of License Renewal Impacts and Mitigating Actions
                                  DATA NEEDED FOR RADIOACTIVE SOURCE TERM
                                  CALCULATIONS FOR BOILING WATER REACTORS
    The applicant should provide the information listed                      c. Concentration of fission, corrosion, and in this appendix. The information should be consistent            activation products in the reactor coolant (pCi/sec).
with the contents of the safety analysis report (SAR)              Provide the bases for the values used.


and the environmental report (ER) of the proposed boiling water reactor (BWR). Appropriate sections of the                  4. The quantity of tritium released in liquid and SAR and ER containing more detailed discussions of the            gaseous effluents (Ci/yr per reactor).
6.1   License Renewal Impacts
required information should be referenced following each response. Each response, however, should be                    H. NuclearSteam Supply System independent of the ER and SAR. 1 This information constitutes the basic data required to calculate the                      1. Total steam flow rate (lb/hr).
releases of radioactive material in liquid and gaseous effluents (the source terms). All responses should be on                  2. Mass of reactor coolant 0b) and steam (lb) in a per-reactor basis. Indicate systems shared between              the reactor vessel at full power.


reactors.
In the ER, the applicant should present a table summarizing the environmental impacts of continued plant operations during the license renewal term (initial LR or SLR). The table should be organized by environmental resource areas in the order of the environmental issues listed in Table B-1 in Appendix B to Subpart A of 10 CFR Part 51.


IH. Reactor CoolantCleanup System The following data should be provided in Appendix F:                                                                        1. Average flow rate (lb/hr).
6.2   Mitigation
                                                                          2. Demineralizer type (deep bed or powdered
1. General                                                        resin).
        1. The maximum core thermal power (MWt)                            3. Regeneration frequency.


evaluated for safety considerations in the SAR.
The ER should also summarize in tabular form any mitigation measures considered for implementation.


(Note: All of the following responsesshould be adjusted                    4. Regenerant volume (gal/event) and activity.
6.3    Unavoidable Adverse Impacts


to this power leveL)
The ER should summarize any adverse environmental effects which cannot be avoided should the proposal be implemented, as required by 10 CFR 51.45(b)(2). Chapters 4 and 5 of the ER should identify unavoidable adverse effects, providing a level of detail commensurate with the significance of the effects.
                                                                    IV. CondensateDemineralizers
        2. Core properties:
                                                                          1. Average flow rate (lb/hr).
          a. The total mass (lb) of uranium and pluto nium in an equilibrium core (metal weight),                               2. Demineralizer type (deep bed or powdered b. The percent enrichment of uranium in                resin).
reload fuel, and                                                          3. Number and size (ft 3 ) of demineralizers.


c. The percent of fissile plutonium in reload                  4. Regeneration frequency.
6.4   Irreversible or Irretrievable Resource Commitments


fuel.
The ER should summarize any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources which would be involved in the proposed action should it be implemented, as required by 10 CFR 51.45(b)(5).
Irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources include energy, materials, and resources committed and consumed in conjunction with continued nuclear power plant operations and any  license renewal-related refurbishment activities and additional waste materials generated. The applicant should briefly describe the magnitude and significance of the resource commitments in the ER. Discussions should be proportionate to the significance of the resource commitments.


5. Indicate whether ultrasonic resin cleaning is
6.5   Short-Term Use Versus Long-Term Productivity of the       Environment
        3. If methods and parameters used in estimating used and the waste liquid volume associated with its use.


the source terms in the primary coolant are different from those given in Regulatory Guide 1.112, "Calcula                      6. Regenerant volume (gal/event) and activity.
The ER should summarize the relationship b  etween local short-term uses of mans environment and the maintenance and enhancement of long  -term productivity, as required by 10 CFR 51.45(b)(4).
For operational impacts, short-term indicates the operating life of the nuclear power plant (including any extension of reactor operations through license renewal), and long-term indicates the period after reactor operations end, continuing as long as the nuclear power plant could have a discernible environmental effect. The term productivity should be interpreted broadly to include


tion of Releases of Radioactive Materials in Gaseous and Liquid Effluents from light-Water-Cooled Power Reac                  V. Liquid Waste ProcessingSystems tors," describe in detail the methods and parameters used. Include the following information:                                  1. For each liquid waste processing system, pro vide in tabular form the following information:
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 71 both the productivity of resources useful for human activity and the productivity and stability of ecological systems, even those that are not used directly by humans.
          a. Plant capacity factor, a. Sources, flow rates (gpd), and expected b. Isotopic release rates of noble gases to the        activities (fraction of primary coolant activity, PCA) for reactor coolant at 30-minute decay (pCi/sec), and                 all inputs to each system, b. Holdup times associated with collection, processing, and discharge of all liquid streams, IThe ER or SAR may be referenced as to the bases for the parameters used; however, the parameters should be given with              c. Capacities of all tanks (gal) and processing the responses in this appendix.                                  equipment (gpd) considered in calculating holdup times, F-I


d. Decontamination factors for each proces                6. The design holdup time (hr) for gas vented sing step,                                                   from the gland seal condenser, the iodine partition factor for the condenser, and the fraction of radioiodine e. Fraction of each processing stream expected    released through the system vent. Description of the to be discharged over the life of the station,                treatment system used to reduce radioiodine and partic ulate releases from the gland seal system.
Chapter 7      Alternatives to the Proposed Action Regarding alternatives, 10 CFR 51.45(b)(3) states, in part, the following:
        The discussion of alternatives shall be sufficiently complete to aid the Commission in developing and exploring, pursuant to section 102(2)(E)13 of NEPA, appropriate alternatives to recommended courses of action in any proposal which involves unresolved conflicts concerning alternative uses of available resources. To the extent practicable, the environmental impacts of the proposal and the alternatives should be presented in comparative form.


f. For waste demineralizer regeneration, time between regenerations, regenerant volumes and activ                  7. Piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs)
In addition, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(2) states, in part, the following:
ities, treatment of regenerants, and fractions of regener    and process flow diagrams for the gaseous waste treat ant discharged (include parameters used in making these      ment system along with all other systems influencing the determinations), and                                          source term calculations.


g. Liquid source term by radionuclide in Ci/yr for normal operation, including anticipated operational        VII. Ventilationand Exhaust Systems occurrences.
[T]he applicant shall discuss in this report the environmental impacts of alternatives and any other matters described in § 51.45. The report is not required to include discussion of need for power or economic costs and economic benefits of the proposed action or of alternatives to the proposed action except insofar as such costs and benefits are either essential for a determination regarding the inclusion of an alternative in the range of alternatives considered or relevant to mitigation. The environmental report need not discuss other issues not related to the environmental effects of the proposed action and the alternatives.


For each station building housing system that contains radioactive materials, provide the following:
The regulation at 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(iii) states the following:
        2. Piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs)
and process flow diagrams for the liquid radwaste systems along with all other systems influencing the                I. Provisions incorporated to reduce radioactivity releases through the ventilation or exhaust systems.


source term calculations.
The report must contain a consideration of alternatives for reducing adverse impacts, as required by § 51.45(c), for all Category 2 license renewal issues in Appendix B to subpart A of this part. No such consideration is required for Category 1 issues in Appendix B to subpart A of this part.


2. Decontamination factors assumed and the VI. Main Condenser and Turbine Gland Seal Air              bases (include charcoal adsorbers, HEPA filters, mechan Removal Systems                                        ical devices).
Section 5, Alternatives including the Proposed Action, of Appendix A to Subpart A of 10 CFR
        1. The holdup time (hr) for offgases from the               3. Release rates for radioiodines, noble gases, and main condenser air ejector prior to processing by the         radioactive particulates (Ci/yr) and the bases.
Part 51 presents requirements for the treatment of alternatives in an EIS. These requirements are consistent with the CEQ regulations implementing NEPA (40 CFR 1502.14), which require that an EIS:


offgas treatment system.
*  Rigorously explore and objectively evaluate reasonable alternatives to the proposed action, and, for alternatives that the agency eliminated from detailed study, briefly discuss the reasons for their elimination. The agency need not consider every conceivable alternative to a proposed action; rather, it shall consider a reasonable range of alternatives that will foster informed decisionmaking. Agencies also may include reasonable alternatives not within the jurisdiction of the lead agency.


4. Release point to the environment including
*  Discuss each alternative considered in detail, including the proposed action, so that reviewers may evaluate their comparative merits.
        2. Description and expected performance of the       height, effluent temperature, and exit velocity.


gaseous waste treatment systems for the offgases from the condenser air ejector and mechanical vacuum pump.                5. For the containment building, indicate the The expected air inleakage per condenser shell, the          expected purge and venting frequencies and duration, number of condenser shells, and the iodine source term        and continuous purge rate (if used).
*  Include the no action alternative.
from the condenser.


Vm. Solid Waste ProcessingSystems
13  Changes to the NEPA statute (42 U.S.C. § 4321 et seq.) from the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (Public Law No. 118-5,
      3. The mass of charcoal (tons) in the charcoal delay system used to treat the offgases from the main                1. Jn tabular form, provide the following informa condenser air ejector, the operating and dew point            tion concerning all inputs to the solid waste processing temperatures of the delay system, and the dynamic            system: source, volume (ft 3 /yr per reactor), and activity adsorption coefficients for Xe and Kr.                       (Ci/yr per reactor) of principal radionuclides along with bases for values.
    137 Stat. 10) included adding a new Section 102(2)(F) directing agencies to study, develop, and describe technically and economically feasible alternatives (Ref. 69).


4. Description of cryogenic distillation system, fraction of gases partitioned during distination, holdup            2. Onsite storage provisions (location and capac in system, storage following distillation, and expected      ity) and expected onsite storage times for all solid wastes system leakage rate.                                          prior to shipment.
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 72
    *  Identify the agencys preferred alternative or alternatives, if one or more exists, in the draft statement and identify such alternative in the final statement unless another law prohibits the expression of such a preference.


5. The steam flow (lb/hr) to the turbine gland                3. Piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs)
*  Include appropriate mitigation measures not already included in the proposed action or alternatives.
seal and the source of the steam (primary or auxiliary).      and process flow diagrams for the solid radwaste system.


F-2
*  Identify the environmentally preferable alternative or alternatives amongst the alternatives considered in the environmental impact statement.


APPENDIX G
Alternatives to the proposed action include the use of other energy sources potentially capable of meeting the purpose and need of the proposed action (initial LR or SLR). A reasonable replacement energy alternative must be commercially viable on a utility scale and operational before the expiration of the reactors operating license or expected to become commercially viable on a utility scale and operational before the expiration of the reactors operating license. Reasonable alternatives should also include mitigation measures that would reduce or avoid adverse effects . In deciding whether to renew the operating license, the NRC will consider the environmental impacts of alternatives as well as those of the proposed action. The NRC considers environmental effects of license renewal according to 10 CFR
                              DATA NEEDED FOR RADWASTE TREATMENT SYSTEM
51.103(a)(5), which states the following:
                                COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS FOR LIGHT-WATER
                                          COOLED NUCLEAR REACTORS
  The applicant should provide the information listed          2. The cost of borrowed money used in the cost in Tables G.1 and G.2. The information should be              analysis and the method of arriving at this cost.


consistent with the contents of the safety analysis report (SAR) and environmental report (ER) for the proposed reactor. Appropriate sections of the SAR and ER                  3. If methods and parameters used in the cost-benefit containing more detailed discussions of the required          analysis are different from those given in Regulatory information should be referenced following each re            Guide 1.110, "Cost-Benefit Analysis for Radwaste sponse. Each response, however, should be independent        Systems for Light-Water-Cooled Nuclear Power Reac of the ER and SAR. This information constitutes the          tors," describe in detail the methods used and provide basic data required in performing a cost-benefit analysis    the bases for all parameters. Include the following for radwaste treatment systems. All responses should be      information:
In making a final decision on a license renewal action pursuant to Part 54 of this chapter, the Commission shall determine whether or not the adverse environmental impacts of license renewal are so great that preserving the option of license renewal for energy planning decisionmakers would be unreasonable.
on a per-reactorbasis. The following information should be provided:
                                                                    a. Decontamination factors assigned to each aug
  1. Detailed cost estimate sheets, similar to Tables G.1    ment and fraction of "online" time assumed, i.e., hours and G.2, listing all paremeters (and their bases) used in    per year used.


determining capital, operating, and maintenance costs associated with all augments considered in the cost benefit analysis. All costs should be stated in terms of            b. Parameters and method used to determine the
7.1    Alternative Energy Sources
1975 dollars.                                                Indirect Cost Factor and the Capital Recovery Factor.


G-I
Alternatives Considered


TABLE G.1 TOTAL DIRECT COST ESTIMATE SHEET
The purpose and need for the proposed action, as stated in Chapter 1 of the LR GEIS and in Chapter 1 of this RG, is to provide an option that allows for baseload power generation capability beyond the term of the current nuclear power plant operating license to meet future system generating needs.
                            OF RADWASTE TREATMENT SYSTEM
                      FOR LIGHT-WATER-COOLED NUCLEAR REACTORS
Description of Augment DIRECT COST (1975 $ 1000)/REACTOR
                                                                      BASIS FOR
      ITEM                      LABOR    EQUIPMENT/MATERIALS  TOTAL COST ESTIMATE


===1. PROCESS EQUIPMENT===
Such needs may be determined by other energy-planning decisionmakers.


===2. BUILDING ASSIGNMENT===
In addition to considering the environmental effects, or impacts, of the proposed action (license renewal), the NRC must also consider the environmental effects of alternatives to replace or offset the generating capacity of the nuclear power plant. Alternatives that meet the purpose and need include
(1)replacing existing nuclear generating capacity using other energy sources (i.e., constructing and operating new fossil fuel, nuclear, and renewable energy power plants), and (2) offsetting existing nuclear generation capacity using conservation and energy efficiency (demand-side management), delayed retirement, or purchased power. These alternatives must also be commercially viable  on a utility scale and operational before the expiration of the reactors operating license or expected to become commercially viable on a utility scale and operational before the expiration of the reactors operating license.


===3. ASSOCIATED PIPING===
In the ER, the applicant should describe the process used to identify reasonable replacement energy alternatives (see also Section 2.6 of this RG). The applicant should describe each of the replacement energy alternatives selected for detailed analysis. In addition, the applicant should explain why certain alternatives were eliminated from detailed study. The applicant should also indicate which alternatives have been considered by State, utility, or other Federal authorities (e.g., public service commissions; environmental, natural resource, or energy agencies; or other interest groups vested with energy-planning authority, depending on existing energy regulatory structures) and how
        SYSTEMS


===4. INSTRUMENTATION AND===
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 73 these considerations relate to the applicants selection. This discussion should include State regulations that promote, enhance, prohibit, or challenge alternatives.
        CONTROLS


===5. ELECTRICAL SERVICE===
Environmental Impacts of Alternative      Energy Sources


===6. SPARE PARTS===
The ER should describe the  environmental impacts of the replacement energy alternatives selected for detailed study in sufficient detail and in similar format to the proposed action so NRC staff can compare the effects of the replacement power alternatives with the effects of continued plant operations. The analyses should address construction and operations impacts (as appropriate) affecting land use and visual resources, air quality and noise, geology and soils, water resources (surface water and groundwater), ecological resources, historic and cultural resources, socioeconomics, human health, environmental justice, and waste management and pollution prevention    . The analysis should consider direct and indirect effects and identify unavoidable adverse impacts, irreversible and irretrievable resource commitments, and tradeoffs between short  -term use and the long-term productivity of the environment. Each alternative should be analyzed on a site -specific basis. Applicants should consider analyzing the impacts of a replacement energy alternative at either the existing power plant site, at other existing plant or brownfield sites, or on a State- or region-specific basis, depending on the applicants service area (when applicable) or the power market into which the applicant sells electricity. The applicant should analyze each impact in proportion to its significance. Appendix D of the LR GEIS
        SUB TOTAL
includes the results of an analysis of the generic environmental impacts of several electricity generating technologies. The applicant may use these results to the extent that they are applicable and brought up to date. Any findings on impact levels for alternatives included in the LR GEIS are intended to illustrate likely impacts and must be revisited on a site- and plant-specific basis in the ER.


===7. CONTINGENCY===
7.2    Alternatives for Reducing Adverse Impacts


===8. TOTAL DIRECT COSTS===
Alternatives Considered
                                            G-2


TABLE G.2 ANNUAL OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE COST ESTIMATE SHEET
As noted in 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(iii), The report must contain a consideration of alternatives for reducing adverse impacts, as required by § 51.45(c), for all Category 2 license renewal issues in Appendix B to subpart A of this part. Applicants should describe in the ER the process they used to identify and select alternatives for reducing adverse impacts (see also Section 2.6 of this RG). Applicants should describe all the alternatives considered and indicate which alternatives they evaluated in detail.
                            FOR RADWASTE TREATMENT SYSTEM
                        FOR LIGHT-WATER-COOLED NUCLEAR REACTORS
  Description of Augment COST (1975 $ 1000)/REACTOR
                                                                    BASIS FOR
                                      LABOR          OTHER  TOTAL  COST ESTIMATE
  ITEM
1. OPERATING LABOR,
      SUPERVISORY AND
      OVERHEAD


===2. MAINTENANCE MATERIAL===
Typical alternatives considered include closed-cycle cooling or intake modification options for nuclear power plants that currently use once-through cooling.
      AND LABOR
3. CONSUMABLES, CHEMICALS,
      AND SUPPLIES
4. UTILITIES AND SERVICES
      Waste Disposal Water Steam Electricity Building Services Other


===5. TOTAL OPERATING AND===
Environmental Impacts of Alternatives for Reducing Adverse Impacts
      MAINTENANCE ANNUAL
      COST
                                              G-3


APPENDIX H
The ER should describe the impacts of alternatives for reducing adverse effects in sufficient detail and in similar format to the proposed action so that NRC staff can compare the effe cts. The analyses should address construction and operations impacts (as appropriate) affecting  land use and visual resources, air quality and noise, geology and soils, water resources (surface water and groundwater),
        EXAMPLES OF FIGURES SHOWING
ecological resources, historic and cultural resources, socioeconomics, human health, environmental justice, and waste management and pollution prevention. The analysis should consider direct and indirect effects and identify unavoidable adverse impacts, irreversible and irretrievable resource commitments, and tradeoffs between short-term use and the long-term productivity of the environment. Alternatives should be analyzed on a site-specific basis and in proportion to their significance.
      RADIATION EXPOSURE PATHWAYS
                                                  77-;_ý
Figure H-1. Generalized Exposure Pathways-for Man H-1


LIQUID E
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 74
              Sediments VelJ    mme rs ion Ingestion Figure H-2. Generalized Exposure Pathways for Organisms Other Than Man H-2
7.3    No-Action Alternative


APPENDIX I
The ER must include an analysis of the no-action alternative. For license renewal (initial LR or SLR), the no-action alternative is a scenario in which the NRC does not renew the applicants operating license, and the nuclear power plant continues to operate until the expiration of the current license. The applicant/licensee could also decide to terminate reactor operations and begin decommissioning activities prior to license expiration. Decommissioning is not a consequence of the no -action alternative, however, because it could occur at any point in time, at license expiration, or whenever the applicant/licensee decides that the nuclear power plant is no longer economically viable and terminates reactor operations.
                                      PROPOSED ANNEX TO APPENDIX D, 10 CFR PART 50
              DISCUSSION OF ACCIDENTS IN APPLICANTS' ENVIRONMENTAL
                                                                                              REPORTS: ASSUMPTIONS
                          The complete text of the proposedAnnex to Appendix D,
                                                                                          10 CFR Part50, follows. It
                          %usoriginallypublishedin the Federal Register December 1,
                                                                                            1971 (36 FR 22851).
      This Annex requires certain assumptions to be made in discussion of accidents in Environmental Reports                  Those classes of accidents, other than Classes 1 and 9, submitted pursuant to Appendix D by applicants' for                  found to have significant adverse environmental effects construction permits or operating licenses for nuclear               shall be evaluated as to probability, or frequency of
                    2                                                  occurrence to permit estimates to be made of environ power reactors.                                                     mental risk or cost arising from accidents of the given In the consideration of the environmental risks                  class.


associated with the postulated accidents, the probabil ities of their occurrence and their consequences must                    Class I events need not be considered because of their both be taken into account. Since it is not practicable to          trivial consequences.
The impacts of the no -action alternative are the impacts from terminating reactor operations and preparing the nuclear power plant for decommissioning. The analysis should consider direct  and indirect effects. The level of detail should be commensurate with the significance of the environmental impacts.


consider all possible accidents, the spectrum of acci dents, ranging in severity from trivial to very serious, is              Class 8 events are those considered in safety analysis divided into classes.                                                reports and AEC staff safety evaluations. They are used, together with highly conservative assumptions, as the Each class can be characterized by an occurrence rate            design-basis events to establish the performance require and a set of consequences.                                          ments of engineered safety features. The highly conser vative assumptions and calculations used in AEC safety Standardized examples of classes of accidents to be              evaluations are not suitable for environmental risk considered by applicants in preparing the section of                evaluation, because their use would result in a substan Environmental Reports dealing with accidents are set                tial overestimate of the environmental risk. For this out in tabular form below. The spectrum of accidents,                reason, Class 8 events shall be evaluated realistically.
The applicant may also summarize and incorporate by reference    information from the LR GEIS to the extent practicable.


from the most trivial to the most severe, is divided into            Consequences predicted in this way will be far less severe nine classes, some of which have subclasses. The acci than those given for the same events in safety analysis dents stated in each of the eight classes in tabular form            reports where more conservative evaluations are used.
Further, the no-action alternative does not meet the purpose and need for the proposed action as stated in Section 1.3 of the LR GEIS (i.e., to provide an option that allows for baseload power generation capability beyond the term of the current nuclear power plant operating license to meet future system generating needs) . Because energy needs may be determined by State, utility, and, where authorized, Federal (other than NRC) decisionmakers, it may require the applicant, power plant owners, State regulators, and/or system operators to take action to replace or compensate for lost power generation. The no-action alternative should consider the impacts of these actions, and the applicant may incorporate by reference the impacts from analyses developed for the replacement  energy alternatives discussed in Section 7.1.


below are representative of the types of accidents that must be analyzed by the applicant in Environmental The occurrences in Class 9 involve sequences of Reports; however, other accident assumptions may be                  postulated successive failures more severe than those more suitable for individual cases. Where assumptions                postulated for establishing the design basis for protective are not specified, or where those specified are deemed              systems and engineered safety features. Their conse unsuitable, assumptions as realistic as the state of                quences could be severe. However, the probability of knowledge permits shall be used, taking into account the            their occurrence is so small that their environmental risk specific design and operational characteristics of the              is extremely low. Defense in depth (multiple physical plant under consideration.                                          barriers), quality assurance for design, manufacture, and operation, continued surveillance and testing, and con For each class, except Classes 1 and 9, the environ              servative design are all applied to provide and maintain mental consequences shall be evaluated as indicated.                the required high degree of assurance that potential accidents in this class are, and will remain, sufficiently remote in probability that the environmental risk is IAlthough this Annex refers to applicants' Environmental            extremely low. For these reasons, it is not necessary to Reports, the current assumptions and other provisions thereof      discuss such events in applicants' Environmental are applicable, except as the content may otherwise reqWre, to AEC draft and final Detailed Statements.
Chapter 8      Comparison of the Environmental Impact of License Renewal          with the Alternatives


Reports.
The ER should compare the environmental impacts of license renewal, reasonable energy replacement alternatives, and the no-action alternative to assist the NRC in determining whether or not the adverse environmental impacts of license renewal are so great that preserving the option of license renewal for energy -planning decisionmakers wou  ld be unreasonable (see 10 CFR 51.95(c)(4)). The applicant may present this comparison in any format, such as Tables 2.4 -1 through 2.4-5 in the LR GEIS.


2 Prelminary guidance as to the content of applicants' Environ          Furthermore, it is not necessary to take into account mental Rbports was provided in the Draft AEC Guide to the        those Class 8 accidents for which the applicant can Preparation of Environmental Reports for Nuclear Power Plants    demonstrate that the probability has been reduced and dated February 19, 1971, a document made available to the public as well as to the applicant. Guidance concerning the      thereby the calculated risk to the environment made discussion of accidents in environmental reports was provided    equivalent to that which might be hypothesized for a to applicants in a September 1, 1971, document entitled          Class 9 event.
The comparison discussion should emphasize the more significant    environmental impacts.


"Scope of Applicants! Environmental Reports with Respect to Transportation, Transmission Lines, and Accidents," also made available to the public.                                              Applicant may substitute other accident class break downs and alternative values of radioactive material
Chapter 9      Status of Compliance
                                                                1-1


releases and analytical assumptions, if such substitution      of radioactive materials outside containment. These is justified in the Environmental Report.                      releases shall be included and evaluated under routine releases in accordance with proposed Appendix I.
Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.45(d), an applicant must  , in part, discuss in the ER the status of compliance with applicable environmental quality standards and requirements:


ACCIDENT-3.0 RADWASTE SYSTEM FAILURE
The environmental report shall list all Federal permits, licenses, approvals and other entitlements which must be obtained in connection with the proposed action and shall describe the status of compliance with these requirements . The environmental report shall also include a discussion of the status of compliance with applicable environmental quality standards and requirements including, but not limited to, applicable zoning and land -use regulations, and thermal and other water pollution limitations or requirements which have been imposed by Federal, State, regional, and local agencies having responsibility for environmental protection.
                ACCIDENT ASSUMPTIONS
                  TABLE OF CONTENTS                                  3.1 Equipment leakage or malfunction (includes operator error).
Accident
1.0 Trivial incidents.                                              (a) Radioactive gases and liquids: 25% of average
2.0 Small releases outside containment.                        inventory in the largest storage tank shall be assumed to
3.0 Radwaste system failures.                                  be released.


3.1 Equipment leakage or malfunction.
Appendix F of the LR GEIS presents a brief discussion of Federal and State laws, regulations, executive orders, and other requirements that may apply to, or be triggered by, the renewal and continued


3.2 Release of waste gas storage tank contents.                  (b) Meteorology assumptions-x/Q values are to be
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 75 reactor operation at NRC-licensed nuclear power plants. These include Federal and State laws, regulations, and other requirements designed to protect the environment, including land and water use, air quality, aquatic resources, terrestrial resources, radiological impacts, solid waste, chemical impacts, and socioeconomic conditions.
    3.3 Release of liquid waste storage tank contents.        1/10 of those given in AEC Safety Guide No. 3 or 4.2
4.0 Fission products to primary system (BWR).
    4.1 Fuel cladding defects.                                      (c) Consequences should be calculated by weighting
    4.2 Off-design transients that induce fuel failures        the effects in different directions by the frequency the above those expected.                                          wind blows in each direction.


5.0 Fission products to primary and secondary systems (PWR).                                                              3.2 Release of waste gas storage tank contents
Applicable Federal and State laws and regulations include the following:
    5.1 Fuel cladding defects and steam generator leaks.      (includes failure of release valve and rupture disks).
    5.2 Off-design transients that induce fuel failure above those expected and steam generator leak.                      (a) 100% of the average tank inventory shall be
      5.3 Steam generator tube rupture.                          assumed to be released.


6.0 Refueling accidents.
*  laws and regulations that could require the NRC  or the applicant to undergo a new authorization or consultation process with Federal or State agencies outside the NRC; and


6.1 Fuel bundle drop.                                            (b) Meteorology assumptions: xIQ values shall be
*  laws and executive orders that could require the NRC, or laws that could require the applicant, to renew authorizations currently granted or hold additional consultations with Federal or State agencies outside the NRC.
      6.2 Heavy object drop onto fuel in core.                  1/10 of those given in Safety Guide No. 3 or 4.


7.0 Spent fuel handling accident.
Appendix F of the LR GEIS is provided as a basic overview to assist the applicant in identifying environmental and natural resources laws that may apply to, or be triggered by, the license renewal process. The descriptions of each of the laws, regulations, executive orders, and other directives are general in nature and are not intended to provide a comprehensive analysis or explanation of any of the items listed. Appendix F is not intended as a complete and final list, and the applicant is reminded that a variety of additional Federal, State, local, and regional requirements may apply to a license renewal application for a specific nuclear power plant site.


7.1 Fuel assembly drop in fuel storage pool.                    (c) Consequences should be calculated by weighting
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 76
      7.2 Heavy object drop onto fuel rack.                      the effects in different directions by the frequency the
      7.3 Fuel cask drop.                                        wind blows in each direction.


8.0 Accident initiation events considered in design basis evaluation in the safety analysis report.                           3.3 Release of liquid waste storage tank contents
==D. IMPLEMENTATION==
      8.1 Loss-of-coolant accidents.
The methods described in this RG will be used in reviewing applications for renewal of nuclear power plant operating licenses (initial LR or SLR), which include information under 10 CFR 51.45,
51.51, 51.52, and 51.53, with respect to compliance with applicable regulations governing the environmental review of operating nuclear power plants, unless the applicant proposes an acceptable alternative method for complying with those regulations. Backfitting, issue finality, and forward-fitting considerations do not apply to the NRCs use of this RG to support these NRC reviews.


8.1(a) Break in instrument line from primary system              (a) Radioactive liquids: 100% of the average storage that penetrates the containment.                              tank inventory shall be assumed to be spilled on the
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 77 E.   REFERENCES14
      8.2(a) Rod ejection accident (PWR).                        floor of the building.


8.2(b) Rod drop accident (BWR).
1.   U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Requirements for Renewal of Operating Licenses for Nuclear Power Plants, Part 54, Title 10, Energy.15
      8.3(a) Steamline breaks (PWRs outside contain                    (b) Building structure shall be assumed to remain ment).                                                        intact.


8.3(b) Steamline breaks (BWR).
2.   CFR, Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions, Part 51, Title 10, Energy.
                                                                      (c) Meteorology assumptions: x/Q values shall be ACCIDENT ASSUMPTIONS                            1/10 of those given in AEC Safety Guide No. 3 or 4.


ACCIDENT-1.0 TRIVIAL INCIDENTS                              (d) Consequences should be calcilated by weighting the effects in different directions by the frequency the wind blows in each direction.
3.   National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, 42 United States Code (U.S.C.)
      4321 et seq.16


These incidents shall be included and evaluated under routine releases in accordance with proposed Appendix
4.    Executive Order 11514, Protection and Enhancement of Environmental Qual        ity. Federal Register, 35 FR 4247, March 5, 1970, Office of the President, Washington, DC.
  1.1
                                                                  2 Coues of such guide(s) dated November 2, 1970, are ACCIDENT-2.0 SMALL RELEASE OUTSIDE CON                            available at the Commission's Public Document Room, 1717 H
                      TAINMENT                                      Street N.W., Washington, D.C., and on request to the Director, Division of Reactor Standards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Com mission, Washington, D.C. 20555. (These two guides have been These releases shall include such things as releases          revised and reissued as Revision 2, Regulatory Guide 1.3, and through steamline relief valves and small spills and leaks        Revision 2, Regulatory Guide 1.4, both dated June 1974.


Copies of these guides may be obtained by request from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555,
5.   Executive Order 11991, Environmental Impact Statements,       Federal Register, 42 FR 26967, May 25, 1977, Office of the President, Washington, DC.
    136 FR II 11,June 8, 1971.                                      Attention: Director of Office of Standards Development.)
                                                              1-2


ACCIDENT-4.0 FISSION PRODUCTS TO PRIMARY
6.    CFR, Chapter V - Council on Environmental Quality - Parts 1500 Through 1508, Parts
                                                                        (c) Secondary system equilibrium radioactivity prior SYSTEM (BWR)                              to the transient shall be based on a 20 gal/day steam generator leak and a 10 gpm blowdown rate.
      1500-1508, Title 40, Protection of Environment.


4.1 Fuel claddingdefect.
7.   Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2133 et seq.


Release from these events shall be included and                (d) All noble gases and 0.1% of the halogens in the evaluated under routine releases in accordance with            steam reaching the condenser shall be assumed to be released by the condenser air ejector.
8.   Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 5841 et seq.


proposed Appendix I.
9.    U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), NUREG-1437, Revision 2, Final Report, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, Washington, DC.


4.2 Off-destgn transients that induce fuel failures            (e) Meteorology assumptions: x/Q values should be above those expected (such as flow blockage and flux            1/10 of those given in AEC Safety Guide No. 4.
(ADAMS Accession No. ML24087A133).


maldistributions).
10.  NRC, NUREG-1555, Supplement 1, Revision 2, Final Report, Standard Review Plans for Environmental Reviews for Nuclear Power Plants, Supplement 1: Operating License Renewal Washington, DC. (ML23201A227).
                                                                        (f) Consequences should be calculated by weighting (a) 0.02% of the core inventory of noble gases and        the effects in different directions by the frequency the
  0.02% of the core inventory of halogens shall be              wind blows in each direction.


assumed to be released into the reactor coolant.
11.  NRC, Environmental Review for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses. Federal Register, Vol. 61, No. 109, June 5, 1996, pp. 28467-28497.


5.3 Steam generatortube rupture.
12.   NRC, Environmental Review for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses; Final Rule. Federal Register, 61 FR 66537. December 18, 1996, Washington, DC.


(b) 1% of the halogens in the reactor coolant shall be assumed to be released into the steamline.                         (a) 15% of the average inventory of noble gases and halogens in the primary coolant shall be assumed to be (c) The mechanical vacuum pump shall be assumed            released into the secondary coolant.
14  Publicly available NRC published documents are available electronically through the NRC Library on the NRCs public website at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/ and through the NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS ) at  http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. For problems with ADAMS, contac      t the Public Document Room sta  ff a  t 301-415-4737 or (800  ) 397-4209, o  r email    pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The NRC Public Document Room (P  DR), where you may also examine and orde      r copies of publicly available documen  ts, is open by appointment. To make an appointment to visit the P  DR, please send an email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov o            r call
    1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. eastern time (ET), Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.


to be automatically isolated by a high radiation signal on the steamline.                                                     The average primary coolant activity shall be based on 0.5% failed fuel.
15  The Code of Federal Regulations may be obtained electronically from the U.S. Government Printing Office at:
    https://www.ecfr.gov/.


(d) Radioactivity shall be assumed to carry over to the condenser where 10% of the halogens shall be                    (b) Equilibrium radioactivity prior to rupture shall assumed to be available for leakage from the condenser          be based on a 20 gallon per day steam generator leak and to the environment at 0.5%/day for the course of the            a 10 gpm blowdown rate.
16  The United States Code (U.S.C.) can be obtained electronically from the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the House of Representatives at https://uscode.house.gov.


accident (24 hours).
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 78
                                                                      (c) All noble gases and 0.1% of the halogens in the (e) Meteorology assumptions-x/Q values shall be            steam reaching the condenser shall be assumed to be
13. NRC, Changes to Requirements for Environmental Review for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses; Final Rule. Federal Register, 64 FR 48496. September 3, 1999, Washington, DC.
  1/10 of those given in AEC Safety Guide No. 3 dated            released by the condenser air ejector.


November 2, 1970.
14.  NRC, Revisions to Environmental Review for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses. Federal Register, 78 FR 37282. June 20, 2013, Washington, DC.


(d) Meteorology assumptions: x/Q values shall be
15.  NRC, Regulatory Guide (RG) 4.2, Revision 3, Preparation of Environmental Reports for Nuclear Power Stations, Washington, DC. (ML18071A400).
                                                                  1/10 of those given in AEC Safety Guide No. 4.


(f) Consequences should be calculated by weighting the effects in different directions by the, frequency the wind blows in each direction.                                        (e) Consequences should be calculated by weighting the effects in different directions by the frequency the wind blows in each direction.
16.  CFR, Licenses, Certifications, and Approvals for Nuclear Power Plants, Part 52, Title 10,
    Energy.


ACCIDENT-5.0 FISSION PRODUCTS TO PRIMARY
17. Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994, 25 U.S.C. 479a et seq.
                                                                        ACCIDENT-6.0 REFUELING ACCIDENTS
                    AND SECONDARY              SYSTEMS
                      (PRESSURIZED WATER REACTORJ                    6.1 Fuel bundle drop.


5.1 Fuel cladding defects and steam generatorleak Release from these events shall be included and evalu              (a) The gap activity (noble gases and halogens) in one ated under routine releases in accordance with proposed        row of fuel pins shall be assumed to be released into the water. (Gap activity is 1%of total activity in a pin.)
18. CFR, Agency Rules of Practice and Procedure, Part 2, Title 10, Energy.
Appendix I.


5.2 Off-design transients that induce fuel failure            (b) One week decay time before the accident occurs above those expected and steam generatorleak (such as          shall be assumed.
19. NRC, Nuclear Regulatory Commission International Policy Statement  . Federal Register, 79 FR
    39415. July 10, 2014, Washington, DC.


flow blockage and flux maldistributions).
20. NRC, Management Directive (MD) 6.6, Regulatory Guides, Washington, DC    .
                                                                    (c) Iodine decontamination factor in water shall be (a) 0.02% of the core inventory of noble gases and        500.


0.02% of the core inventory of halogens shall be assumed to be released into the reactor coolani.                    (d) Charcoal filter efficiency for iodines shall be
21. NRC, NUREG-0750, Volume 74, Book 1, Nuclear Regulatory Commission Issuances: Opinion and Decisions of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission with Selected Orders, Washington, DC.
                                                                99%.
    (b) Average inventory in the primary system prior to the transient shall be based on operation with 0.5%                (e) A realistic fraction of the containment volume shall be assumed to leak to the atmosphere prior to failed fuel.                                                  isolating the containment.


1-3
(ML14028A554).


7.2 Heavy object drop onto fuel rack.
22. Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.


(f) Meteorology assumptions: x/Q values shall be
23. Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et    seq.
1/10 of those given in AEC Safety Guide No. 3 or 4.


(a) The gap activity (noble gases and halogens) in one average fuel assembly shall be assumed to be released (g) Consequences should be calculated by weighting into the water. (Gap activity is 1% of total activity in a the effects in different directions by the frequency the      pin.)
24. National Marine Sanctuaries Act, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.
wind blows in each direction.


(b) 30 days decay time before the accident occurs
25. National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, 54 U.S.C. 300101 et seq.
      6.2 Heavy object drop onto fuel in core.                 shall be assumed.


(a) The gap activity (noble gases and halogens) in one average fuel assembly shall be assumed to be released              (c) Iodine decontamination factor in water shall be into the water. (Gap activity shall be 1% of total activity    500.
26. CFR, Identification of historic properties, Part 800, Title 36, Parks, Forests, and Public Property.


in a pin.)
27. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 82 et seq.
                                                                    (d) Charcoal filter efficiency for iodines shall be
                                                                99%.
      (b) 100 hours of decay time before object is dropped shall be assumed.


(e) Meteorology assumptions: x/Q values shall be (c) Iodine decontamination factor in water shall be      1/10 of those given in AEC Safety Guide No. 3 or 4.
28.  Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics Consortium (MRLC), 2019, National Land Cover Dat  abase Class Legend and Description, https://www.mrlc.gov/data/legends/national-land-cover-database- class-legend-and-description.


500.
29.  Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 145  6 et seq.


(f) Consequences should be calculated by weighting (d) Charcoal filter efficiency for iodines shall be      the effects in different directions by the frequency the
30.  CFR, National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards, Part 50, Title 40,
99%.                                                          wind blows in each direction.
    Protection of Environment.


7.3 Fuel cask drop.
31. Clean Air Act of 1970, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.


(e) A realistic fraction of the containment volume shall be assumed to leak to the atmosphere prior to (a) Noble gas gap activity from one fully loaded fuel isolating the containment.
32.  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Revisions to the General Conformity Regulations.


cask (120-day cooling) shall be assumed to be released.
Federal Register, 75 FR 17254. April 5, 2010, Washington, DC.


(Gap activity shall be 1%of total activity in the pins.)
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 79
      (0 Meteorological assumptions: xJQ values shall be
33.  United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Web Soil Survey, https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/soils/survey/.
  1/10 of those given in AEC Safety Guide No. 3 or 4.


(b) Meteorology assumptions-x/Q values shall be
34.   Farmland Protection Policy Act, as amended, 7 U.S.C. 4201 et seq.
                                                                1/10 of those given in AEC Safety Guide No. 3 or 4.


(g) Consequences should be calculated by weighting the effects in different directions by the frequency the wind blows in each direction.                                     (c) Consequences should be calculated by weighting the effects in different directions by the frequency the ACCIDENT-7.0 SPENT FUEL HANDLING                      wind blows in each direction.
35.  Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly referred to as the Clean Water Act), as amended,
      33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.


ACCIDENT
36.   CFR, State Certification of Activities Requiring a Federal License or Permit, Part 121, Title 40,
                                                                  ACCIDENT-8.O ACCIDENT INITIATION EVENTS
      Protection of Environment.
      7.1 Fuel assembly drop in fuel storagepool                                      CONSIDERED IN DESIGN BASIS
                                                                                      EVALUATION IN THE SAFETY
      (a) The gap activity (noble gases and halogens) in one                          ANALYSIS REPORT
  row of fuel pins shall be assumed to be released into the water. (Gap activity shall be 1% of total activity in a pin.)                                                              8.1 Loss-of-coolant accidents (b) One week decay time before accident occurs shall                      Small Pipe Break (6 in. or less)
  be assumed.


(a) Source term: the average radioactivity inventory (c) Iodine decontamination factor in water shall be      in the primary coolant phall be assumed. (This inventory
37.   EPA, Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification Improvement Rule. Federal Register, 88 FR 66558. September 27, 2023, Washington, DC.
  500.                                                           shall be based on operation with 0.5% failed fuel).
        (d) Charcoal filter efficiency for iodines shall be          (b) Filter efficiencies shall be 95% for internal filters
  99%.                                                          and 99% for external filters.


(e) Meteorology assumptions: x/Q values shall be              (c) 50% building mixing for boiling water reactors shall be assumed.
38.  Migratory Bird Treaty Act, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.


1/10 of those given in AEC Safety Guide No. 3 or 4.
39.  Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.


(d) For the effects of Plateout, Sprays, Decontami (f) Consequences shall be calculated by weighting the nation Factor in Pool, and Core Sprays, the following effects in different directions by the frequency the wind    reduction factors shall be assumed:
40.  CFR, Interagency CooperationEndangered Species Act of 1973, As Amended, Part 402, Title 50, Wildlife and Fisheries.
    blows in each direction.


1-4
41.  United States Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, IPaC: Information for Planning and Consultation, https://ipac.ecosphere.fws.gov/.


For pressurized water reactors-0.05 with chemical (a) The primary coolant inventory of noble gases and additives in sprays, 0.2 for no chemical additives.
42.   National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service,
      2020, Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Mapper, https://www.habitat.noaa.gov/apps/efhmapper/.


halogens shall be based on operation with 0.5% failed fuel.
43.   NOAA, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Maps, https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/about/maps.html.


For boiling water reactors-0.2.
44.   CFR, National Register of Historic Places, Part 60, Title 36, Parks, Forests, and Public Property.


(b) Release rate through failed line shall be assumed (e) A realistic building leak rate as a function of time constant for the four-hour duration of the accident.
45.  CFR, Procedures for State, Tribal, and Local Government Historic Preservation Programs, Part 61, Title 36, Parks, Forests, and Public Property.


shall be assumed.
46.   Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Standards Association (IEEE SA). National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), Piscataway, NJ.17


(c) Charcoal filter efficiency shall be 99%.
47.  Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI). 2019. Industry Groundwater Protection Initiative - Final Guidance Document, Rev. 1, NEI 07-07, Revision 1, Washington, DC (ML19142A071).18
        (0 Meteorology assumptions: x/Q values shall be
    1/10 of those  given in AEC Safety Guide No. 3 or 4.                   (d) Reduction factor from combined plateout and building mixing shall be 0.1.


(g) Consequences should be calculated by weighting the effects in different directions by the frequency the (e) Meteorology assumptions x/Q values shall be wind blows in each direction.                                       1/10 of thosegiven in AEC Safety Guide No. 3.
48.   CFR, Standards for Protection Against Radiation, Part 20, Title 10, Energy.


(f) Consequences shall be calculated by weighting the effects in different directions by the frequency the wind Large P*pe Break                            blows in each direction.
17  Copies of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) documents may be purchased from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Service Center, 445 Hoes Lane, PO Box 1331, Piscataway, NJ 08855 or through the IEEEs public website at https://www.ieee.org/publications_standards/index.html.


(a) Source term: The average radioactivity inventory in the primary coolant shall be assumed. (This inventory                8.2(a) Rod ejection accident (pressurized water reac shall be based on operation with 0.5% failed fuel), plus            tor)
18  Publications from the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) are available at their website: http://www.nei.org/              or by contacting the headquarters at Nuclea  r Energy Institute, 1776  I Stree  t NW, Washington, DC 20006-3708, Phone: 202-739-800, Fax:
  release into the coolant of:
    202-785-4019.
                                                                            (a) 0.2% of the core inventory of noble gases and For pressurized water reactors-2% of the core                halogens shall be assumed to be released into the inventory of halogens and noble gases.                              primary coolant plus the average inventory in the primary coolant based on operation with 0.5% failed For boiling water reactors-0.2%of the core inven              fuel.


tory of halogens and noble gases.
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 80
49.  CFR, Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities, Part 50, Title 10, Energy.


(b) Loss-of-wo6lant accident occurs with break size (b) Filter efficiencies shall be 95% for internal filters      equivalent to diameter of rod housing (see assumptions and 99% for external filters.                                       for Accident 8.1).
50.  Daily, G.C., S. Alexander, P.R. Ehrlich, J. Lubchenco, P.A. Matson, H.A. Mooney, S. Postel, S.H. Schneider, D. Tilman, and G.M. Woodwell, Ecosystem Services: Benefits Supplied to Human Societies by Natural Ecosystems, Issues in Ecology, 2:1-16, 1997. Available at http://www.esa.org/science_resources/issues/FileEnglish/issue2.pdf.
      (c) 50% building mixing for boiling water reactors
                                                                          8.2(b) Rod drop accident (boiling water reactor)
  shall be assumed.                                                   Radioactivematerialreleased (d) For the effects of Plateout, Containment Sprays, Core Sprays (values based on 0.5% of halogens in organic                (a) 0.025% of the core inventory of noble gas and
                                                                      0.025% of the core inventory of halogens shall b'e form), the following reduction factors shall be assumed:
                                                                      assumed to be released into the coolant.


For pressurized water reactors-O.05 with chemical additives in sprays, 0.2 for no chemical additives.                     (b) 1% of the halogens in the reactor coolant shall be assumed to be released into the condenser.
51. EPA, Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment. Federal Register, 63 FR 26846. May 14, 1998, Washington, DC.


For boiling water reactors-0.2.                                    (c) The mechanical vacuum pump shall be assumed to be automatically isolated by high radiation signal on (e) A realistic building leak rate as a function of time      the steamline.
52. Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), 1993, Incorporating Biodiversity Considerations Into Environmental Impact Analysis Under the National Environmental Policy Act, Washington, DC.


and including design leakage of steamline valves in BWRs shall be assumed.                                                        (d) Radioactivity shall be assumed to carry over to the condenser where 10% of the halogens shall be (f) Meteorology assumptions: x/Q values shall be              assumed to be available for leakage from the condenser
Available at https://ceq.doe.gov/docs/ceq-publications/Incorporating_Biodiversity_1993.pdf.
1/10 of those given in AEC Safety Guide No. 3 or 4.               to the environment at 0.5%/day for the course of the accident (24 hours).
    (g) Consequences should be calculated by weighting the effects in different directions by the frequency -the (e) Meteorology assumptions: x/Q values shall wind blows in each lirection.                                      be 1/10 of those given in AEC Safety Guide No. 3.


8
53. Menzie, C., M.H. Henning, J. Cura, K. Finkelstein, J. Gentile, J. Maughan, D. Mitchell, S. Petron, B. Potocki, S. Svirsky, and P. Tyler, Special Report of the Massachusetts Weight-of-Evidence Workgroup: A Weight-Of-Evidence Approach for Evaluating Ecological Risks,    Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, 2:277-304, 1996. Available at https://doi.org/10.1080/10807039609383609.
        .1(a) Break in instrument line from primary system (f) Consequences should be calculated by weighting that penetratesthe containment (lines not provided with the effects in different directions by the frequency the isolation capability inside containment).
                                                                    wind blows in each direction.


I-5
54.  NRC, NUREG-1437, Supplement 10, Second Renewal, Generic Environmental Impact State        ment of License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, Regarding Subsequent License Renewal for Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3, Final Report, Washington, DC (ML20023A937).


(b) Blowdown to 10 gpm.
55.  CFR, EPA Administered Permit Programs: The National Pollutant Discharge    Elimination System, Part 122, Title 40, Protection of Environment.


8.3(a) Steamline breaks (pressurized water reactors outside containment) Break size equal to area of safety            (d) Volume of one steam generator shall be assumed valve throat.
56. CFR, Criteria and Standards for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Part 125, Title 40, Protection of Environment.


to be released to the atmosphere with an iodine partition factor of 10.
57.  EPA, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination SystemFinal Regulations To Establish Requirements for Cooling Water Intake Structures at Existing Facilities and Amend Requirements at Phase I Facilities. Federal Register, 79 FR 48300. August 15, 2014, Washington, DC.


Small break                              (e) Meteorology assumptions-xIQ values shall be
58.  CFR, Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions, Part 600, Title 50, Wildlife and Fisheries.
                                                              1/10 of those given in AEC Safety Guide No. 4.


(a) Primary coolant activity shall be based on opera tion with 0.5% failed fuel. The primary system contribu            (f) Consequences shall be calculated by weighting the tion diring the course of the accident shall be based on a    effects in different directions by the frequency the wind
59.  NOAA, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, 2009, Overview of Conducting Consultation Pursuant to Section 304(d) of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 1434(d)), Silver Spring, MD. Available at https://nmssanctuaries.blob.core.windows.net/sanctuaries- prod/media/archive/management/pdfs/304d.pdf  .
20 gal/day tube leak.                                         blows in each direction.


(b) During the course of the accident, a halogen              8.3(b) Steamline breaks (boiling waterreactor)
60.  NRC, Revision to Environmental Review for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses. Federal Register, 78 FR 37282. June 20, 2013, Washington, DC.
reduction factor of 0.1 shall be applied to the primary
                                                                                                          2 coolant source when the steam generator tubes are                              Small pipe break (of 1/4 ft )
covered; a factor of 0.5 shall be used when the tubes are uncovered.                                                         (a) Primary coolant activity shall be based on opera (c) Secondary coolant system radioactivity prior to      tion with 0.5% failed fuel.


the accident shall be based on:                                    (b) The main steamline shall be assumed to fail, releasing coolant until 5 seconds after isolation signal is (a) 20 gallons per day primary-to-secondary leak.    received.
61.  NRC, Regulatory Guide (RG) 4.2, Supplement 1, Revision 1,  Preparation of Environmental Reports for Nuclear Power Stations, Washington, DC. (ML13067A354)     .


(b) Blowdown of 10 gpm.                                   (c) Halogens in the fluid released to the atmosphere shall be at 1/10 the primary system liquid concentration.
62. Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions To Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations. Federal Register, 59 FR 7629, February 11, 1994, Office of the President, Washington, DC.


(d) Volume of one steam generator shall be released to the atmosphere with an iodine partition factor of 10.           (d) Meteorology assumptions-x/Q values shall be
Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 81
                                                                1/10 of those in AEC Safety Guide No. 3.
63. NRC, Letter from NRC Chairman Ivan Selin to the President, dated March 31, 1994.


(e) Meteorology assumptions: xJQ values shall be
(ML033210526).
  1/10 of those given in AEC Safety Guide No. 4.                      (e) Consequences shall be calculated by weighting the effects in different directions by the frequency the wind blows in each direction.


(f) Consequences shall be calculated by weighting the effects in different directions by the frequency the wind blows in each direction.                                                               Large break (a) Primary coolant activity shall be based on opera tion with 0.5% failed fuel.
64.  CEQ, 1997, Environmental Justice: Guidance under the National Environmental Policy Act, Washington, DC. Available at https://ceq.doe.gov/docs/ceq-regulations-and- guidance/regs/ej/justice.pdf.


Large break (b) Main steamline shall be assumed to fail, releasing (a) Primary coolant activity shall be based on opera      that amount of coolant corresponding to a 5 seconds tion with 0.5% failed fuel. The primary system contribu      isolation time.
65.  NRC, Policy Statement on the Treatment of Environmental Justice Matters in NRC Regulatory and Licensing Actions. Federal Register, 69 FR 52040. August 24, 2004, Washington, DC.


tion during the course of the accident shall be based on a
66. CEQ, 1997, Considering Cumulative Effects Under the National Environmental Policy Act.
  20 gal/day tube leak.                                               (c) 50% of the halogens in the fluid exiting the break shall be assumed to be released to the atmosphere.


(b) A halogen reduction factor of 0.5 shall be applied to the primary coolant source during the course of the              (d) Meteorology assumptions-x/Q values shall be accident.                                                      1/10 of those in AEC Safety Guide No. 3.
(ML12243A349).


(c) Secondary coolant system radioactivity prior to            (e) Consequences shall be calculated by weighting the accident shall be based on:                               the effects in different directions by the frequency the wind blows in each direction.
67.  EPA, 315-R-99-002, 1999, Consideration of Cumulative Impacts in EPA Review of NEPA
    Documents. Available at https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2014-
    08/documents/cumulative.pdf.


(a) 20 gallons per day primary-to-secondary leak.
68.  NEI. 2019. Model SLR New and Significant Assessment Approach for SAMA, NEI 17-04, Revision 1, Washington, DC (ML19318D216).


1-6
69.  Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. Public Law No. 118-5, 137 Stat. 10.


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Revision as of 18:27, 13 November 2024

Preparation of Environmental Reports for Nuclear Power Plant License Renewal Applications, Revision 2
ML23201A144
Person / Time
Issue date: 08/01/2024
From: Jennifer Davis
Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
To:
Yanely Malave
References
RIN 3150-AK32, NRC-2018-0296 RG-4.002 S1 Rev 2
Download: ML23201A144 (83)
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U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

REGULATORY GUIDE 4.2 Supplement 1, Revision 2

Issue Date: August 2024 Technical Lead: J. Davis

PREPARATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTS

FOR NUCLEAR POWER PLANT LICENSE

RENEWAL APPLICATIONS

A. INTRODUCTION

Purpose

This regulatory guide (RG) provides guidance to applicants for the format and content of environmental reports (ERs) that are submitted as part of an application for the initial license renewal (LR) or subsequent license renewal (SLR) of a nuclear power plant operating license.

Applicability

This RG applies to applications for the renewal of a nuclear power plant operating license in accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), Part 54, Requirements for oenew Operating Licenses for Nuclear Power Plants Eoef the ed riew under CFR Part 51, Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions (Ref. OF. i ds pupplemt I oevisi I t Q.2, Preparation of bnviroenteportf kuclrer mlanticenewal Applications, issued .

Applicable Regulations

  • The Nionaliroentalif 1969 (NA; 42 Unitte (U1 et se ) (R. 3) rres theder encirepare dled ronment impt stents (Ss)opomaj ralions siifily affeing tualit the human enviroent. A inpeive As to require aederal agencto ider , iitsimakirocethe rmeal fts (impts) ofopod majeder ti and rel tertives. Aitional direion is proviin E*ecutive Order , Protection and Enhancement of Environmental Quality (Ref. QFmended by irr I Environmental Impact Statements Eoef RFithe Council on

Written suggestions regarding this guide may be submitted through the NRCs public website in the NRC Library at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/reg-guides/index.html, under Documen t Collection s, in Regulatory Guide s, at https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/reg-guides/contactus.html, and will be considered in future updates and enhancements to the Regulatory Guide series. During the development process of new guides suggestions should be submitted within the comment period fo r immediate consideration. Suggestions received outside o f the comment period will be considered if practica l to do so o r may be considered for future updates.

Electronic copies of this RG, previous versions of RGs, and other recently issued guides are available through the NRCs public website in the NRC Library at https://nrcweb.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/reg-guides/ under Document Collections, in Regulat ory Guides. This RG is also available through the NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS ) a t http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html , under Accession No. ML23201A144. The regulatory analysis is associated with a rulemaking and may be found in ADAMS under Accession No. ML24152A224. The associated draft guide DG-4027, may be found in ADAMS unde r Accession No. ML22165A072, and the sta ff responses to the public comments on DG-4027, may be found under ADAMS Accession No. ML24086A527.

Environmental Qualitys (CEQs) regulations at 40 CFR Chapter V - Council on Environmental Quality - Parts 1500-1508 (Ref. 6). Regarding the CEQ regulations, as stated in

10 CFR 51.10, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) takes account of those regulations voluntarily, subject to certain conditions.

  • 10 CFR Part 51 provides requirements for the NRCs preparation and processing of EIS and related documents under Section 102(2)(C) of NEPA.
  • 10 CFR Part 54 provides requirements for the issuance of renewed operating licenses and renewed combined licenses for nuclear power plants licensed pursuant to Sections 103 or 104(b)

of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2133) (Ref. 7), and Title II of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5841-5853) (Ref. 8).

o 10 CFR Part 54.17(c) allows a license renewal application to be submitted within

20 years of license expiration, and NRC regulations at 10 CFR 54.31(b) specify that the renewed license will be for a term of 20 years plus the length of time remaining on the current license. As a result, renewed licenses may be for a term of 20 to

40 years.

Related Guidance

While the guidance provided in the related documents listed below may overlap with guidance in this RG, the purposes of the documents are different. Some of the related documents offer guidance in the development of reference sources that may be useful in the development of an ER, but, unlike this RG,

none are specifically intended to offer guidance directly pertinent to preparing the ER itself.

  • NUREG-1437, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants (LR GEIS) (Ref. 9), provides the regulatory and technical basis for the findings on environmental issues for initial LR or SLR of nuclear power plants in Table B-1 of NRC

regulations in Appendix B to Subpart A of 10 CFR Part 51. The LR GEIS presents the findings of NRCs systematic inquiry into the environmental impacts of continued nuclear power plant operations and refurbishment activities associated with license renewal.

  • NUREG-1555, Standard Review Plans for Environmental Reviews for Nuclear Power Plants, Supplement 1, Operating License Renewal (Ref. 10), provides the criteria used by the NRC

staff in conducting the environmental review and preparing the nuclear power plant-specific supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS).

Purpose of Regulatory Guides

The NRC issues RGs to describe methods that are acceptable to the staff for implementing specific parts of the agencys regulations, to explain techniques that the staff uses in evaluating specific issues, and to describe information that the staff needs in its review of applications for permits and licenses. RGs are not substitutes for NRC regulations and compliance with them is not required.

Methods and solutions that differ from those set forth in RGs are acceptable if supported by a basis for the issuance or continuance of a permit or license by the Commission.

Paperwork Reduction Act

This RG provides voluntary guidance for implementing the mandator y information collections in

10 CFR Parts 51 and 54 that are subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 2

, Page 2 These information collections were approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), under control numbers 3150-0021 and 3150-0155. Send comments regarding this information collection t o the FOIA, Library, and Information Collections Branch (T6-A10M), U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001, or by e-mail to Infocollects.Resource@nrc.gov, and to the O MB reviewer at: OMB Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, (3150-0021 and 3150-0155), Attn: Desk Officer for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 725 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20503.

Public Protection Notification

The NRC may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless the document requesting or requiring the collection displays a currently valid OMB

control number.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 3

, Page 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. INTRODUCTION

............................................................................................................................ 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................... 4

B. DISCUSSION

.................................................................................................................................... 7 B.1 Environmental Review Process ................................................................................................. 8 B.2 Consideration of International Standards ................................................................................ 10

C. STAFF REGULATORY GUIDANCE ......................................................................................... 11 C.1 Environmental ReportsGeneral Guidance ........................................................................... 11 Chapter 1 Purpose of and Need for Action ......................................................................... 15 Chapter 2 Proposed Action and Description of Alternatives .............................................. 15

2.1 The Proposed Action ................................................................................ 15

2.2 General Plant Information ........................................................................ 16

2.3 Refurbishment Activities .......................................................................... 17

2.4 Programs and Activities for Managing the Effects of Aging ................... 18

2.5 Employment ............................................................................................. 18

2.6 Alternatives to the Proposed Action ......................................................... 18 Chapter 3 Affected Environment ........................................................................................ 19

3.1 Land Use and Visual Resources ............................................................... 19

3.2 Meteorology and Air Quality ................................................................... 20

3.3 Noise......................................................................................................... 21

3.4 Geologic Environment ............................................................................. 22

3.5 Water Resources ....................................................................................... 22

3.6 Ecological Resources ................................................................................ 24

3.7 Historic and Cultural Resources ............................................................... 30

3.8 Socioeconomics ........................................................................................ 33

3.9 Human Health ........................................................................................... 33

3.10 Environmental Justice............................................................................... 35

3.11 Waste Management .................................................................................. 35

3.12 Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change ..................................... 36 Chapter 4 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action and Mitigating Actions ............................................................................................................... 36

4.1 Land Use and Visual Resources ............................................................... 37

4.2 Air Quality ................................................................................................ 37

4.3 Noise......................................................................................................... 37

4.4 Geology and Soils..................................................................................... 37

4.5 Water Resources ....................................................................................... 37

4.6 Ecological Resources ................................................................................ 42

4.7 Historic and Cultural Resources ............................................................... 60

4.8 Socioeconomics ........................................................................................ 62

4.9 Human Health ........................................................................................... 62

4.10 Environmental Justice............................................................................... 64

4.11 Waste Management .................................................................................. 67

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 4

, Page 4

4.12 Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change ..................................... 67

4.13 Cumulative Effects .................................................................................... 68

4.14 Impacts Common to All Alternatives ....................................................... 70

Chapter 5 Assessment of New and Significant Information ............................................... 70

Chapter 6 Summary of License Renewal Impacts and Mitigating Actions ........................ 71

6.1 License Renewal Impacts ......................................................................... 71

6.2 Mitigation ................................................................................................. 71

6.3 Unavoidable Adverse Impacts .................................................................. 71

6.4 Irreversible or Irretrievable Resource Commitments ............................... 71

6.5 Short-Term Use Versus Long-Term Productivity of the Environment ............................................................................................. 71 Chapter 7 Alternatives to the Proposed Action ................................................................... 72

7.1 Alternative Energy Sources ...................................................................... 73

7.2 Alternatives for Reducing Adverse Impacts ............................................. 74

7.3 No-Action Alternative .............................................................................. 75 Chapter 8 Comparison of the Environmental Impact of License Renewal with the Alternatives ........................................................................................................ 75 Chapter 9 Status of Compliance.......................................................................................... 75

D. IMPLEMENTATION

.................................................................................................................... 77

E. REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................... 78

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 5

, Page 5 ABBREVIATIONS/ACRONYMS

APE area of potential effects BTA best technology available CEQ Council on Environmental Quality CFR Code of Federal Regulations CWA Clean Water Act of 1972 EFH essential fish habitat EIS environmental impact statement EMF electromagnetic field EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ER environmental report ESA Endangered Species Act of 1973 GEIS generic environmental impact statement GHG greenhouse gas gpm gallon(s) per minute HAPCs habitat areas of particular concern IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency IPaC Information Planning and Consultation LR license renewal L/min liters per minute LR GEIS Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants MSA Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1996 MTU metric ton of uranium MWd megawatt-days NEI Nuclear Energy Institute NEPA National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 NESC National Electric Safety Code NHPA National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 NMSA National Marine Sanctuaries Act NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System NRC U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission NRHP National Register of Historic Places RG regulatory guide ROW right-of-way SAMA severe accident mitigation alternative SEIS supplemental environmental impact statement SHPO State Historic Preservation Officer SLR subsequent license renewal THPO Tribal Historic Preservation Officer U.S.C. United States Code

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 6

, Page 6

B. DISCUSSION

Reason for Revision

RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Revision 2 updates guidance to align with NRC regulations, changes in environmental statutes and regulations, and Executive Orders since the last revision of the RG. Examples of changes include, but are not limited to, the assessment of continued operations and refurbishment impacts, greenhouse gas (GHG) and climate change, environmental justice, alternatives, cumulative effects, and to fully account for SLR.

Background

Use of this RG will help to ensure the completeness of the information provided in the ER, assist the NRC staff and others in locating important information, and facilitate the environmental review process for license renewals. However, the NRC does not require conformance with this guidance.

This RG also explains how the NRC complies with its environmental protection regulations in

10 CFR Part 51, Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions, for the renewal of nuclear power plant operating licenses. NRC regulations at 10 CFR Part 51 implement Section 102(2) of NEPA. The NRC originally published the license renewal provisions of

10 CFR Part 51 in the Federal Register on June 5, 1996 (61 FR 28467) (Ref. 11). The NRCs intention in developing the 1996 rule was to improve the regulatory efficiency of the environmental review process for the renewal of nuclear power plant operating licenses. Analyses conducted for and reported in NUREG-1437, Generic Environmental I mpact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, issued May 1996, support the 1996 rule.

On December 18, 1996 ( 61 FR 66537) (Ref. 12), the NRC amended the rule to incorporate minor clarifying and conforming changes and to add omitted language. The N RC amended the rule again on September 3, 1999 (64 FR 48496) (Ref. 13), to address the environmental effects of transporting uranium fuel and reactor waste to and from a single nuclear power plant. Analyses conducted for and reported in NUREG-1437, Volume 1, Addendum 1, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants: Main Report, Section 6.3Transportation, Table 9.1 Summary of Findings on NEPA

Issues for License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants, Final Report, issued August 19 99, support this amendment. This amendment also addressed local traffic -related transportation impacts from the continued operation of a nuclear power plant during the license renewal term. The NRC amended the rule again on June 20, 2013 (78 FR 37282) (Ref. 14), to redefine the number and scope of the environmental issues that must be addressed during license renewal environmental reviews.

This revision also incorporates lessons learned and knowledge gained from initial LR and SLR

environmental reviews conducted in the period leading up to and following completion of the prior update in 2013 and fully considers one term of SLR. Analyses conducted for and reported in NUREG-1437, Revision 2, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants (LR GEIS), issued in 2024, support this rule amendment.

The LR GEIS evaluated 80 environmental issues and determined that 59 of these issues are adequately addressed for all applicable nuclear power plants. The LR GEIS identifies these as Category 1 issues. The NRC will not require additional analysis in nuclear power plant-specific (hereafter called plant-specific) environmental reviews of Category 1 issues unless new and significant information related to the conclusions in the LR GEIS needs to be considered. Of the remaining 21 issues, 20 are identified as Category 2 issues, which require plant-specific environmental analyses. One environmental issue

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 7 (Electromagnetic fields [EMFs]) is not categorized. This issue remains uncategorized because there is no scientific consensus on the potential effects from chronic exposure to EMFs.

Applicants for a permit, license, or other authorization to site, construct, and/or operate a new nuclear power plant may use RG 4.2, Preparation of Environmental Reports for Nuclear Power Stations (Ref. 15), for developing ERs submitted as part of an application in accordance with 10 CFR Part 50,

Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities, and 10 CFR Part 52 , Licenses, Certifications, and Approvals for Nuclear Power Plants (Ref. 16).

B.1 Environmental Review Process

After receiving an application for initial LR or SLR that includes the ER, the NRC staff conducts an acceptance review to determine whether the information in the ER is sufficiently complete to begin the environmental (NEPA) review process. After docketing the application, the NRC staff begins the environmental review and starts preparing the plant-specific SEIS to the LR GEIS. NUREG-1555, Standard Review Plans for Environmental Reviews for Nuclear Power Plants, Supplement 1, Revision 2, Operating License Renewal, issued in 2024, guides the NRC staff in conducting the environmental review and preparing the SEIS. As part of the review, the NRC staff assesses the environmental impacts of the proposed action (the initial or subsequent renewal of the nuclear power plants operating license), no action (not renewing the operating license), and energy replacement alternatives. The SEIS presents conclusions and recommendations concerning the environmental impacts of renewing the nuclear power plants operating license. NRC decisionmakers consider these recommendations, together with the findings from the NRCs safety review (under 10 CFR Part 54),

before deciding to either issue or deny the initial LR or SLR operating license.

The NRCs environmental (NEPA) review process consists of the following actions required by

10 CFR Part 51:

  • Publish a notice of intent to conduct an initial LR or SLR environmental review and to prepare a plant-specific SEIS to the LR GEIS in the Federal Register (see 10 CFR 51.27, Notice of Intent; 10 CFR 51.95(c), Postconstruction Environmental Impact StatementsOperating License Renewal Stage; and 10 CFR 51.116, Notice of Intent). Send copies of the notice to the appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies and Indian Tribes;1 public interest groups; and any other persons (e.g., representatives of environmental justice communities2) expressing interest in the initial LR or SLR environmental review. The notice describes the proposed action, explains the NRCs scoping process, provides information about public meeting locations, states where copies of the ER are available for public examination, and invites members of the public to participate in the scoping process.
  • Conduct scoping (see 10 CFR 51.28, ScopingParticipants; 10 CFR 51.29, Scoping Environmental Impact Statement and Supplement to Environmental Impact Statement; 10 CFR

51.71, Draft Environmental Impact StatementContents; and 10 CFR 51.95(c)(1)). The purpose of scoping is to identify environmental issues and invite State and local agency officials;

Indian Tribes; representatives of environmental justice communities; environmental interest

1 The term Indian Tribes refers to Federally recognized Tribes as acknowledged by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. § 479a) (Ref. 17).

2 Environmental justice communities can also include State-recognized Tribes, those that self-identify as Indian Tribes, and tribal members. Tribal members can be part of an environmental justice community that has different interests and concerns than a Tribal government.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 8 groups; and members of the public to participate in the scoping process. Scoping provides an opportunity for any member of the public to identify environmental issues and concerns they believe are significant that may not have been adequately addressed in the ER. Environmental issues may be introduced in oral statements made at the scoping meeting or in written comments sent directly to the NRC or via www.regulations.gov. During scoping, the NRC staff can visit the nuclear power plant and, if requested, meet with local, regional, and State agencies and Indian Tribes; and representatives of environmental justice communities and environmental interest groups. Depending on issues and concerns raised during scoping, the NRC staff may request additional information from the applicant.

  • Prepare a plant-specific draft SEIS to the LR GEIS (see 10 CFR 51.70, Draft Environmental Impact StatementGeneral; 10 CFR 51.71; and 10 CFR 51.95(c)). In developing the draft SEIS, the NRC staff will evaluate (verify and validate) information provided by the applicant and will seek and collect information from independent sources.
  • Distribute the draft SEIS for public comment (see 10 CFR 51.73, Request for Comments on Draft Environmental Impact Statement, and 10 CFR 51.74, Distribution of Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Supplement to Draft Environmental Impact Statement; News Releases).

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the NRC will publish separate notices of availability in the Federal Register. Copies of the draft SEIS will be distributed to appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies and Indian Tribes; environmental justice communities;

environmental interest groups, organizations, and individuals who expressed interest and participated in the environmental review; and any other individuals who request a copy.

10 CFR 51.95(c)). In developing the final SEIS, the NRC staff will respond to all comments and revise the SEIS, if necessary. After addressing public comments, the NRC staff will determine whether the adverse environmental impacts of license renewal are so great that preserving the option of license renewal for energy-planning decisionmakers would be unreasonabl

e. The NRC

staff will then submit the final SEIS to the EPA, and both agencies will publish notices of availability in the Federal Register (see 10 CFR 51.93, Distribution of Final Environmental Impact Statement and Supplement to Final Environmental Impact Statement; News Releases, and 10 CFR 51.118, Final Environmental Impact StatementNotice of Availability). Copies of the final SEIS will be distributed to Federal, State, and local agencies and Indian Tribe environmental justice communities; environmental interest groups, organizations, and individuals who expressed interest and participated in the environmental review; and any other individuals who request a copy.

  • The Commission may hold a hearing if it determines that it is in the public interest or if a request for hearing and petition to intervene is granted. In accordance with 10 CFR 2.105(a)(10), Notice of Proposed Action (Ref. 18), the NRC will issue a notice of opportunity for hearing as soon as practicable. Any person whose interest may be affected by the initial LR or SLR action may request a hearing. (See also 10 CFR 51.104, NRC Proceeding Using Public Hearings;

Consideration of Environmental Impact Statement.)

  • Prepare a record of decision (see 10 CFR 51.103, Record of DecisionGeneral). The record of decision will summarize the impacts of initial LR or SLR and the energy replacement alternatives considered in the SEIS, the measures taken to minimize and/or reduce any adverse environmental effects, and any license conditions adopted in connection with mitigation measures. In making a final decision on initial LR or SLR, the NRC will determine whether the adverse environmental

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 9 impacts of license renewal are so great that preserving the option of license renewal for energy-planning decisionmakers would be unreasonable. The NRC will publish the Commissions final decision on whether to renew the nuclear plant operating license in the Federal Register.

B.2 Consideration of International Standards

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) works with member states and other partners to promote the safe, secure, and peaceful use of nuclear technologies. The IAEA develops Safety Requirements and Safety Guides for protecting people and the environment from harmful effects of ionizing radiation. This system of safety fundamentals, safety requirements, safety guides, and other relevant reports, reflects an international perspective on what constitutes a high level of safety. To inform development of this RG, the NRC considered the Commissions International Policy Statement (Ref. 19)

and Management Directive and Handbook 6.6, Regulatory Guides (Ref. 20), which states that consensus standards, industry guidance documents, and international standards are endorsed in RGs, as appropriate. The staff did not identify any IAEA Requirements or Guides with information applicable to this RG.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 10

C. STAFF REGULATORY GUIDANCE

C.1 Environmental Reports General Guidance

The applicant should provide sufficient information to support the environmental impact assessments in the ER and the basis for each finding (conclusion). Though other documents (e.g., previous ER(s) or safety analysis reports) may be incorporated by reference, the applicant should summarize the information from these documents used in impact assessments. The applicant must also ensure the ER provides all the relevant information and analyses called for in NRC regulations,

10 CFR 51.45, Environmental Report, and 10 CFR 51.53(c), Postconstruction Environmental ReportsOperating License Renewal Stage. The ER should describe in detail the affected environment around the nuclear power plant, modifications directly affecting the environment or any plant effluents, and any planned refurbishment activities.

Treatment of Category 1 Issues

According to 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(i), The environmental report for the operating license renewal stage is not required to contain analyses of the environmental impacts of the license renewal issues identified as Category 1 issues in Appendix B to subpart A of this part. However, the ER should describe the affected environment and any environmental resources pertinent to those Category 1 issues that apply to the nuclear power plant and identify Category 1 issues that do not apply. The ER should also discuss any new and significant information related to Category 1 environmental issues (see New and Significant Information paragraph below). The applicant can incorporate the findings in the LR GEIS

into the ER for applicable Category 1 issues.

Treatment of Category 2 Issues

According to 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii), The environmental report must contain analyses of the environmental impacts of the proposed action, including the impacts of refurbishment activities, if any, associated with license renewal and the impacts of operation during the renewal term, for those issues identified as Category 2 issues in Appendix B to subpart A of this part. This RG describes acceptable methods for fulfilling this requirement.

New and Significant Information

According to 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(iv), The environmental report must contain any new and significant information regarding the environmental impacts of license renewal of which the applicant is aware. New and significant information is (1) information that identifies a significant environmental issue that was not considered or addressed in the LR GEIS and, consequently, not codified in Table B-1, Summary of Findings on Environmental Issues for Initial and One Term of Subsequent License Renewal of Nuclear Power Plants, in Appendix B, Environmental Effect of Renewing the Operating License of a Nuclear Power Plant, to Subpart A, National Environmental Policy ActRegulations Implementing Section 102(2), of 10 CFR Part 51, or (2) information not considered in the assessment of impacts evaluated in the LR GEIS leading to a seriously different picture of the environmental consequences of the action than previously considered, such as an environmental impact finding different from that codified in Table B-1.3Further, a significant environmental issue includes, but is not limited to, any new activity or aspect associated with the nuclear power plant that can act upon the affected environment in a

3 For example, Union Electric Company d/b/a Ameren Missouri, (Callaway Plant, Unit 2) CLI-11-5, 74 NRC 141, 167-68

(2011). (Ref. 21)

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 11 manner or an intensity not previously recognized or quantified. An applicant should state in the ER

whether it is aware of any new and significant information and describe any actions taken to identify new information and evaluate its significance. This information will assist the NRC in fulfilling its responsibilities under 10 CFR 51.70(b), which states, in part, The NRC staff will independently evaluate and be responsible for the reliability of all information used in the draft environmental impact statement.

Other interested parties, as well as the NRC, may also identify new and significant information during scoping and public comment periods. Chapter 5 of this RG provides guidance on actions that an applicant may take to identify and evaluate new and significant information.

Impact Findings

For Category 2 issues and for new and significant information, applicants should assess the environmental impact in proportion to their significance as prescribed in the CEQs terminology including revisions in Part 1501NEPA and Agency Planning (40 CFR Part 1501) and Part 1508 Definitions (40 CFR 1508). CEQ requires examination of both the context of an action and the intensity of the effects in making a significance determination as to the adverse effect of the proposed action. In determining whether the incremental environmental effects (impacts) of the proposed action (license renewal-either initial LR or SLR ) are significant, license renewal applicants should consider the action in several contexts. The analysis of context should consider the characteristics of the geographic area and its resources, such as proximity to unique or sensitive resources or communities with environmental justice concerns. For nuclear power plant-specific environmental issues, significance depends on the effects in the relevant geographic area, including, but not limited to, consideration of short- and long-term effects, as well as beneficial and adverse effects. The analysis of the intensity of effects should consider the degree to which the action, as applicable, may (1) adversely affect public health and safety; (2) adversely affect unique characteristics of the geographic area such as historic or cultural resources, parks, Tribal sacred sites, prime farmlands, wetlands, wild and scenic rivers, or ecologically critical areas; (3) violate relevant Federal, State, Tribal, or local laws or other requirements or be inconsistent with Federal, State, Tribal, or local policies designed for the protection of the environment; (4) have potential effects on the human environment that are highly uncertain; (5) adversely affect resources listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; (6) adversely affect an endangered or threatened species or its habitat, including habitat that has been determined to be critical under the Endangered Species Act of

1973 (16 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq.) (Ref. 22); (7) adversely affect communities with environmental justice concerns; and (8) adversely affect rights of Tribal Nations that have been reserved through treaties, statutes, or Executive Orders (40 CFR 1501.3(d)).

In assessing the significance of environmental impacts, the applicant should conform to the following terminology and definitions used by the NRC in the LR GEIS and codified in footnotes to Table B-1 in Appendix B to Subpart A of 10 CFR Part 51:

  • SMALL - For the issue, environmental effects are not detectable or are so minor that they will neither destabilize nor noticeably alter any important attribute of the resource. For the purposes of assessing radiological impacts, the Commission has concluded that those impacts that do not exceed permissible levels in the Commissions regulations are small.
  • MODERATE - For the issue, environmental effects are sufficient to alter noticeably, but not to destabilize, important attributes of the resource.
  • LARGE - For the issue, environmental effects are clearly noticeable and are sufficient to destabilize important attributes of the resource.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 12 In assessing environmental impacts on federally protected ecological resources and historic and cultural resources that require interagency consultation with Federal agencies or Indian Tribes, the applicant should report findings in accordance with the terminology used in the relevant statutes and their implementing regulations.

For federally listed and proposed species protected under the ESA, the applicant should report findings as:

  • may affect and is likely to adversely affect
  • may affect but is not likely to adversely affect
  • no effect

For federally designated and proposed critical habitat protected under the ESA, the applicant should report findings as:

  • is likely to destroy or adversely modify
  • is not likely to destroy or adversely modify
  • no effect

For essential fish habitat (EFH) protected under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1996 (MSA) (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) (Ref. 23), the applicant should report findings as:

  • substantial adverse effects
  • more than minimal but less than substantial adverse effects
  • no adverse effects

For sanctuary resources protected under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA) (16 U.S.C.

§ 1431 et seq.) (Ref. 24), the applicant should report findings as:

  • may affect and is likely to destroy, cause the loss of, or injure
  • may affect but is not likely to destroy, cause the loss of, or injure
  • no effect

These findings are further explained in Section 4.6.4 and summarized in Table 4-1, Table 4-2, and Table 4-3 of this RG. Notably, individual findings should be made for each federally protected ecological resource. Thus, the number of findings for a given license renewal will depend on the number of federally protected species and habitats present in the affected area.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 13 For impacts to historic properties assessed under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) (54 U.S.C. 300101 et seq.) (Ref. 25), the assessment should lead to one of three conclusions for NHPA (see 36 CFR 800.4) (Ref. 26):

  • No historic properties present, the undertaking will have no effect to historic properties
  • Historic properties present, the undertaking will have no adverse effect upon them
  • Historic properties present, the undertaking will have an adverse effect upon one or more historic properties (see 36 CFR 800.5)

Mitigation of Adverse Effects

In 10 CFR 51.45(c), the NRC requires the consideration of alternatives available for reducing or avoiding any adverse effects. In addition, applicants should identify any ongoing mitigation and discuss the potential need for additional mitigation. Mitigation alternatives should be considered in proportion to the significance of the impact. In 40 CFR 1508.1 (y), Mitigation. CEQ identifies five types of mitigative actions:

1. Avoiding the adverse effect altogether by not taking a certain action or parts of an action.

2. Minimizing the adverse effect by limiting the degree or magnitude of the action and its implementation.

3. Rectifying the adverse effect by repairing, rehabilitating, or restoring the affected environment.

4. Reducing or eliminating the adverse effect over time by preservation and maintenance operations during the life of the action.

5. Compensating for the adverse effect by replacing or providing substitute resources or environments.

The applicant should identify all relevant, reasonable mitigation measures that could reduce or avoid adverse effects, even if they are outside the jurisdiction of the NRC.

Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Effects

Environmental effects or impacts include direct, indirect, and cumulative effects.

The environmental impact assessment should consider and discuss each type of these effects in relation to the impact attributed to license renewal (see Impact Findings above). The CEQ regulations at

40 CFR Part 1508.1, Definitions, define three types of effects.

As defined in 40 CFR 1508.1(i)(1)-(4), Effects or impacts means changes to the human environment from the proposed action or alternatives that are reasonably foreseeable and include the following:

  • Direct effects, which are caused by the action and occur at the same time and place.
  • Indirect effects, which are caused by the action and are later in time or farther removed in distance, but are still reasonably foreseeable. Indirect effects may include growth-inducing effects

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 14 and other effects related to induced changes in the pattern of land use, population density or growth rate, and related effects on air and water and other natural systems, including ecosystems.

  • Cumulative effects, which are effects on the environment that result from the incremental effects of the action when added to the effects of other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions regardless of what agency (Federal or non-Federal) or person undertakes such other actions.

Cumulative effects can result from actions with individually minor but collectively significant effects taking place over a period of time.

  • Effects include ecological (such as the effects on natural resources and on the components, structures, and functioning of affected ecosystems), aesthetic, historic, cultural, economic, social, or health, such as disproportionate and adverse effects on communities with environmental justice concerns, whether direct, indirect, or cumulative. Effects also include effects on Tribal resources and climate change-related effects, including the contribution of a proposed action and its alternatives to climate change, and the reasonably foreseeable effects of climate change on the proposed action and its alternatives. Effects may also include those resulting from actions which may have both beneficial and adverse effects, even if on balance the agency believes that the effects will be beneficial.

Chapter 1 Purpose of and Need for Action

This chapter of the ER should briefly describe the purpose of and need for the proposed action.

The applicants ER should include the following statement:

The purpose and need for the proposed action (issuance of a renewed license) is to provide an option that allows for baseload power generation capability beyond the term of the current nuclear power plant operating license to meet future system generating needs. Such needs may be determined by other energy-planning decisionmakers, such as State, utility, and, where authorized, Federal agencies (other than the NRC). Unless there are findings in the safety review required by the Atomic Energy Act or the NEPA

environmental review that would lead the NRC to reject a license renewal application, the NRC does not have a role in the energy-planning decisions about whether a particular nuclear power plant should continue to operate.

Chapter 2 Proposed Action and Description of Alternatives

This chapter of the ER should briefly describe the proposed action, the nuclear power plant, and energy replacement alternatives. The applicant should also describe any proposed refurbishment activities, programs, and activities for managing the effects of aging during the license renewal term (initial LR or SLR).

2.1 The Proposed Action

The proposed action is the renewal of the nuclear power plant operating license, leading to continued reactor operations and maintenance activities during the renewal term (initial LR or SLR).

These activities may include refurbishment for extended nuclear plant operation and changes to surveillance, monitoring, inspections, testing, trending, and recordkeeping (i.e., SMITTR). The applicant may undertake refurbishment and surveillance, monitoring, inspections, testing, trending, and recordkeeping activities because of findings from the 10 CFR Part 54 aging management review or for other reasons, such as opportunities for improved economic operation and maintenance during the license

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 15 renewal term. This section of the ER should describe only those license renewal activities that can affect the environment. The level of detail should be sufficient to support the impact assessments in the ER. For reference, Chapter 2 of the LR GEIS describes reactor operations and refurbishment activities associated with license renewal.

As described in 10 CFR 51.53(c)(2), the ER, in part, must contain the following:

[A] description of the proposed action, including the applicants plans to modify the facility or its administrative control procedures as described in accordance with § 54.21 of this chapter. This report must describe in detail the affected environment around the plant, the modifications directly affecting the environment or any plant effluents, and any planned refurbishment activities . In addition, the applicant shall discuss in this report the environmental impacts of alternatives and any other matters discussed in

§ 51.45.

2.2 General Plant Information

The applicant should briefly describe in the ER the major features of the nuclear power plant and the reactor operation, inspection, maintenance, and refueling activities and practices that would occur during the license renewal term (initial LR or SLR) . Information presented should describe the following systems.

Reactor and Containment Systems

This section of the ER should briefly describe the nuclear power plant, including the reactor, reactor core power, fuel, percent uranium-235 enrichment, irradiation level, refueling cycle, containment system, design net electrical output, and the vendor of the nuclear steam supply system.

Cooling and Auxiliary Water Systems

This section of the ER should describe the cooling and auxiliary water systems in the order th at water flows through them, including approach, intake structure, trash racks, screens (including mesh sizes), screen wash, and fish return or collection systems. It should also provide appropriate figures or maps to illustrate the system pathway . This description should include the rates of average, seasonal, and maximum water withdrawal, estimated consumptive water use, the flow rates or volume of the water body from which cooling water is withdrawn, the location of water withdrawal, and intake velocity at the screens for the last 5 years. The applicant should describe in detail any structural or operational measures, such as the schedule of traveling screen operation or planned outages, used to reduce impingement of fish and shellfish. This description should include a typical water balance or budget showing rates of water withdrawal, losses to evaporative cooling (e.g., for cooling towers), blowdown, contributions from other comingled effluents, and other such inputs or outputs. The applicant should also describe typical temperature changes as water passes through the system, as well as temperatures at the outfall, the size of the plume and mixing zone, and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) or other permit conditions related to temperature. The ER should include copies of such permits and supporting documentation in an appendix. This section should also describe chemical additions or other measures used to clean or maintain condensers and other components . The sections of the ER conce rning surface water, impingement mortality and entrainment , and effects of thermal effluents on aquatic organisms should refer to this section when appropriate to avoid unnecessary repetition. For plants with once-through cooling systems and cooling ponds, this section should provide sufficient detail about the cooling system to support the analysis of the impacts of impingement mortality, entrainment, and thermal effluents on aquatic organisms .

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 16 Radioactive Waste Management

Each nuclear power plant has a radioactive waste system to collect, treat, and dispose of radioactive and potentially radioactive wastes that are byproducts of reactor operations. Radioactive wastes are classified as either liquid, gaseous, or solid.

The applicant should provide a brief plant-specific description of the major features of the liquid, gaseous, and solid radioactive waste management systems. The information should include a description of the systems and types of waste treatment used (e.g., filtration, demineralizers, dewatering, and resin filtration for liquid wastes), onsite storage facilities, and any offsite waste treatment and transportation and disposal of the waste.

Nonradioactive Waste Management

Each nuclear power plant has a nonradioactive waste system to collect, treat, and dispose of nonradioactive wastes that are byproducts of plant operations. The EPA, in accordance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 82) (Ref. 27), classifies certain nonradioactive hazardous wastes as hazardous based on characteristics including ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, and toxicity.

State regulators may add other wastes to the EPA list of hazardous wastes.

The applicant should provide a brief plant-specific description of the major features of the nonradioactive waste storage and disposal programs. The information should include details on the types of waste, handling, storage, and disposal. This section of the ER should also provide information on State permits or any other special permits for the generation, handling, storage, and disposal of nonradiological waste. This section should also describe pollution prevention and waste minimization programs being used at the plant site.

Power Transmission Systems

The applicant should list and describe in-scope transmission lines, including the length or distance of lines; the width of right-of-ways (ROWs); ROW maintenance plans, procedures, or protocols;

and the pesticides and herbicides used in ROWs, including information on how and when they are released. The applicant should also describe the protocol for applying chemicals near streams and wetlands and any procedures in place to protect historic properties and cultural resources. In addition, the applicant should provide a map of all in-scope transmission lines and ROWs . Only those transmission lines that connect the plant to the switchyard where electricity is fed into the regional power distribution system (encompassing those lines that connect the plant to the first substation of the regional electric power grid) and power lines that feed the plant from the grid during outages are considered within the scope of the environmental review.

2.3 Refurbishment Activities

Describe any refurbishment activities performed in support of or otherwise associated with , or necessary for, license renewal (initial LR or SLR). The applicant should identify major facility modifications at the nuclear power plant, including structures and components (e.g., steam generators, vessel heads) that will be replaced or modified. The section should describe where equipment, material, and components will be stored on the plant site before installation, as well as their removal and ultimate disposal. The location and nature of environmental impacts if refurbishment activities will directly or indirectly affect the environment should also be discussed.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 17 The applicant should describe any activities required to support the transport and delivery of equipment, material, and components, such as dredging or bridge and road modifications. Project plans and an implementation schedule should also be discussed, along with a brief explanation of how refurbishment activities will be integrated with refueling and maintenance outages and/or other activities.

It should also list any Federal, State, and local permits needed for the refurbishment and their status.

The environmental effects of refurbishment activities described in this section should be discussed in Chapter 4 of the ER.

2.4 Programs and Activities for Managing the Effects of Aging

Applicants should characterize any changes to power plant operations, inspections, maintenance activities, systems, and administrative control procedures during the renewal term designed to manage the effects of aging (as required by 10 CFR Part 54) that could impact the environment . Environmental impacts different from those described in the final environmental statement for the current operating license should be described in detail.

2.5 Employment

The applicant should provide the most current estim ate of total annual permanent, full-time, onsite employment (i.e., the total estimated number of full-time employees) and their place of residence by county, city, or town. The average number of refueling outage workers, duration of refueling outages (number of weeks), and their frequency (number of months) should also be provided.

The ER should also present the estimated number of workers required to support any refurbishment activities. The amount of time (days or months) as well as an estimate of peak employment should be provided.

Applicants should also note in the ER any anticipated changes in the size of the onsite workforce arising from changes in surveillance, monitoring, inspections, testing, trending, and recordkeeping activities during the license renewal term. The applicant should also estimate changes in indirect employment resulting from changes in the onsite workforce . Employment multipliers used and their source, along with any additional information needed for the NRC to verify the appropriateness of the multipliers, should be provided. Using an estimate of average household size for the region, the applicant should estimate the change in total population associated with license renewal.

2.6 Alternatives to the Proposed Action

In addition to considering the environmental effects, or impacts, of the proposed action (license renewal), the NRC must also consider the environmental effects of alternatives to replace or offset the generating capacity of the nuclear power plant or to mitigate potential adverse impact

s. The NRC

considers the environmental effects of license renewal according to 10 CFR 51.103(a)(5), which states the following:

In making a final decision on a license renewal action pursuant to Part 54 of this chapter, the Commission shall determine whether or not the adverse environmental impacts of license renewal are so great that preserving the option of license renewal for energy planning decisionmakers would be un reasonable.

This section should briefly describe the process the applicant used to identify replacement energy alternatives. Guidance on the treatment of reasonable alternatives to the proposed action are discussed in

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 18 greater detail in Section 7.1 of this RG. Applicants should briefly describe all the alternative energy sources considered and indicate which replacement energy alternatives are evaluated in detail in the ER.

This section should also include a brief description of alternatives considered that would reduce or avoid adverse effects (e.g., conversion of the cooling system from once-through to closed loop or construction and operation of cooling towers to reduce adverse impacts to aquatic resources). Guidance in Section 7.2 of this RG describes the treatment of these alternatives in greater detail.

Chapter 3 Affected Environment

Information that NRC reviewers need to describe the plants environmental setting is discussed in this chapter. Applicants should include the following information about the affected environment to assist the NRC staff in its review of potential environmental impacts during the license renewal term (initial LR

or SLR):

  • Describe the location of the nuclear power plant, including the State, county, town, township, service districts, and parish boundaries, as appropriate. Provide maps showing the boundaries of political jurisdictions.
  • Include a map, or maps, of the nuclear power plant showing site boundaries; the exclusion area;

site structures and facilities; major land uses (with land use classification consistent with the U.S. Geological Survey categories given in USGS NLCD Land Cover Class Legend and Description, updated in 2019 [Ref. 28]); the construction zone for refurbishment, if any; location of any other planned buildings and structures (both temporary and permanent); and transportation routes accessing and adjacent to the nuclear power plant site.

  • Provide a map of the 6-mile (10-kilometer) radius of the nuclear power plant site and a 50-mile

(80-kilometer) radius, showing county and local municipality boundaries, place names, residential areas, airports, industrial and commercial facilities, roads and highways, railroads, Indian reservation and trust lands, military reservations, and military facilities. Depict features on both the vicinity and regional map(s) as practicable, given varying map scales.

  • Identify and describe known and reasonably foreseeable Federal and non -Federal projects and other actions in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant that may contribute to the cumulative environmental effects of license renewal.
  • Identify all Federal facilities, including national parks, national forests, national wildlife areas, military facilities, and military reservations; Indian reservation and trust lands; and State parks, recreational areas, and conservation lands. Include distances, as well as any nonattainment and/or maintenance areas defined under the Clean Air Act, as amended, within 50 miles (80 kilometers)

of the plant site.

  • Provide the projected population within a 50-mile (80-kilometer) radius of the nuclear power plant.

3.1 Land Use and Visual Resources

Land Use

The ER should provide zoning information (e.g., land is zoned for industrial and/or commercial use), including acreage and percentage of land use and land cover by category within the nuclear power

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 19 plant site boundary and/or property. Onsite land use or land cover can be divided into four basic categories: (1) developable unused open portions of the site, including fields and forest uplands;

(2) nondevelopable wetlands and open waterbodies (i.e., marshes, bogs, swamps, streams, ponds, estuaries, and rivers); (3) developed portions of the site, including facilities, structures, parking, landscaped areas, leased lands, and visitor and recreation areas; and (4) the total amount of land disturbed during the construction and operation of the nuclear power plant. The applicant should provide a map of the 6-mile (10-kilometer) radius of the nuclear power plant showing major land uses and land cover with land use classifications consistent with the U.S. Geological Survey categories. The applicant should also provide information about local county comprehensive land use, zoning, and development plans describing anticipated population and housing growth, control measures, and changing land use patterns.

Section 307(c)(3)(A) of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1456 et seq.)

(Ref. 29) requires applicants for Federal licenses or permits to certify that the proposed activity in a coastal zone or coastal watershed boundary, as defined by each State participating in the National Coastal Zone Management Program, is consistent with the enforceable policies of that States Coastal Zone Management Program. States define their coastal zone boundaries by using a variety of parameters, such as the entire State, county or county-equivalent boundaries, political features (e.g., town boundaries), and geographic features (e.g., adjacency to tidal waters). Applicants must coordinate with the State agency that manages the State Coastal Zone Management Program to obtain a determination that the proposed activity would be consistent with their program. A Federal agency cannot issue a license or permit until the State concurs.

For nuclear power plants located in a coastal zone or coastal watershed, as defined by each State participating in the National Coastal Zone Management Program, applicants must submit a consistency certification to the responsible State agency that the proposed license renewal action is consistent with the State Coastal Zone Management Program. Applicants must receive a determination from the State agency that manages the State Coastal Zone Management Program that the proposed license renewal action would be consistent with the State program. Documentation of the States coastal zone consistency determination for license renewal should be provided in the ER.

Visual Resources

The ER should describe the nuclear power plants visual setting, including the identity and height of the tallest visible structures and the direction and distances from which these structures are visible, as well as the visibility of lighting and vapor plumes. The applicant should also describe the visual impacts (if they occur) of in-scope transmission lines.

3.2 Meteorology and Air Quality

In this section of the ER, the applicant should provide information that includes a description of the local and regional meteorology and climatology. The applicant should also describe the onsite meteorological monitoring program and data monitoring system, and provide onsite meteorological data measurements (ambient temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and wind direction) for the last 5 years.

The applicant should provide a summary of current local air quality with respect to criteria pollutants established under the National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards (40 CFR Part 50)

(Ref. 30) and include a map of the region within a 62-mile (100-kilometer) radius of the site identifying nonattainment and/or maintenance areas (as defined under the Clean Air Act of 1970) (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.) (Ref. 31), as amended) and a list of mandatory Class I Federal areas within the same radius. The applicant should identify and describe onsite emission sources; provide site emissions data for all criteria pollutants, volatile organic compounds, and any air toxics (i.e., hazardous air pollutants) that are locally important for the last 5 years; and identify applicable permits.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 20

In addition, if the applicant plans any refurbishment activities (see Section 2.3 of this RG) that would require additional workers, the applicant should also include the following information in the ER

to assist the NRC staff in its review of the potential air quality impacts and to facilitate the NRCs conformity analysis in accordance with 40 CFR Part 93, as revised (see 75 FR 17254) (Ref. 32):

  • Estimate onsite and offsite vehicle emissions resulting from refurbishment activities, if applicable, that contribute to the pollutants for which the area is in nonattainment or maintenance,4 and identify the approximate locations of the emissions during the peak employment period. This estimate may be based on the applicants estimate of vehicle miles associated with commuting refurbishment workers, other activities directly associated with refurbishment, and emission factors available in the current mobile source models approved by the EPA Office of Transportation and Air Quality. 5
  • If construction equipment (such as cranes, trucks, or earthmoving equipment) is to be used during refurbishment, emissions resulting from use of this equipment should be included for each month that the equipment will be used.6
  • Estimate fugitive dust emissions generated during ground-disturbing activities.

The applicant should also provide information in the ER regard ing air pollutant emission estimates for any new, proposed, modified, or replacement stationary sources, such as backup generators and auxiliary boilers. These estimates should clearly indicate the governing regulations that apply, or are assumed to apply, to the emission sources.

If the nuclear plant uses a cooling tower and is located in a State that regulates particulate emissions from cooling towers, the applicant should conduct an appropriate assessment of such emissions and report the results in the ER.

3.3 Noise

In this section, the applicant should identify the primary onsite noise-generating sources and activities and indicate their distance to the nearest site boundary and nearest noise-sensitive receptor. The applicant should also identify and discuss primary offsite generating sources in the vicinity of the power plant site. If ambient noise studies have been conducted at or near the nuclear plant site, the locations of the measurements and the corresponding noise levels, along with meteorological con ditions during the measurement period, should be included. In particular, the applicant should provide information about noise complaints.

4 A good reference for this information is Emissions Factors & AP 42, Compilation of Air Pollutant Emission Factors (historical and current information), which can be found at https://www.epa.gov/air-emissions-factors-and-quantification/ap-42- compilation-air-emissions-factors.

5 Information on the most current EPA modeling tools for calculating vehicle emissions may be obtained at https://www.epa.gov/moves.

6 Emissions for these sources can be calculated using EPAs MOVES model available at https://www.epa.gov/moves/nonroad-technical-reports.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 21

3.4 Geologic Environment

Geology

In this section of the ER, the applicant should describe, in general, the site geologic setting, including brief definitions of the rock types present, formation names, and thicknesses. This description should consider geologic conditions or geologic hazards identified since plant construction, such as landslide areas, karst features (e.g., sinkholes), and other conditions that could lead to land subsidence and unstable soils. The seismic history of the site since construction, including the largest historic regional earthquake, should be summarized. The ER should also briefly address any rare or unique geologic resources, including rock, mineral, or energy rights and assets at or adjoining the site.

Soils

In this section of the ER, the applicant should describe, in general, the soils at the plant site, including unconsolidated material that may be naturally occurring or consist of fill, including areas of engineered fill such as those occurring around the nuclear island. The applicant should describe the soils along with their relationship to the site geology (e.g., identify whether fill material was brought in from off site or if onsite excavation material was used). The applicant should identify the erosion potential and suitability and limitation ratings of site soils for current and proposed uses based on current soil mapping and characterization data (see the Natural Resources Conservation Services Web Soil Survey)

(Ref. 33) and should describe best management practices to control erosion and runoff associated with continued plant operations and refurbishment activities. Any projects undertaken at the plant site to address erosion, subsidence, or sea level rise since the start of plant operations should also be described.

This section should also identify any soils that are prime farmland, unique farmland, and other farmland of statewide or local importance on or adjoining the plant site that may be subject to the Farmland Protection Policy Act (7 U.S.C. 4201 et seq.) (Ref. 34).

3.5 Water Resources

Surface Water Resources

In this section of the ER, the applicant should describe the surface water resources at or near the site, as well as the river and stream flow, lake and reservoir volume, water level measurements, intake and discharge (outfall) specifications and operating parameters, and onsite ponds or other impoundments.

The presence of any delineated floodplains or zones of inundation for adjoining and onsite rivers, streams, and other surface water features should be identified on maps in relation to plant infrastructure and briefly described. A brief discussion of the flooding history of the plant site, if any, since plant startup should also be provided. This discussion should also address the plant sites compliance with applicable floodplain regulations. This section should also identify offsite surface water users withdrawing water from the same water body affected by the plant, along with their locations and usage rates (see Section 4.5.1). Appropriate maps of surface water features, intakes, and outfalls should be included.

The applicant should also describe local, State, and Federal permit information for enforcement of water use; water treatment, including biocides and other water system additives and dechlorination systems; NPDES -regulated discharges; storm water runoff controls; and the dredging program history and methods, as applicable. The discussion of surface water resources should include current surface water quality and both ambient conditions and monitoring results from available site studies. Reportable incidents and/or notices of violation received from regulatory

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 22 agencies related to surface water resources, including any associated corrective actions taken or mitigation measures implemented by the applicant, should be discussed.

Any applicant for a Federal license or permit to conduct any activity which may result in any discharge into navigable waters is required by Section 401 of the Clean Water Act of 1972, as amended (CWA; 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.) (Ref. 35), to provide the Federal licensing agency (in this case, the NRC)

with water quality certification from the certifying authority (i.e., State, Tribe, interstate agency, or EPA,

as applicable). This certification denotes that discharges from the project or facility to be licensed will comply with CWA requirements and will not cause or contribute to a violation of applicable water quality standards.

In September 2023, EPA published a final rule revising the procedural requirements contained in the 2020 CWA Section 401 Certification Rule at 40 CFR 121 (88 FR 66558) (Ref. 36) (Ref. 37). The final rule became effective on November 27, 2023. To initiate the certification process, Federal license or permit applicants must submit a request for certification to the appropriate certifying authority (i.e.,

State, territory, authorized Tribe, or EPA) (40 CFR 121.5). The revised regulations at 40 CFR 121.6 require, in part, that the certifying authority provide a written confirmation to the project proponent and Federal agency of the date that the request for certification was received. The Federal agency and certifying authority may jointly agree in writing to the reasonable period of time for the certifying authority to act on the request for certification, provided the reasonable period of time does not exceed one year from the date that the request for certification was received. The final rule also imposes revised requirements for Federal agencies under the neighboring jurisdictions process, specified in 40 CFR

Part 121, subpart B. The Federal agency may not issue a license or permit prior to concluding the neighboring jurisdictions process, which includes notifying the EPA regional administrator that the Federal agency has received both the application for the Federal permit or license and either a certification or waiver for a Federal license or permit. However, the certifying authoritys failure or refusal to act on a certification request within the reasonable period of time is considered a waiver, provided the Federal agency promptly notifies the certifying agency and project proponent (applicant), as specified in 40 CFR 121.9.

If the applicant has not received Section 401 certification, the NRC cannot issue a renewed license (initial LR or SLR) unless the certifying authority has otherwise waived the requirement.

Documentation of the applicants receipt of Section 401 water quality certification for license renewal should be provided in the ER. The NRC also recognizes that some NPDES-delegated States explicitly integrate their CWA Section 401 certification process with NPDES permit issuance under CWA

Section 402. In such cases, an applicant should provide a supporting discussion and reference provisions in the nuclear power plants current NPDES permit, State statutes, or regulations that convey Section 401 certification.

Groundwater Resources

The ER should describe the sites groundwater hydrology and identify the hydrostratigraphic units and associated aquifers underlying the site. This discussion should link the previously described site geology with groundwater conditions. The hydrogeologic description should include unit depths and thicknesses, saltwater intrusion, depth to groundwater, groundwater flow directions and rates, and current groundwater quality. Any special designations (e.g., sole source aquifer) should be described. Offsite groundwater users should also be identified along with their locations, usage rates, and aquifers affected (see Section 4.5.2). The applicant should further identify the number and location of onsite water supply wells and monitoring wells on an accompanying map. For onsite supply wells, well capacities and recent usage rates (covering the last 5 years) should be summarized. The applicant should also discuss plant industrial practices involving the use of solvents, hydrocarbons, heavy metals, or other chemicals, and

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 23 whether such practices have caused soil or groundwater contamination. This discussion should describe any current contamination and any ongoing corrective action activities. Onsite contaminant sources may include lined or unlined wastewater ponds or lagoons, pipe and valve leakages, fuel spills, or other inadvertent incidents. If no leaks, spills, or accidental releases have occurred that have caused soil or groundwater contamination, the applicant should note that fact. If a plant has current or historical information about soil or groundwater contamination resulting from industrial practices, the applicant should describe the nature and extent of the contamination as compared to applicable soil and/or groundwater quality standards and include the following specific information:

  • Provide a list of documented leaks, spills, or accidental releases, including their nature, location, date, and amount spilled and/or released. Include the regulatory agency overseeing the incident and whether a noncompliance or notice of violation was issued. Also, include a site map depicting the locations of the listed incidents and corresponding contamination zones and groundwater plumes.
  • Describe the cleanup or other mitigation completed for each of the documented leaks, spills, or accidental releases.
  • Provide a summary of existing reports describing site soil and geology, soil and vadose zone contamination, hydrogeologic characterization, and groundwater contamination and remediation.

The applicant should also describe any dewatering systems in operation, including dewatering rates, and include them on a site map, if practicable.

3.6 Ecological Resources

Ecological resources include individuals, species, habitats, and ecosystems and their attributes.

The NRC typically addresses ecological resources as three resource groups: terrestrial resources, aquatic resources, and federally protected ecological resources. Wetlands and floodplains, which are transitional areas between terrestrial and aquatic systems, are generally described with terrestrial resources.

Terrestrial Resources

The ER should describe the following attributes of the terrestrial environment.

Ecoregion

Identify the terrestrial ecoregion (Levels I, II, and III) and describe the typical characteristics of the Level III ecoregion (e.g., climate, soils, common plant and animal species, characteristic habitat types).

Site and Vicinity

Identify and describe the terrestrial habitats on and near the site and within ROWs of in-scope transmission lines (e.g., oak-hickory forest, tallgrass prairie, tidal salt marsh, lacustrine wetland). Give special attention to important habitats (e.g., important bird areas, known bat hibernacula, locally significant habitats, natural heritage areas, wildlife sanctuaries and preserves, federally or State-managed lands). Include any wetlands and riparian areas as part of the terrestrial habitat discussion.

Describe any major changes to the terrestrial environment during or after nuclear power plant construction. These may be related to plant construction or operation or the result of other factors.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 24 Note characteristic plant and animal species associated with each habitat type. Give special attention to important species (e.g., keystone species, indicator species, representative species, migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703 et seq.) (Ref. 38), State-listed species).

Note any non-native, nuisance, and invasive species of local or regional concern, especially those known to be present on the site. Summarize management of such species undertaken at the site, if applicable.

Studies and Monitoring

Describe terrestrial surveys, studies, and monitoring performed on or near the site, including biological entities or ecological attributes chosen for investigation, methodology, results, conclusions, and how conclusions relate to license renewal. Such studies may include wetland surveys, botanical surveys, natural heritage inventories, habitat assessments, or surveys related to State-listed or otherwise sensitive or protected species.

Procedures and Protocols

Describe any site or fleet-wide environmental procedures, wildlife management plans, best management practices, and conservation initiatives undertaken at the site and relevant to terrestrial resources. Relevant procedures and protocol may include landscape maintenance procedures, transmission line ROW maintenance procedures, stormwater management plans, site environmental review procedures that help workers identify and avoid impacts on the ecological environment when performing site activities, and management or conservation plans related to memberships with environmental stewardship councils.

Permits and Regulatory Controls

Describe relevant regional, State, and Federal permits and controls that are in place to reduce or mitigate impacts on the terrestrial environment.

Communications with Federal and State Agencies

Summarize the input of relevant Federal and State agencies with special expertise or jurisdiction over terrestrial resources, as applicable, if the applicant has contacted or coordinated with such agencies during preparation of the ER. Summarize the input of affected Indian Tribes, as applicable. Include copies of correspondence with these agencies in an appendix to the ER.

Figures and Tables

Depict ecological information in maps and figures, as appropriate. Include maps that depict the site and in-scope transmission lines. Land use maps; locations of Federal, State, and local parks and natural areas; significant natural heritage areas; and other ecological information of special interest may be appropriate, as well.

Present data in tables, when applicable. For instance, numerical results of botanical, wetland, and species surveys may be best communicated in tabular form.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 25 Aquatic Resources

The ER should describe the following attributes of the aquatic environment.

Ecoregion

Identify the marine ecoregion (if applicable) and describe typical characteristics of that ecoregion (e.g., predominant oceanographic or topographic features, species composition, and dominant biogeographic forcing agents, such as isolation, upwelling, nutrient inputs, freshwater influx, temperature regimes, ice regimes, exposure, sediments, currents, and bathymetric or coastal complexity).

Site and Vicinity

Identify the waterbodies affected by nuclear power plant operations, including those within ROWs of in-scope transmission lines, and describe the characteristics of the affected waterbodies, including the following:

  • the aquatic habitats of the waterbodies
  • size, bathymetry, temperature regimes, streamflow and discharge, salinity, tidal flows, typical seasonal fluctuations, sediment types, and general water quality
  • main channel, dams, and any flood controls
  • additional human uses of the waterbody other than for nuclear power plant cooling (i.e., recreational, industrial, etc.)

Give special attention to important habitats (e.g., spawning and rearing areas, waters within Federal or State parks and preserves).

Identify the relevant watershed(s), including source and receiving waterbodies.

Identify the location of the cooling water intake and discharge structures in river miles, if appropriate. Include the location, in river miles, of nearby dams and flood controls, as applicable.

Describe any major changes to the aquatic environment during or after nuclear power plant construction. These may be related to plant construction or operation or the result of other factors.

Describe the trophic structure and identify important trophic links and potential for trophic cascade.

Note characteristic plant and animal species associated with each affected waterbody. Give special attention to important species (e.g., keystone species, indicator species, representative species, State-listed species, recreational and commercially important fisheries, marine mammals) protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) (Ref. 39) and those species vulnerable to impingement and entrainment).

Note any non-native, nuisance, and invasive species of local or regional concern, especially those known to be present on the site. Summarize management of such species undertaken at the site, if applicable.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 26 Studies and Monitoring

Describe aquatic surveys, studies, and monitoring performed on or near the site, including biological entities or ecological attributes chosen for investigation, methodology, results, conclusions, and how conclusions relate to license renewal. Such studies should include baseline monitoring, impingement and entrainment studies, thermal studies, biological characterization studies, and any other studies conducted to support regulatory requirements of CWA Sections 316(a) and 316(b).

Procedures and Protocols

Describe any site or fleet-wide environmental procedures, wildlife management plans, best management practices, and conservation initiatives undertaken at the site and relevant to aquatic resources. Relevant procedures and protocol may include plans related to control of aquatic nuisance species, transmission line ROW maintenance procedures, stormwater management plans, site environmental review procedures that help workers identify and avoid impacts on the ecological environment when performing site activities, and management or conservation plans related to memberships with environmental stewardship councils.

Permits and Regulatory Controls

Describe relevant regional, State, and Federal permits and controls that are in place to reduce or mitigate impacts on the aquatic environment. Describe any conditions of NPDES permits related to impingement, entrainment, or the effects of thermal effluents on the aquatic environment. Include information on CWA Section 404 dredge and fill permits, if applicable. Summarize relevant Federal or State management initiatives, such as fish stocking programs.

Communications with Federal and State Agencies

Summarize the input of relevant Federal and State agencies with special expertise or jurisdiction over aquatic resources, as applicable, if the applicant has contacted or coordinated with such agencies during preparation of the ER. Summarize the input of affected Indian Tribes, as applicable. Include copies of correspondence with these agencies in an appendix to the ER.

Figures and Tables

Depict ecological information in maps and figures, as appropriate. Include maps that depict the affected waterbodies, including any stream or water crossings associated with in-scope transmission lines.

Graphic depictions of thermal effluent modeling and maps that show aquatic sampling stations may be appropriate as well.

Present data in tables, when applicable. For instance, numerical results of aquatic monitoring, impingement and entrainment studies, and thermal studies may be best communicated in tabular form.

Federally Protected Ecological Resources

The ER should describe the following attributes of federally protected ecological resources. Such resources include federally listed species and critical habitat protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) protected under MSA, and sanctuary resources protected under the NMSA.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 27 Federally Listed Species and Critical Habitat

Define the ESA action area. The action area includes all areas to be affected directly or indirectly by the Federal action and not merely the immediate area involved in the action (50 CFR 402.02)

(Ref. 40). The action area is not limited to the footprint of the action nor is it limited by the Federal action agencys authority; rather, it is a biological determination of the reach of the proposed action on the listed species.

Identify the federally listed species and critical habitats present in the action area. A helpful resource is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Environmental Conservation Online System Information Planning and Consultation (IPaC) tool (available at https://ipac.ecosphere.fws.gov/) (Ref. 41). The IPaC

tool allows users to generate official species lists by entering project-specific information. However, the usefulness of this tool directly relates to the accuracy of the information entered into the system. Prior to initiating this step, be familiar enough with the potential effects of license renewal to be able to fully define the action area and to input the action area into IPaCs mapping tool. Notably, while the IPaC tool may contain some species that are jointly under both Services jurisdiction (e.g., sea turtles), it typically does not include species that are wholly under National Marine Fisheries jurisdiction (e.g., whales).

Information on these species should be sought from other sources.

For each federally listed species potentially present in the action area, describe the taxonomy, physical appearance, distribution and relative abundance, habitat, life history, factors affecting the species endangered or threatened status, and occurrence of the species within the action area.

For each designated critical habitat present in the action area, describe the characteristics of the physical and biological features of the habitat, designated boundaries, and location in relation to the nuclear power plant site and action area. Include maps, when available.

Include candidate and proposed species and proposed critical habitats, as appropriate.

Essential Fish Habitat

Define the affected area. This step is like determining the ESA action area. Unlike the ESA,

however, the MSA and its regulations do not specifically prescribe or define terminology for the affected area. For projects involving both an ESA analysis and EFH analysis, the ESA action area and the EFH

affected area are likely similar; both should account for all areas over which direct or indirect impacts to ecological receptors could occur. A primary difference between the two could be that an ESA action area may involve large areas of land that do not apply to the EFH affected area if that land does not contain any aquatic habitat or features.

Identify the EFH present in the affected area and the federally managed species (herein referred to as EFH species) and life stages to which the EFH applies. A helpful resource is the National Marine Fisheries Services EFH Mapper tool (available at: https://www.habitat.noaa.gov/apps/efhmapper/)

(Ref. 42). This tool allows users to view spatial representations of fish species, their life stages, and important habitats. The mapper displays data layers for EFH, habitat areas of particular concern (HAPCs),

and EFH areas protected from fishing. It includes links to supporting materials, such as fishery management plans, which contain the official regulatory EFH descriptions.

Describe the distribution, habitat preferences, and diet of each EFH species and life stage.

Describe the physical and biological characteristics of the EFH by species and life stage. Give special attention to HAPCs, when applicable.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 28 Consider prey of EFH species that may be present in the affected area and include these species in the discussion.

Sanctuary Resources

Define the affected area. This step is like determining the ESA action area. Unlike the ESA,

however, the NMSA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Office of National Marine Sanctuaries guidance do not specifically prescribe or define terminology for the affected area. For projects involving an ESA analysis, EFH analysis, and/or an NMSA analysis, the ESA action area, the EFH affected area, and/or the NMSA affected area are likely similar; each should account for all areas over which direct or indirect impacts to ecological receptors could occur. Primary differences could be that an ESA action area may involve large areas of land that do not apply to the NMSA affected area. The EFH affected area could include freshwater bodies or non-marine aquatic habitats or features that do not apply to the NMSA affected area.

Identify the national marine sanctuary present in the affected area. Maps of designated and proposed sanctuaries are available at https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/about/maps.html (Ref. 43). Consider both designated and proposed sanctuaries in the discussion.

Describe the sanctuary resources. Sanctuary resources include any living or nonliving resource of a national marine sanctuary that contributes to the conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, educational, cultural, archaeological, scientific, or aesthetic value of the sanctuary.

Notably, sanctuary resources can include historic resources in addition to ecological resources.

Thus, this discussion should be coordinated with the historic and cultural resource analysis if any historic sanctuary resources are present, and the two discussions may be cross-referenced, as appropriate.

Studies and Monitoring

Describe surveys, studies, and monitoring performed on or near the site concerning federally protected ecological resources, if not previously described in the ER. Include biological entities or ecological attributes chosen for investigation, methodology, results, and conclusions.

Procedures and Protocols

Describe any site- or fleet-wide environmental procedures, wildlife management plans, best management practices, and conservation initiatives undertaken at the site and relevant to federally protected ecological resources, if not previously described in the ER.

Permits and Regulatory Controls

Describe relevant regional, State, and Federal permits and controls that are in place to reduce or mitigate impacts on federally protected ecological resources, if not previously described in the ER.

Communications with Federal and State Agencies

Summarize the input of relevant Federal and State agencies with special expertise or jurisdiction over federally protected ecological resources, as applicable. Specifically, this should include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Mari ne Fisheries Service concerning ESA -listed species and critical habitats, National Marine Fisheries Service concerning EFH, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Office of National Marine Sanctuaries concerning national marine

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 29 sanctuaries and their resources. Summarize the input of affected Indian Tribes, as applicable. Include copies of correspondence with these agencies in an appendix to the ER.

Figures and Tables

Depict ecological information in maps and figures, as appropriate. Present data in tables, when applicable.

3.7 Historic and Cultural Resources

Historic and cultural resources are the remains of past human activities and include precontact (i.e., prehistoric) and historic era archaeological sites, districts, buildings, structures, and objects. Historic and cultural resources also include elements of the cultural environment such as landscapes, sacred sites, and other resources that are of religious and cultural importance to Indian Tribes, such as traditional cultural properties that are important to a living community of people for maintaining its culture. Historic and cultural resources are considered to be historically significant if they have been determined eligible for or have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). A historic property is a historic or cultural resource that is eligible for or listed on the NRHP. 7

NEPA requires Federal agencies to take into account the potential effects of their actions on the cultural environment. The NHPA requires Federal agencies to consider the impacts of their undertakings 8 on historic properties and consult with the appropriate State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO) , or Indian Tribes on a government-to-government basis, and other parties with an interest in the effects of the undertaking, including local governments and the public, as applicable.

The applicant should rely on qualified professionals who meet the Secretary of Interiors standards, 36 CFR Part 61, Professional Qualification Standards (Ref. 45), to develop the historic and cultural resource sections in the ER. The applicant should use Section 106 of the NHPA and the implementing regulations at 36 CFR Part 800, Protection of Historic Properties, as a guide for providing historic and cultural resource information in the ER. An applicant should engage with the SHPO, THPO, Indian Tribes, and interested parties for the purposes of gathering information in developing its ER.9 Information gathering by an applicant is not considered consultation pursuant to

36 CFR 800. Consultation with the SHPO, THPO, Indian Tribes, and interested parties is the responsibility of the NRC.

7 As defined in 36 CFR 800.16(l)(1), Historic property means any prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in, or eligible for inclusion in, the National Register of Historic Places maintained by the Secretary of Interior. This term includes artifacts, records, and remains that are related to and located within such properties. As defined in 36 CFR 800.16(l)(2), The term eligible for inclusion in the National Register includes both properties formally determined as such in accordance with regulations of the Secretary of the Interior and all other properties that meet National Register listing criteria. National Register criteria for listing are found in 36 CFR Part 60 (Ref. 44), National Register of Historic Places.

8 As defined in 36 CFR 800.16(y), an undertaking is a project, activity, or program funded in whole or in part under the direct or indirect jurisdiction of a Federal agency, including those carried out by or on behalf of a Federal agency; those carried out with Federal financial assistance; and those requiring a Federal permit, license or approval.

9 Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.2(c)(2)(ii), the NRC is responsible for consulting with Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations that attach religious and cultural significance to historic properties that may be affected by an undertaking.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 30

The applicant should identify the boundaries of the proposed direct (e.g., physical) and indirect (e.g., visual and auditory) area of potential effects (APE)10 to be recommended to the NRC. Once the proposed APE has been determined, the applicant should describe historic and cultural resources that have been identified as well as any cultural resources investigations completed within the APE.

Applicants should engage the SHPO to determine if further cultural resource investigations are needed to identify historic and cultural resources located within the APE, determine if they are eligible for listing on the NRHP, assess affects, and develop avoidance or mitigation plans to resolve adverse effect

s. The NRC

will use this information to support its NHPA Section 106 consultation and assessment of effects for the proposed project.

Consistent with 36 CFR 800.16(d), the NRC typically defines the license renewal (initial LR or SLR) APE to include lands within the nuclear power plant site boundary and the transmission lines up to the first substation that may be directly (e.g., physically) affected by land-disturbing or other operational activities associated with continued plant operations and maintenance and/or refurbishment activities. The APE may extend beyond the nuclear plant site when these activities may indirectly (e.g., visual and auditory) affect historic properties. This determination is made irrespective of land ownership or control.

The applicant should describe the nuclear power plant site and provide the following information in the ER:

  • A U.S. Geological Survey quadrangle map that identifies the direct and indirect APEs.
  • Identify the APE, as appropriate, for the proposed project area. Note that not all areas of the U.S.

(i.e., the original 13 colonies) use the Public Land Survey System (e.g., township, range, and section information).

  • Identify any parts of the APE that are Federal, State, or Indian reservation or trust lands.

Cultural Background

This section of the ER should discuss the historic use of the land and the activities that have occurred within the APE and the surrounding area. This includes a description of the cultural history of the region (including the proposed project site) from the beginning of human settlement to the present and a summary of how this information was collected for the proposed APE. Information can be derived from background research (literature review and site file search) and from the use of plat and other historic maps showing ownership, acreage, property boundaries, and the location of existing or former historic structures. Other sources that can assist with description of the cultural background include land records, archival sources, local museums or historical societies, libraries, planning documents, mapping/imaging, and online sources. If available, consult ethnohistoric sources to identify Indian Tribes and other groups that may have historic and cultural ties to the proposed project area. The ER should include, if available, photos of the plant site before construction, preconstruction (showing land clearing), during construction, and postconstruction of the current facility.

Historic and Cultural Resources at the Site and in the Vicinity

This section of the ER should describe historic and cultural resources identified within the direct APE (e.g., including in-scope transmission lines) and indirect APE (e.g., in the vicinity). Applicants

10 As defined in 36 CFR 800.16(d), Area of potential effects means the geographic area or areas within which an undertaking may directly or indirectly cause alterations in the character or use of historic properties, if any such properties exist. The area of potential effects is influenced by the scale and nature of an undertaking and may be different for different kinds of effects caused by the undertaking.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 31 should indicate whether a records review for historic and cultural resources was conducted. Historic and cultural resource survey reports specifically prepared for license renewal should be referenced and submitted with the license application or otherwise made available to NRC for review (e.g., via secure online portal). However, information (i.e., reports, maps, and site forms) that discloses the locations of unevaluated, potentially eligible, or eligible historic properties (e.g., archaeological sites) should be withheld from public disclosure. This information may be protected under NHPA Section 304 (54 U.S.C.

100707), especially if there is a risk of harm to the resource. The NRC protects cultural resource information disclosing the location of cultural resources (e.g., maps) under Section 304 of the NHPA,

consistent with 10 CFR 2.390(a)(3). Section 304 of NHPA requires the NRC to withhold from disclosure to the public, information about the location, character, or ownership of a historic resource if the agency and the Secretary of the Interior agree that disclosure may (1) cause a significant invasion of privacy,

(2) risk harm to the historic resource, or (3) impede the use of a traditional religious site by practitioners.

Applicants should discuss with the NRC staff during preapplication interactions how to handle sensitive historic and cultural resource information.

The ER should provide the following information:

  • description of all past and current historic and cultural resource investigations conducted to identify historic and cultural resources within and surrounding the APE
  • documentation of field methods used to identify historic and cultural resources within the APE
  • description of all historic and cultural resources, (e.g., precontact and historic archaeological sites, standing structures greater than 50 years in age or of historical significance [i.e., the nuclear power plant facility], cemeteries, and traditional cultural properties), and isolated finds and features within the APE
  • evaluation of historic and cultural resources for NRHP eligibility (i.e., historic properties)

including:

o a description of the process and methods used to evaluate these resources

o documentation of SHPO, THPO, and Indian Tribes concurrence with process, methods, and conclusions

The applicant is encouraged to engage the NRC staff as early as possible in the planning process, in accordance with 10 CFR 51.40, Consultation with NRC staff, to avoid issues related to disclosing sensitive location information related to historic and cultural resources when drafting the ER.

Procedures and Integrated Cultural Resources Management Plans

If historic properties or cultural resources are located within the APEs, the applicant should establish procedures or implement an integrated management plan to protect the historic and cultural resources identified. These plans or procedures are not required to be included in the ER; however, the ER should acknowledge if they exist or are being drafted, as applicable.

NHPA Section 106 Consultation

Consultation in support of NHPA Section 106 is the responsibility of the Federal agency, and the NRC is required to take the lead on consulting with the SHPO, THPO, Indian Tribes (on a government-to-government basis), and interested parties as outlined in 36 CFR 800; consultation is not

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 32 the responsibility of the applicant.11 The applicant should engage with these parties to gather sufficient information pertinent to the NHPA Section 106 review process in order to assist the NRC in the timely completion of its NHPA Section 106 compliance requirements. The ER should contain a summary of the applicants initial outreach efforts to date, including the process used to identify Indian Tribes and potential interested parties that may have a demonstrated interest in the proposed project. The applicant should evaluate the significance of the historic and cultural resources and assess any effects the proposed project may have on them. For areas not surveyed (e.g., areas too disturbed or devoid of potential historic and cultural resources), proper documentation, a basis for exclusion, and concurrence on survey methodology from the SHPO should be provided.

The ER should contain copies of all correspondence with the SHPO, THPO, Indian Tribes, and other interested parties (e.g., local governments, historical societies, members of the public) with whom the applicant engaged to gather information about historic and cultural resources within the APE. These documents should be included in an appendix of the ER. The applicant should provide the information and analysis needed for the NRC to comply with Section 106 requirements in a manner that minimizes the potential for delays in the environmental review.

3.8 Socioeconomics

The ER should include the following information to assist NRC staff in its review of the potential socioeconomic impacts during the license renewal term (initial LR or SLR):

  • Based on information provided in Section 2.5, provide current employee residential distribution information in a table showing the annual average number of nuclear power plant workers by county and community. Also indicate where refueling and maintenance outage workers generally stay. Identify commuter routes for the workers and traffic conditions on local roads.
  • Describe public recreational facilities and tourist attractions located in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant, including projected use if available.
  • Provide a table showing the distribution of property tax payments and discuss other payments, including payments in lieu of taxes to local jurisdictions (e.g., county, municipality, townships, villages, and school districts) for the past 5 years and the associated total revenue or property tax revenue for each jurisdiction and school district.
  • Discuss any adjustments to payments caused by reassessments and other actions (including legal actions) that resulted in notable increases or decreases in payments to local jurisdictions.

3.9 Human Health

In this section of the ER, the applicant should summarize information about human health conditions and hazards at the nuclear power plant to assist the NRC staff in its review of potential human health impacts during the license renewal period (initial LR or SLR). This should include a discussion of the plant workforce adherence to safety standards and their use of protective equipment, as required by Federal and State regulations, as it pertains to occupational safety and health hazards at the plant.

11 If an applicant is corresponding with Indian Tribes before the NRC initiates government-to-government consultation, then the applicant should clarify to the Indian Tribes that the NRC will be initiating and conducting government-to-government consultation at a later date for the project. A federally recognized Indian Tribe is not obligated to consult with an applicant or share information about properties of religious and cultural significance with an applicant. A federally recognized Tribe may prefer to communicate directly with NRC at the government-to-government level.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 33 Radiological Hazards

The applicant should describe the general radiological health environment of the nuclear power plant with respect to the following:

  • historical data on occupational doses to plant workers
  • discussion of any abnormal radionuclide releases, including the types of radionuclides released, calculated doses from the release, monitoring plans to track the release, and any corrective measures performed
  • information on potential changes in radiologica l impacts to the public and workers from continued plant operations during the renewal term
  • information on the radiological impacts of any planned refurbishment activities

Microbiological Hazards

Microorganisms that are associated with cooling towers and thermal effluents at nuclear plants that use cooling ponds, lakes, canals or that discharge to publicly accessible surface waters can have negative impacts on human health. Microbiological organisms of concern for public and occupational health, including enteric pathogens (bacteria that typically exist in the intestines of animals and humans

[e.g., Pseudomonas aeruginosa]), thermophilic fungi, bacteria (e.g., Legionella spp. and Vibrio spp.),

free-living amoebae (e.g., Naegleria fowleri and Acanthamoeba spp.), as well as organisms that produce toxins that affect human health (e.g., dinoflagellates [Karenia brevis] and blue-green algae). Exposure to these microorganisms, or in some cases the endotoxins or exotoxins produced by the organisms, can cause illness or death.

The applicant should consult the State agency responsible for environmental health regarding the potential existence and concentration of the above microorganisms in the receiving wate rs for plant cooling water discharge to publicly accessible surface waters. The applicant should document the results of this consultation in the ER. The ER should include copies of correspondence with the responsible agency indicating concurrence with the applicants risk assessment and proposed mitigation strategy, if one is required. The ER should include information on any known upstream heat load contributors to the river and their locations relative to the plant. The ER should also include information regarding any known local, State, or Federal regulations that would govern monitoring requirements and the possible modification of discharge permit limits, if thermophilic microbiological organisms are a concern at the plants discharge.

Electric Shock Hazards

The ER should describe the in -scope transmission lines and include maps, photographs, or drawings indicating the corridor for these lines. Include a discussion of transmission corridor access and measures taken to meet the National Electric Safety Code (NESC ) (Ref. 46), such as clearance standards and 5 mA induced current requirements . The ER should also note any onsite Occupational Safety and Health Administration or industrial safety programs for electrical safety. The applicant should determine whether any locations within the in-scope transmission line s do not meet current NESC standards and indicate these areas on provided maps, photographs, or drawings in the ER. The applicant should also discuss maintenance and associated safety procedures for worker and , if appropriate, public activities near these locations.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 34 Postulated Accidents

The applicant should provide the best available core damage frequency and large early relief frequency values for all hazards and reactor power uprates for comparison to the LR GEIS values. The applicant should also provide summary information regarding any accidents that exceed the design basis with justification for its acceptability during the initial LR or SLR term.

3.10 Environmental Justice

To assist NRC staff in its review of potential human health effects that could occur as a result of license renewal (initial LR or SLR), the applicant should describe the general demographic composition of minority populations, low-income populations and communities (by race and ethnicity), and Indian Tribes in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant that could be affected by continued reactor operations and refurbishment activities. The geographic scale should be commensurate with the impact area to facilitate the evaluation of potentially affected environmental justice communities and neighborhoods that may be disproportionately affected. The ER should also include information about migrant workers and provide geographic information about the location of these populations and communities. Migrant workers are those who move from one location to another in response to various employment opportunities associated with seasonal farming, construction, and manufacturing.

3.11 Waste Management

The ER should describe the nuclear plants radioactive and nonradioactive waste management systems and programs. Some of this information can be incorporated by reference from the ER discussion developed in response to Section 2.2 of this RG. The ER should include the following information:

  • a description of the radioactive and nonradioactive waste management systems designed to collect, store, and dispose of all wastes generated and effluent control systems, including the systems and controls used for liquid, gaseous, and solid wastes, or alternatively, citations showing where such information would be available in the final safety analysis report or other documents submitted to the NRC
  • pollution prevention and waste minimization measures in place or planned to reduce or eliminate the quantities of gaseous and liquid emissions to the environment and the quantities of wastes shipped offsite for processing or disposal
  • descriptions, names, and locations of facilities currently used and likely to be used in the future for offsite processing and disposal of wastes
  • information on current disposal activities including size and location of disposal sites as well as the plans for ultimate treatment and/or restoration of retired disposal sites
  • identification of radiation sources stored onsite as solid waste (e.g., contaminated equipment, low-level radioactive waste storage, storage of used steam generators)
  • independent spent fuel storage
  • description of all sources, types, quantities, and composition of solid, hazardous, radioactive, and mixed wastes expected from the proposed action

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 35

  • anticipated disposal plans for all wastes (i.e., transfer to an offsite waste disposal facility, treatment facility, or storage onsite)
  • description of waste management cumulative impacts

3.12 Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change

In this section of the ER, the applicant should discuss and identify direct and indirect GHG

emission sources (e.g., stationary combustion sources, mobile sources, refrigeration systems, electrical transmission and distribution systems) at the site. This discussion should quantify GHG emissions from these sources in carbon dioxide equivalents for at least the last 5 years. If the applicant plans any refurbishment activities, the applicant should also include GHG emissions resulting from refurbishment ,

including an estimate of GHG emissions from additional worker vehicles and construction equipm ent.

This section of the ER should also describe any observed regional changes in key climate change indicators (e.g., precipitation, temperature, storm frequency and severity, sea level rise, floods, and droughts) from climate assessment reports (e.g., U.S. Global Change Research Program, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) and onsite and vicinity monitoring (e.g., trends in site meteorological data, temperatures of surface water resources that are affected by the plant).

Chapter 4 Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action and Mitigating Actions

General Guidance

As previously discussed, the LR GEIS evaluates 80 environmental issues, and analyses have determined that 59 of these issues, identified as Category 1 issues in the LR GEIS, are adequately addressed for all applicable nuclear plants. The NRC will not require additional analysis in plant-specific environmental reviews unless new and significant information is identif ied. Chapter 5 of this RG, which addresses preparation of Chapter 5 of the ER, discusses ways to identify new and significant information.

The applicant may adopt the findings in the LR GEIS for Category 1 issues if no new and significant information is discovered.

Of the remaining 21 NEPA issues, 20 are identified as Category 2 issues, which require plant- specific environmental analysis. The following sections discuss information that the applicant should include in the ER to assist the NRC staff in evaluating the impacts of these 20 Category 2 issues. One issue (Electromagnetic fields [EMFs] ) is not categorized at this time. The issue of EMFs remains uncategorized because there is no scientific consensus on the potential impacts from exposure to EMFs .

The NRC staff discusses this situation in the LR GEIS and in nuclear power plant-specific (hereafter called plant-specific) supplements to the LR GEIS.

The presentation of Category 2 issues in this section follows the format of Table B-1 for each Category 2 issue in Appendix B to Subpart A of 10 CFR Part 51. This discussion also references the specific requirements stated in 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii). The steps for reviewing each Category 2 issue include: (1) determine whether the NEPA issue is applicable to the environmental review of this nuclear plant using the criteria given in 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(A) through (Q); (2) if not applicable, briefly explain in the ER why it is not applicable; and (3) if the issue is applicable, provide the information and assessment specified in the appropriate section below. The assessment and other information should be sufficient to determine the extent of the environmental effects and the significance of the impact as defined in the Impact Findings section located in Section C.1 of this RG.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 36 The applicant should assess direct, indirect, and cumulative effects or impacts. Section C.1 of this RG defines these effects.

The applicant should also consider mitigation measures to reduce or avoid adver se effects where applicable. The applicant should identify and discuss possible mitigation measures in proportion to the significance of the adverse impact. If there is no adverse impact to be mitigated, the applicant should present the basis for that determination. For those mitigation measures discussed in the ER, the applicant should describe the benefits and costs of each measure. Section C.1 of this RG defines mitigation measures.

The applicant should include map information as appropriate in the ER for issues addressed in Chapter 4. This section should also present any new and significant information in sufficient detail and depth to support an impact assessment. Text, tables, and graphic information should support the assessment of impacts presented in Chapter 4 of the ER.

4.1 Land Use and Visual Resources

Land use and aesthetic impacts are evaluated in the LR GEIS and are generic (the same or similar at all plants) or Category 1. The applicant should discuss any new and significant information in the ER,

if applicable; otherwise, land use and aesthetic impacts do not need to be analyzed.

4.2 Air Quality

Air quality impacts are evaluated in the LR GEIS and are generic (the same or similar at all plants) or Category 1. The applicant should discuss any new and significant information in the ER, if applicable; otherwise, air quality impacts do not need to be analyzed.

4.3 Noise

Noise impacts are evaluated in the LR GEIS and are generic (the same or similar at all plants)

or Category 1. The applicant should discuss any new and significant information in the ER, if applicable;

otherwise, noise impacts do not need to be analyzed.

4.4 Geology and Soils

Geology and soils impacts and related geologic conditions and the effects on the associated resources (e.g., rock and mineral resources) are evaluated in the LR GEIS and are generic (the same or similar at all plants) or Category 1. The applicant should discuss any new and significant information in the ER, where applicable; otherwise, geology and soils impacts do not need to be analyzed.

4.5 Water Resources

The following water resources -related Category 2 issues require a plant-specific assessment.

4.5.1 Surface Water Resources

Surface Water Use Conflicts (Plants with Cooling Ponds or Cooling Towers Using Makeup Water from a River)

This section applies to nuclear power plants with cooling ponds or cooling towers using makeup water from a river.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 37 Table B-1 of Appendix B to Subpart A of 10 CFR Part 51 (referred to throughout this section as Table B-1) states the following:

Impacts could be of small or moderate significance, depending on makeup water requirements, water availability, and competing water demands.

Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(A) requires, in part, the following:

If the applicants plant utilizes cooling towers or cooling ponds and withdraws makeup water from a river, an assessment of the impact of the proposed action on water availability and competing water demands, the flow of the rivermust be provided.

Section 4.5.1.1.9 of the LR GEIS discusses surface water use conflicts. Additional surface water conflict information is needed only for plants withdrawing makeup water from a river. If the plant meets this condition, the applicant should provide the information and analysis described below.

Information and Analysis Content

If the plant obtains its water from a river as defined above and uses cooling towers or cooling ponds, the applicant should include the following information in the ER:

  • Provide estimates of the quantities and timing of cooling water withdrawals and discharges.

Estimate current consumptive water use and future consumptive water use during the license renewal period. Provide water level, flow, and stream gauge data so that water balance calculations can be verified.

  • Compare the consumptive water use by the heat dissipation system to flows in the source water body (i.e., the river from which water is withdrawn for cooling tower or cooling pond makeup water). Base this comparison on records of the current license period. Project and compare consumptive use and stream flows during the license renewal period.
  • Estimate the quantities of other ongoing water withdrawals and consumptive water uses in the portion of the water body affected by the plant and indicate whether these withdrawals or uses are expected to change during the license renewal period.
  • Describe mitigation measures (e.g., limiting withdrawals during droughts) that have been used to reduce the adverse impacts on river flow of consumptive water use and the mitigation measures that are expected to be used during the license renewal period. Briefly explain the rationale for rejecting measures that were considered but not implemented.

4.5.2 Groundwater Resources

Groundwater Use Conflicts (Plants That Withdraw More Than 100 Gallons per Minute [gpm])

This section applies to plants using more than an annual average of 100 gallons per minute (gpm) (378 liters per minute [L/min]) of groundwater.

Table B-1 states the following:

Plants that withdraw more than 100 gpm could cause groundwater use conflicts with nearby groundwater users.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 38 Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(C) requires the following:

If the applicants plant pumps more than 100 gallons (total onsite) of groundwater per minute, an assessment of the impact of the proposed action on groundwater must be provided.

Section 4.5.1.2.3 of the LR GEIS discusses this issue. If the applicant can provide withdrawal records or other evidence that the plant does not pump more than an annual average of 100 gpm

(378 L/min) of groundwater, the applicant should note this fact in the ER and need not provide additional information.

Information and Analysis Content

If the plant pumps more than an annual average of 100 gpm ( 378 L/min), the applicant should provide the following information and analyses to enable the NRC staff to assess the magnitude and significance of potential groundwater use conflicts during operation:

  • Describe all groundwater aquifers potentially impacted by the operation of the licensees onsite wells and wells that may be on adjacent property that support nuclear power plant operations ,

including approximate areal extent, thickness, porosities, and hydraulic conductivities of aquifer strata. Discuss significant uncertainties, anisotropies, and inhomogeneities.

  • Describe existing and known future offsite and onsite wells, including average flow rate, peak flow rate, water use, and completion depth.
  • Include maps of steady-state piezometric surfaces estimated with onsite and offsite wells at peak pumpage, average pumpage, and no pumpage . These maps should indicate the location of all wells and should annotate each offsite well with the drawdown of the piezometric surf ace attributable to both the onsite and offsite wells.
  • Describe the methods of analysis, including the assumptions used.
  • Describe existing and known future water rights (including Tribal water rights).
  • Describe any wetlands in the vicinity that might be impacted by a lowered water table.
  • Evaluate the significance of the present and future effects of onsite withdrawal on offsite wells.

Additionally, describe any potential mitigation measures and state whether they will be or have been implemented.

Groundwater Use Conflicts (Plants with Closed -Cycle Cooling Systems That Withdraw Makeup Water from a River)

This section applies to plants using cooling towers or cooling ponds that withdraw makeup water from a river.

Table B-1 states the following:

Water use conflicts could result from water withdrawals from rivers during low -flow conditions, which may affect aquifer recharge. The significance of impacts would depend on makeup water requirements, water availability, and competing water demands.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 39 Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(A) requires, in part, the following:

If the applicants plant utilizes cooling towers or cooling ponds and withdraws makeup water from a river, an assessment of the impact of the proposed action on water availability and competing water demands, the flow of the river must be provided . The applicant shall also provide an assessment of the impacts of the withdrawal of water from the river on alluvial aquifers during low flow.

Section 4.5.1.2.4 of the LR GEIS discusses this issue. Additional groundwater use conflict information is needed only for plants withdrawing makeup water from a river. If the plant meets this condition, the applicant should provide the information and analysis described below.

Information and Analysis Content

If the plant withdraws cooling tower or cooling pond makeup water from a river, the applicant should provide the following information and analyses to enable the NRC staff to assess the groundwater use conflicts during operation:

  • Provide a description of alluvial aquifers near the site that could be affected by surface water (see also Section 4.5.1 above) and groundwater withdrawal, including approximate areal extent, thickness, porosities, hydraulic conductivities of aquifer strata, and their interaction with the affected river makeup source as river gage height varies.
  • Describe existing and known future offsite and onsite wells, including average flow rate, peak flow rate, water use, and completion depth.
  • Include maps of steady-state piezometric surfaces estimated with onsite and offsite wells at peak pumping rates, average pumping rates, and no pumping. These maps should indicate the location of all wells, and each offsite well should be annotated with the drawdown of the piezometric surface attributable to both the onsite and offsite wells. Describe the methods of analysis, including the assumptions used.
  • Describe existing and known future water rights (including Tribal water rights).
  • Describe any wetlands in the vicinity that might be affected by a lowered water table.
  • Evaluate the significance of the present and future effects of onsite withdrawal on offsite wells.

Additionally, describe any potential mitigation measures and state whether they will be or have been implemented.

Groundwater Quality Degradation (Plants with Cooling Ponds)

This section applies to plants that have cooling ponds.

Table B-1 states the following:

Sites with cooling ponds could degrade groundwater quality . The significance of the impact would depend on site-specific conditions includi ng cooling pond water quality, site hydrogeologic conditions (including the interaction of surface water and groundwater), and the location, depth, and pump rate of water wells.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 40

Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(D) requires the following:

If the applicants plant utilizes cooling ponds, an assessment of the impact of the proposed action on groundwater quality must be provided.

Section 4.5.1.2.6 of the LR GEIS also discusses this issue.

Information and Analysis Content

If the plant uses cooling ponds, the applicant should provide the following information and analyses to enable the NRC staff to assess the presence and magnitude of groundwater quality degradation during operation:

  • Describe cooling pond characteristics (e.g., liners or impermeable materials used, impermeable soils) that would retard or prevent infiltration into local aquifers.
  • Identify the types and concentrations of impurities in the cooling pond water and the chemistry of soils along pathways to local aquifers to determine whether cooling pond water can contaminate the groundwater.
  • Describe water quality and other characteristics of local aquifers that could be affected by infiltration of cooling pond water.
  • Provide Federal, State, and local groundwater quality requirements with emphasis on any changes to these requirements that have occurred during the plants current license term and any anticipated changes to those requirements during the license renewal term.
  • Identify and characterize offsite groundwater users who could be affected by the degradation of aquifers. Include locations and elevations of offsite wells, pumping rates, screened intervals, depth to water, and an estimate of the groundwater needs of local users.
  • Describe possible mitigation measures, if they are warranted, and whether they will be or have been implemented.

Radionuclides Released to Groundwater

Table B-1 states the following:

Leaks of radioactive liquids from plant components and pipes have occurred at numerous plants. Groundwater protection programs have been established at all operating nuclear power plants to minimize the potential impact from any inadvertent releases. The magnitude of impacts would depend on site-specific characteristics.

Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(P) requires the following:

An applicant shall assess the impact of any documented inadvertent releases of radionuclides into groundwater. The applicant shall include in its assessment a description of any groundwater protection program used for the surveillance of piping and components containing radioactive liquids for which a pathway to groundwater may exist. The assessment must also include a description of any

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 41 past inadvertent releases and the projected impact to the environment (e.g., aquifers, rivers, lakes, ponds, ocean) during the license renewal term.

Section 4.5.1.2.7 of the LR GEIS discusses this issue.

Information and Analysis Content

Each Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) member company for their nuclear power plants has committed to following the guidance developed by NEI and contained in NEI 07-07, Industry Ground Water Protection InitiativeFinal Guidance Document, issued August 2007 and revised in 2019 (Ref. 47). The purpose of the voluntary initiative is to improve a nuclear power plants programs for preventing, detecting, and responding to inadvertent releases of radioactive materials that may result in low but detectable levels of plant-related materials in subsurface soils and groundwater. Because each nuclear power plant has developed a site-specific groundwater protection program, the NRC staff must review the implementation of each plants program.

For those nuclear power plants that have groundwater monitoring systems composed of wells, the ER should contain the following information, as applicable, with respect to documented inadvertent releases of radionuclides into groundwater (i.e., reports required by 10 CFR 20.2202 (Ref. 48), 10 CFR 20.2203, and 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi) (Ref. 49), as well as from reports issued in accordance with the reporting criteria contained in NEI 07-07):

  • Provide a site map at sufficient scale to show the location of all monitoring wells and water supply wells.
  • Include a table depicting well construction information, such as well depth, diameter, screened interval, and construction material.
  • Include a table showing depths to water and water-level elevations.
  • Provide a groundwater flow direction map for each aquifer or hydrostratigraphic unit beneath the site.
  • Develop a table and accompanying map showing the distribution of radionuclide concentrations across the site (e.g., tritium concentrations in picocuries per liter). A series of tables and maps, based on available information, may be necessary to depict the concentration at depth.
  • For documented inadvertent releases of radionuclides into groundwater, include a description of any ongoing or completed remediation actions and the residual activity remaining after the remediation was completed, if it is not ongoing.

For those nuclear power plants that rely on a system other than a groundwater monitoring system composed of wells, the applicant should describe the program used for detecting and responding to inadvertent releases of radionuclides into subsurface soils and groundwater.

4.6 Ecological Resources

The following general approach should be used in conducting plant-specific assessments for ecological resources-related Category 2 issues.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 42

4.6.1 General Approach for Information and Analysis Content for All Ecological Issues

The applicant should provide sufficient information in the ER to evaluate how the effects of nuclear power plant operation would affect ecosystem structure and function, alter the stability of plant or animal populations, modify the value or availability of ecosystem services, or noticeably affect other attributes of the ecological environment. Ecosystem services refer to a wide range of conditions and processes through which natural ecosystems, and the species that are part of them, help sustain and fulfill human life. For further discussion of these services, see the 1997 article by Daily et al., Ecosystem Services: Benefits Supplied to Human Societies by Natural Ecosystems (Ref. 50).

For all ecological issues, the same general approach can identify the environmental impacts of license renewal and alternatives. This approach generally follows the EPAs 1998 framework for ecological risk assessment in Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment (Ref. 51).

1. Identify Relevant Sources of Information

Identify the relevant sources of information, which may include:

Studies and monitoring. Summarize any surveys, studies, and monitoring that provide site-specific, local, or regional data on ecological resources and that are relevant to assessing the environmental impacts of license renewal and alternatives. Include the biological entities or ecological attributes chosen for investigation, methodology, results, and conclusions.

If data are more than 5 years old, explain whether the studies are relevant in assessing the impacts of license renewal. For example, show that both the potentially affected resources and the effects of the nuclear power plant on those resources have remained, and can be expected to remain, unchanged or similar over the license renewal term.

Communications with and views of relevant regulatory agencies. Document any communications with Federal and State agencies with special expertise or jurisdiction (e.g., EPA or other water quality permitting agencies concerning impingement and entrainment a nd thermal impacts; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service concerning federally listed species and critical habitats; State natural resource agencies) that are relevant to assessing impacts and are not documented elsewhere. Include the views of affected Indian Tribes in cases where culturally significant ecological resources may be affected. Discuss major points of view and significant concerns or objections raised by these entities. If relevant communications are documented el sewhere, refer the reader to the appropriate sections. Include other interested stakeholders, as appropriate.

Other sources. Provide in-text citations to other sources of information relied upon and provide full citations in a literature cited section.

2. Identify Potentially Affected Ecological Resources

Identify specific ecological resources and the attributes of those resources potentially at risk.

Because ecological systems are complicated, only a subset of resources can be addressed .

Identify the potentially affected ecological resources. Describe the potentially affected resources in terms of ecosystem or habitat type (e.g., oak-hickory forest, tallgrass prairie, tidal salt marsh). Give special attention to important habitats (e.g., important bird areas, known bat hibernacula, spawning and rearing areas, locally significant habitats, natural heritage areas, wildlife sanctuaries and preserves, federally or State-managed lands and waters).

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 43 Describe the potentially affected plants and animals in terms of functional groups (e.g., plants, mammals, reptiles, fish, invertebrates) or trophic structure (e.g., producers and consumers). For instance, an aquatic system may include plankton, macrophytes, and periphyton (primary producers); zooplankton and benthic macroinvertebrates (primary consumers); and bottom feeding, planktivorous, and piscivorous fish (secondary and tertiary consumers).

For federally protected ecological resources, identify and describe the potentially affected federally listed species and designated critical habitats protected under the ESA. Include candidate and proposed species and proposed critical habitats, if applicable. Identify and describe EFH, including HAPCs, by federally managed species and life stage, protected under the MSA. Identify and describe any national marine sanctuaries and the living and nonliving resources of those sanctuaries protected under the NMSA.

Identify attributes of those resources potentially at risk. Identify the attributes of the resources of concern that are potentially at risk and that are important to protect (Ref. 51). If adverse effects on a species, habitat, or other ecological resource are possible, the resource should be assessed in terms of spatial scale (e.g., local, regional, or national), temporal scale (e.g., the time frame over which stressors or effects will be evaluated), and resource value (e.g., social, economic, or ecological).

Biodiversity, which refers to the variety of life on Earth at all its levels, including genes, individuals, species, habitats, and ecosystems, is an important attribute to consider. Biodiversity helps maintain the structural diversity and functional integrity of ecosystems and provides a wide pool of biological resources that can respond and adapt to various natural and human-made stressors (Ref. 52).

3. Explain the Relationships between Nuclear Power Plant Operation and Ecological Resource Attributes

Relationships can be examined by identifying the pathways through which potential stressors act on the chosen ecological receptors and expressing these as risk hypotheses (Ref. 50, Section 3.4.1). Risk hypotheses may be very simple, predicting the potential effect of one stressor on one receptor, or extremely complex.

4. Assess and Characterize Potential Impacts

For each potential stressor, multiple ecological receptors may exist, and each receptor may have multiple measurable and susceptible attributes. The effects of nuclear power plant operation on any ecological receptor may be direct or indirect and may vary in spatial or temporal scale. Additionally, the assessment approach may be prospective or retrospective depending on the available data. With such complexity, examining a single line of evidence may not be sufficient to assess a given impact. In such cases, the reviewer should examine several lines of evidence involving several ecological receptors when data allow. If using multiple lines of evidence, explain the qualitative or quantitative method for combining the lines of evidence to arrive at an overall assessment of impact. A typical approach for accomplishing this is to consider weight of evidence (e.g., [Ref. 51], [Ref. 53]).

5. Describe Mitigation Measures

If adverse impacts are identified, describe mitigation measures that have been implemented at the nuclear power plant to reduce such impacts and note whether such measures would continue during the license renewal term. Describe any additional mitigation measures proposed by the applicant or measures that would be required in the future (e.g., conditions anticipated in a future renewed NPDES permit concerning best technology available to minimize impingement mortality and

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 44 entrainment). Evaluate the expected effects of the mitigation measures. Briefly explain the rationale for not implementing any measures that were considered but rejected.

6. Describe New and Significant Information

If any new and significant information exists concerning an ecological resource issue, discuss the new information in the impact analysis and explain how it may affect conclusions in the LR GEIS.

4.6.2 Terrestrial Resources

The following ecological resources-related Category 2 issues require a plant-specific assessment.

Non-Cooling System Impacts on Terrestrial Resources

This issue concerns the effects of nuclear power plant operations on terrestrial resources during an initial LR or SLR term that are unrelated to operation of the cooling system. Such activities include landscape and grounds maintenance, stormwater management, elevated noise levels and vibration, and ground-disturbing activities.

Table B-1 states the following:

The magnitude of effects of continued nuclear power plant operation and refurbishment, unrelated to operation of the cooling system, would depend on numerous site-specific factors, including ecological setting, planned activities during the license renewal term, and characteristics of the plants and animals present in the area. Application of best management practices and other conservation initiatives would reduce the potential for impacts.

Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(E) requires, in part, the following:

All license renewal applicants shall assess the impact of refurbishment, continued operations, and other license-renewal-related construction activities on important plant and animal habitats.

Section 4.6.1.1.1 of the LR GEIS discusses non-cooling system impacts on terrestrial resources.

This Category 2 issue applies to all nuclear power plants. Each applicant should provide the information and analysis described below.

Information and Analysis Content

The ER format should follow the general approach described in RG Section 4.6.1 for all ecological resource issues. Specific information and analysis relevant to this issue are as follows.

Describe any known and reasonably foreseeable activities associated with license r enewal unrelated to operation of the cooling system that could affect terrestrial resources. Such activities include landscape and grounds maintenance, stormwater management, elevated noise levels and vibration, and ground-disturbing activities. Ground-disturbing activities may be related to refurbishment or other planned activities during the license renewal period that involve demolition or construction.

Describe the following, with a focus on the interfaces with the terrestrial environment and how site procedures, permits, and other controls minimize or mitigate impacts on the terrestrial environment.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 45

  • Summarize the site and landscape maintenance activities. Identify site procedures and permits related to the impacts of these activities on terrestrial resources.
  • Summarize stormwater management on the site, including any stormwater management plans and NPDES permit conditions related to the impacts of stormwater on terrestrial resources.
  • Summarize any elevated noise or vibration levels that would be of particular concern for terrestrial resources, such as those that could disrupt wildlife behavioral patterns or cause animals to avoid certain areas.
  • Describe general operations and maintenance activities during the license renewal period that could affect terrestrial resources, such as maintenance or repair of existing buildings, roadways, parking lots, piping, fencing, and security-related structures.
  • Describe ground-disturbing activities anticipated during the license renewal period that would disturb terrestrial habitat. Include the amount of land to be disturbed, whether disturbance would be temporary or permanent, the ecological characteristics of the habitat, the species found within the area, and any unique or rare features of the habitat or species found within it. Include terrestrial habitat that would be disturbed by transport or delivery of equipment and supplies as well as laydown or storage of materials, structures, and components. Describe any related road, bridge, rail, or barge slip modifications that would occur that would affect terrestrial habitat.

Discuss relevant regional, State, and Federal permits and controls not already described that would reduce or mitigate non-cooling system impacts on terrestrial resources.

Describe site- or fleet-wide environmental procedures, wildlife management plans, best management practices, and conservation initiatives undertaken or proposed by the applicant that would benefit the terrestrial environment or otherwise mitigate non-cooling system impacts on terrestrial resources.

Water Use Conflicts with Terrestrial Resources (Plants with Cooling Ponds or Cooling Towers Using Makeup Water from a River)

This issue concerns water use conflicts that may arise at nuclear power plants with cooling ponds or cooling towers that use makeup water from a river and how those conflicts could affect terrestrial resources during an initial LR or SLR term.

Table B-1 states the following:

Nuclear power plants could consume water at rates that cause occasional or intermittent water use conflicts with nearby and downstream terrestrial and riparian communities.

Such impacts could noticeably affect riparian or wetland species or alter characteristics of the ecological environment during the license renewal term. The one plant where impacts have occurred successfully mitigated the impact. Impacts are expected to be small at most nuclear power plants but could be moderate at some.

Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(A) requires, in part, the following:

If the applicants plant utilizes cooling towers or cooling ponds and withdraws makeup water from a river, an assessment of the impact of the proposed action on water

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 46 availability and competing water demands, the flow of the river, and related impacts onriparian (terrestrial) ecological communities must be provided.

Section 4.6.1.1.6 of the LR GEIS discusses water use conflicts with terrestrial resources. This Category 2 issue applies to nuclear power plants with cooling ponds or cooling towers that withdraw makeup water from a river. Notably, this issue also applies to nuclear power plants with hybrid cooling systems that withdraw makeup water from a river (i.e., once-through cooling systems with helper cooling towers) (e.g., Ref. 54). Applicants that meet these conditions should provide the information and analysis described below. All other applicants should note in the ER that this issue is not relevant; these applicants need not provide additional information.

Information and Analysis Content

The ER format should follow the general approach described in RG Section 4.6.1 for all ecological resource issues. Specific information and analysis relevant to this issue are as follows.

Describe the following, with a focus on the interfaces with the terrestrial environment and how site procedures, permits, and other controls minimize or mitigate impacts on the terrestrial environment.

Give special attention to riparian, wetland, and marsh habitats that require regular or periodic surface water flow.

  • Summarize the baseline hydrologic regime of the affected surface waters, including seasonal fluctuations in flow, and conditions that could lead to extreme periods of low flow.
  • Summarize current and anticipated consumptive water use by the nuclear power pl ant.
  • Identify other users relying on the affected surface waters, including downstream municipal, agricultural, or industrial users, with which the nuclear power plant may compete.
  • Identify terrestrial habitats and species that would be especially sensitive to reduced water availability (e.g., riparian, wetland, marsh, and other habitats that require saturation or periodic inundation; amphibians, especially early life stages; wildlife that heavily rely on surface waters, such as beaver [Castor canadensis], muskrat [Ondatra zibethicus], and wading birds).
  • Discuss regional, State, Federal, and Indian Tribes permits and controls concerning water use and any agreements with water resources control boards.
  • Summarize any other current or proposed practices and measures to control or limit operational water use impacts.
  • Describe past water use conflicts with terrestrial resources, if any, and evaluate whether such conflicts would be likely to arise again during the license renewal term.

Refer to the ER analysis of water use conflicts with surface water resources, to the extent that it is appropriate, to avoid duplication of information.

4.6.3 Aquatic Resources

The following ecological resources-related Category 2 issues require a plant -specific assessment.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 47 Impingement Mortality and Entrainment of Aquatic Organisms (Plants with Once-Through Cooling Systems or Cooling Ponds)

This issue pertains to impingement mortality and entrainment of finfish and shellfish at nuclear power plants with once-through cooling systems and cooling ponds during an initial LR or SLR term.

This includes plants with helper cooling towers that are seasonally operated to reduce thermal load to the receiving waterbody, reduce entrainment during peak spawning periods, or reduce consumptive water use during periods of low river flow.

Table B-1 states the following:

The impacts of impingement mortality and entrainment would generally be small at nuclear power plants with once-through cooling systems or cooling ponds that have implemented best technology requirements for existing facilities under Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 316(b). For all other plants, impacts could be small, moderate, or large depending on characteristics of the cooling water intake system, results of impingement and entrainment studies performed at the plant, trends in local fish and shellfish populations, and implementation of mitigation measures.

Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(B) requires, in part, the following:

If the applicants plant utilizes once-through cooling or cooling pond water intake and discharge systems, the applicant shall provide a copy of current Clean Water Act 316(b)

Best Technology Available determinationsor equivalent State permits and support ing documentation. If the applicant cannot provide these documents, it shall assess the impact of the proposed action on fish and shellfish resources resulting from impingement mortality and entrainment

Section 4.6.1.2.1 of the LR GEIS discusses impingement mortality and entrainment of aquatic organisms. This Category 2 issue applies to nuclear power plants with once-through cooling systems or cooling ponds, including plants with hybrid cooling systems (i.e., once-through cooling systems with helper cooling towers). Applicants that meet these conditions should provide the information and analysis described below. All other applicants should note in the ER that this issue is not relevant; these applicants need not provide additional information.

Information and Analysis Content

The ER format should follow the general approach described in RG Section 4.6.1 for all ecological resource issues. Specific information and analysis relevant to this issue are as follows.

Describe impingement and entrainment studies conducted at the nuclear power plant and any supporting studies and data. Include species and taxa chosen for investigation, methodology, results, and conclusions. Provide estimates of the species and number of organisms impinged and entrained on a daily, monthly, and annual basis. Provide estimates of finfish and shellfish mortality associated with impingement. Describe impingement and entrainment losses in terms of lost commercial, recreational, and ecosystem service value. If data are more than 5 years old, explain whether the studies are relevant in assessing the impacts of license renewal. Provide full documentation of analytical or modeling techniques used to assess effects.

Describe baseline studies and other ecological sampling conducted at or near the nuclear power plant conducted to characterize the composition of aquatic populations or monitor their health over time.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 48 Identify temporal and geographical trends in the data that might indicate whether fish and shellfish populations have increased, decreased, or remained stable during nuclear power plant operation. Explain any relationships between patterns of impingement and entrainment at the nuclear power plant and trends in the affected populations.

Summarize the nuclear power plants current NPDES permit and the status of the permitting authoritys best technology available (BTA) determinations.

  • If the NPDES permitting authority has made BTA determinations for the nuclear power plant pursuant to CWA Section 316(b) in accordance with the current regulations at 40 CFR Part 122 (Ref. 55) and 40 CFR Part 125 (Ref. 56), which were promulgated in 2014 (79 FR 48300)

(Ref. 57), and the plant has implemented any associated requirements or those requirements would be implemented before the license renewal period, no additional analysis is required. In such cases, provide with the ER copies of the NPDES permit, CWA Section 316(b) BTA

determinations, studies and information submitted to the NPDES permitting agency pursuant to

40 CFR 122.21(r), and relevant correspondence with the permitting agency. In cases where the NPDES permit has expired but has been administratively continued by the permitting authority because of timely renewal application submission (i.e., at least 180 days before the permit expiration date), provide a copy of the permit renewal application. If certain requirements associated with the CWA 316(b) determination have yet to be implemented, provide a timeline for such implementation.

  • If the NPDES permitting authority has not made BTA determinations, analyze the potential impacts of impingement mortality, entrainment, or both using a weight-of-evidence approach. In this approach, consider multiple lines of evidence to assess the presence or absence of ecological impairment (i.e., noticeable or detectable impact) on the aquatic environment. For instance, as its lines of evidence, the ER might consider characteristics of the cooling water intake system design, the results of impingement and entrainment studies performed at the facility, and trends in fish and shellfish population abundance indices. The ER should then consider these lines of evidence together to predict the level of impact that the aquatic environment is likely to experience over the course of the license renewal term. In support of this assessment, the applicant should provide with the ER copies of the NPDES permit, NPDES permit renewal application (if applicable), studies and information submitted to the NPDES permitting agency pursuant to 40 CFR 122.21(r), and relevant correspondence with the permitting agency.

The impingement mortality and entrainment analysis should also consider

  • location of the cooling water intake structure, intake velocities, and withdrawal volumes
  • information on screening device technologies and fish collection and return technologies
  • swimming abilities of local species or their surrogates, including burst, prolonged, or sustained speeds
  • other relevant life history characteristics of local species, such as size and susceptibility to impingement or entrainment at various life stages; population abundances and distributions;

special species statuses and designations; and regional management objectives

  • physical or biological factors that might concentrate or attract organisms to the area of the intake

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 49 Effects of Thermal Effluents on Aquatic Organisms (Plants with Once-Through Cooling Systems or Cooling Ponds)

This issue pertains to acute, sublethal, and community-level effects of thermal effluents on finfish and shellfish from operation of nuclear power plants with once-through cooling systems and cooling ponds during an initial LR or SLR term. This includes plants with helper cooling towers that are seasonally operated to reduce thermal load to the receiving waterbody, reduce entrainment during peak spawning periods, or reduce consumptive water use during periods of low river flow.

Table B-1 states the following:

Acute, sublethal, and community-level effects of thermal effluents on aquatic organisms would generally be small at nuclear power plants with once-through cooling systems or cooling ponds that adhere to State water quality criteria or that have and maintain a valid CWA Section 316(a) variance. For all other plants, impacts could be small, moderate, or large depending on site-specific factors, including ecological setting of the plant;

characteristics of the cooling system and effluent discharges; and characteristics of the fish, shellfish, and other aquatic organisms present in the area.

Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(B) requires, in part, the following:

If the applicants plant utilizes once-through cooling or cooling pond water intake and discharge systems, the applicant shall provide a copy of if applicable, a 316(a) variance in accordance with 40 CFR Part 125, or equivalent State permits and supporting documentation. If the applicant cannot provide these documents, it shall assess the impact of the proposed action on fish and shellfish resources resulting from thermal discharges.

Section 4.6.1.2.4 of the LR GEIS discusses the effects of thermal effluents on aquatic organisms.

This Category 2 issue applies to nuclear power plants with once-through cooling systems or cooling ponds, including plants with hybrid cooling systems (i.e., once-through cooling systems with helper cooling towers). Applicants that meet these conditions should provide the information and analysis described below. All other applicants should note in the ER that this issue is not relevant; these applicants need not provide additional information.

Information and Analysis Content

The ER format should follow the general approach described in RG Section 4.6.1 for all ecological resource issues. Specific information and analysis relevant to this issue are as follows.

Describe thermal studies conducted at the nuclear power plant and any supporting studies and data. Include species and taxa chosen for investigation, methodology, results, and conclusions. Provide estimates of the species and number of organisms affected by the thermal effluent on a daily, monthly, and annual basis. Provide areal or volumetric estimates of thermally affected aquatic habitat. Describe effects in terms of lost commercial, recreational, and ecosystem service value. If data are more than five years old, explain whether the studies are relevant in assessing the impacts of license renewal.

Provide full documentation of analytical or modeling techniques used to assess effects.

Describe baseline studies and other ecological sampling conducted at or near the nuclear power plant conducted to characterize the composition of aquatic populations or monitor their health over time. Identify temporal and geographical trends in the data that might indicate whether fish and

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 50

shellfish populations have increased, decreased, or remained stable during nuclear power plant operation.

Explain any relationships between thermal effluent discharges at the nuclear power plant and trends in the affected populations.

Summarize the nuclear power plants current NPDES permit and the status of the permitting authoritys CWA Section 316(a) determination.

  • If the NPDES permitting authority has made a determination under CWA Section 316(a) that thermal effluent limits are sufficiently stringent to assure the protection and propagation of a balanced, indigenous population of shellfish, fish, and wildlife in and on the receiving body of water, and the nuclear power plant has implemented any associated requirements, no additional analysis is required. In such cases, provide with the ER copies of the NPDES permit, CWA

Section 316(a) determination, CWA Section 316(a) demonstration studies and other information submitted to the NPDES permitting authority pursuant to CWA 316(a), and relevant correspondence with the permitting agency. In cases where the NPDES permit has expired but has been administratively continued by the permitting authority because of timely renewal application submission (i.e., at least 180 days before the permit expiration date), provide a copy of the permit renewal application. If certain requirements associated with the CWA 316(a)

determination have yet to be implemented, provide a timeline for such implementation.

  • If the NPDES permitting authority has not granted a CWA Section 316(a) variance, analyze the potential impacts of thermal discharges using a weight-of-evidence approach. In this approach, consider multiple lines of evidence to assess the presence or absence of ecological impairment (i.e., noticeable or detectable impact) on the aquatic environment. For instance, as its lines of evidence, the ER might consider characteristics of the cooling water discharge system design, the results of thermal studies performed at the facility, and trends in fish and shellfish population abundance indices. The ER should then consider these lines of evidence together to predict the level of impact that the aquatic environment is likely to experience over the course of the license renewal term. In support of this assessment, the applicant should provide with the ER copies of the NPDES permit, NPDES permit renewal application (if applicable), CWA Section 316(a)

demonstration studies and other information submitted to the NPDES permitting authority pursuant to CWA 316(a), and relevant correspondence with the permitting agency.

The thermal impact analysis should also consider

  • thermal plume characteristics, such as areal extent of the plume and thermal contour maps
  • thermal tolerances of local species or their surrogates
  • other relevant life history characteristics of local species, such as seasonal absence or presence, population abundances and distributions, special species statuses and designations, and regional management objectives
  • data on fish kill events related to nuclear power plant operation
  • physical or biological factors that might concentrate or attract organisms to the thermal plume

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 51 Water Use Conflicts with Aquatic Resources (Plants with Cooling Ponds or Cooling Towers Using Makeup Water from a River)

This issue concerns water use conflicts that may arise at nuclear power plants with cooling ponds or cooling towers that use makeup water from a river and how those conflicts could affect aquatic resources during an initial LR or SLR term.

Table B-1 states the following:

Nuclear power plants could consume water at rates that cause occasional or intermittent water use conflicts with nearby and downstream aquatic communities. Such impacts could noticeably affect aquatic plants or animals or alter characteristics of the ecological environment during the license renewal term. The one plant where impacts have occurred successfully mitigated the impact. Impacts are expected to be small at most nuclear power plants but could be moderate at some.

Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(A) requires, in part, the following:

If the applicants plant utilizes cooling towers or cooling ponds and withdraws makeup water from a river, an assessment of the impact of the proposed action on water availability and competing water demands, the flow of the river, and related impacts on stream (aquatic)ecological communities must be provided.

Section 4.6.1.2.10 of the LR GEIS discusses water use conflicts with aquatic resources. This Category 2 issue applies to nuclear power plants with cooling ponds or cooling towers that withdraw makeup water from a river. Notably, this issue also applies to nuclear power plants with hybrid cooling systems that withdraw makeup water from a river (i.e., once-through cooling systems with helper cooling towers) (e.g., Ref. 54). Applicants that meet these conditions should provide the information and analysis described below. All other applicants should note in the ER that this issue is not relevant; these applicants need not provide additional information.

Information and Analysis Content

The ER format should follow the general approach described in RG Section 4.6.1 for all ecological resource issues. Specific information and analysis relevant to this issue are as follows.

Describe the following, with a focus on the interfaces with the aquatic environment and how site procedures, permits, and other controls minimize or mitigate impacts on the terrestrial environment.

  • Summarize the baseline hydrologic regime of the affected surface waters, including seasonal fluctuations in flow, and conditions that could lead to extreme periods of low flow.
  • Summarize current and anticipated consumptive water use by the nuclear power plant.
  • Identify other users relying on the affected surface waters, including downstream municipal, agricultural, or industrial users, with which the nuclear power plant may compete.
  • Identify aquatic habitats and species that would be especially sensitive to reduced water availability (e.g., nearshore habitat, aquatic plants, early life stages of fish and shellfish, species that rely on specific microhabitats that may not be available under low flow conditions).

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 52

  • Discuss regional, State, Federal, and Indian Tribes permits and controls concerning water use and any agreements with water resources control boards.
  • Summarize any other current or proposed practices and measures to control or limit operational water-use impacts.
  • Describe past water use conflicts with aquatic resources, if any, and evaluate whether such conflicts would be likely to arise again during the license renewal term.

Refer to the ER analyses of water use conflicts with surface water resources and terrestrial resources, to the extent that these are appropriate, to avoid duplication of information.

4.6.4 Federally Protected Ecological Resources

The following ecological resources-related Category 2 issues require a plant-specific assessment.

Endangered Species Act: Federally Listed Species and Critical Habitats Under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Jurisdiction

This issue concerns the potential effects of continued nuclear power plant operation during an initial LR or SLR term on federally listed species and critical habitats protected under the ESA and under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Table B-1 states the following:

The potential effects of continued nuclear power plant operation and refurbishment on federally listed species and critical habitats would depend on numerous site-specific factors, including the ecological setting; listed species and critical habitats present in the action area; and plant-specific factors related to operations, including water withdrawal, effluent discharges, and other ground-disturbing activities. Consultation with the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service under Endangered Species Act Section 7(a)(2) would be required if license renewal may affect listed species or critical habitats under this agency's jurisdiction.

Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(E) requires the following:

All license renewal applicants shall assess the impact of refurbishment, continued operations, and other license-renewal-related construction activities on important plant and animal habitats. Additionally, the applicant shall assess the impact of the proposed action on federally protected ecological resources in accordance with Federal laws protecting such resources, including but not limited to, the Endangered Species Act, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act.

Section 4.6.1.3.1 of the LR GEIS discusses federally listed species and critical habitats under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service jurisdiction. This Category 2 issue applies to all nuclear power plants whose operation may affect federally listed terrestrial and freshwater species or their critical habitat. Listed species under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service jurisdiction are likely to occur near most operating nuclear power plants. Applicants that meet these conditions should provide

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 53 the information and analysis described below. All other applicants should note in the ER that this issue is not relevant; these applicants need not provide additional information.

Information and Analysis Content

The ER format should follow the general approach described in RG Section 4.6.1 for all ecological resource issues. Specific information and analysis relevant to this issue are as follows. Notably, in addition to analyzing the impacts of this issue, the ER should contain sufficient information to support the NRC staffs interagency consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Analyze the potential effects of license renewal on each federally listed species and designated critical habitat determined in Chapter 3 of this RG to be potentially present in the action area. Consistent with the suggested contents of a biological assessment at 50 CFR 402.12(f), consider including th e following information, as applicable:

  • the results of site surveys, studies, and inspections of the action area to determine if listed or proposed species are present or occur seasonally
  • the views of recognized experts on the species at issue
  • a review of pertinent scientific literature and related information
  • an analysis of the effects of the action on the species and habitat, including cumulative effects, and the results of any related studies
  • an analysis of alternate actions If formal consultation12 may be required, provide the following information in accordance with

50 CFR 402.14(c):

  • a description of the proposed action and any mitigation measures in sufficient detail to assess the effects of the action on protected species and critical habitat, including the following:

o the purpose, duration, timing, and location of the action

o the specific components of the action and how they will be carried out

o maps, drawings, blueprints, or similar schematics of the action

o any other available information related to the nature and scope of the proposed action relevant to its effects on protected species or critical habitat

  • a map or description of the action area
  • available information on the presence, abundance, density, or periodic occurrence of listed species and the condition and location of the species habitat, including any critical habitat

12 Formal ESA Section 7 consultation is appropriate when a Federal agency determines that an action may affect and is likely to adversely affect listed species or critical habitats. For any action in which take of listed species or destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat may occur, formal consultation is required. See Section 4.6.1.3.1 of the LR GEIS and Section 4.10.11 of the ESRP for more information on this topic.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 54

  • a description of the effects of the action and an analysis of any cumulative effects
  • a summary of any relevant information provided by the applicant or licensee
  • any other relevant available information on the effects of the proposed action, including any EISs, EAs, or other relevant reports

Report findings in accordance with terminology used in the ESA and its implementing regulations as identified in Table 4-1. Make individual effect determinations for each listed species and critical habitat; the number of ESA findings for a given license renewal will depend on the number of listed species and critical habitats present in the action area.

Table 4-1. Possible ESA Effect Determinations Made by the Federal Action Agency Listed Species Proposed Species Designated or Proposed Critical Habitat may affect and is likely to may affect and is likely to is likely to destroy or adversely adversely affect adversely affect modify may affect but is not likely to may affect but is not likely to is not likely to destroy or adversely affect adversely affect adversely modify no effect no effect no effect

Applicants are strongly encouraged to coordinate with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on this issue during preparation of the ER, especially for those license renewals that may require formal consultation. Include copies of any relevant correspondence in the ER and give special consideration to the Services views when making ESA effect determinations.

Endangered Species Act: Federally Listed Species and Critical Habitats Under National Marine Fisheries Service Jurisdiction

This issue concerns the potential effects of continued nuclear power plant operation during an initial LR or SLR term on federally listed species and critical habitats protected under the ESA and under the jurisdiction of the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Table B-1 states the following:

The potential effects of continued nuclear power plant operation and refurbishment on federally listed species and critical habitats would depend on numerous site-specific factors, including the ecological setting; listed species and critical habitats present in the action area; and plant-specific factors related to operations, including water withdrawal, effluent discharges, and other ground-disturbing activities. Consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service under Endangered Species Act Section 7(a)(2) would be required if license renewal may affect listed species or critical habitats under this agency's jurisdiction.

Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(E) requires the following:

All license renewal applicants shall assess the impact of refurbishment, continued operations, and other license-renewal-related construction activities on important plant and animal habitats. Additionally, the applicant shall assess the impact of the proposed action on federally protected ecological resources in accordance with Federal laws protecting such resources, including but not limited to, the

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 55 Endangered Species Act, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act.

Section 4.6.1.3.2 of the LR GEIS discusses federally listed species and critical habitats under National Marine Fisheries Service jurisdiction. This Category 2 issue applies to all nuclear power plants whose operation may affect federally listed marine and anadromous species or their critical habitat. In general, listed species and critical habitats under National Marine Fisheries Service jurisdiction are only of concern at nuclear power plants that withdraw or discharge from estuarine or marine waters. However, anadromous listed species under National Marine Fisheries Service jurisdiction may be seasonally present in the action area of plants located within freshwater reaches of rivers well upstream of the saltwater interface. Applicants that meet these conditions should provide the information and analysis described below. All other applicants should note in the ER that this issue is not relevant; these applicants need not provide additional information.

Information and Analysis Content

The ER format should follow the general approach described in RG Section 4.6.1 for all ecological resource issues. Specific information and analysis relevant to this issue are as follows. Notably, in addition to analyzing the impacts of this issue, the ER should contain sufficient information to support the NRC staffs interagency consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service.

The recommended content for this issue is identical to the information and analysis content identified above under the issue of Endangered Species Act: Federally Listed Species and Critical Habitats Under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Jurisdiction.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to coordinate with the National Marine Fisheries Service on this issue during preparation of the ER, especially for those license renewals that may require formal consultation. Include copies of any relevant correspondence in the ER and give special consideration to the Services views when making ESA effect determinations.

Magnuson-Stevens Act: Essential Fish Habitat

This issue concerns the potential effects of continued nuclear power plant operation during an initial LR or SLR term on EFH protected under the MSA.

Table B-1 states the following:

The potential effects of continued nuclear power plant operation and refurbishment on essential fish habitat would depend on numerous site-specific factors, including the ecological setting; essential fish habitat present in the area, including habitats of particular concern; and plant-specific factors related to operations, including water withdrawal, effluent discharges, and other activities that may affect aquatic habitats.

Consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service under Magnuson-Stevens Act Section 305(b) would be required if license renewal could result in adverse effects to essential fish habitat.

Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(E) requires the following:

All license renewal applicants shall assess the impact of refurbishment, continued operations, and other license-renewal-related construction activities on important plant and animal habitats. Additionally, the applicant shall assess the impact of the proposed

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 56 action on federally protected ecological resources in accordance with Federal laws protecting such resources, including but not limited to, the Endangered Species Act, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act.

Section 4.6.1.3.3 of the LR GEIS discusses EFH. This Category 2 issue applies to all nuclear power plants whose operation may affect EFH, including HAPCs. EFH may occur at nuclear power plants located on or near estuaries, coastal inlets and bays, and the ocean. EFH is generally not relevant for license renewal reviews of plants located on rivers well above the saltwater interface or confluence with marine waters; plants located on freshwater lakes, including the Great Lakes; or at plants that draw cooling water from human-made cooling ponds or canals that do not hydrologically connect to natural surface waters. One exception is in cases where a plant draws cooling water from the freshwater portion of a river that is inhabited by diadromous prey of federally managed species (herein referred to as EFH

species) with designated EFH downstream of the plant. Applicants that meet these conditions should provide the information and analysis described below. All other applicants should note in the ER that this issue is not relevant; these applicants need not provide additional information.

Information and Analysis Content

The ER format should follow the general approach described in RG Section 4.6.1 for all ecological resource issues. Specific information and analysis relevant to this issue are as follows. Notably, in addition to analyzing the impacts of this issue, the ER should contain sufficient information to support the NRC staffs interagency consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Analyze the potential effects of license renewal on the EFH by species and life stage determined in Chapter 3 of this RG to be present in the affected area. Consistent with the required contents of an EFH

assessment at 50 CFR 600.920(e)(2) (Ref. 58), include the following information:

  • a description of the action
  • an analysis of the potential adverse effects on EFH and EFH species
  • conclusions regarding the effects of the action on EFH
  • proposed mitigation, if applicable
  • If appropriate, the EFH assessment should also include the following (50 CFR 600.920(e)(4)):

o the results of site surveys, studies, and inspections that evaluate the habitat and the site-specific effects of the project

o the views of recognized experts on the habitat or species that may be affected

o a review of pertinent scientific literature and related information

o an analysis of alternate actions

o any other relevant information

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 57 Consider prey of EFH species in the analysis. For instance, if a given species with designated EFH downstream of a nuclear power plant consumes diadromous fish that occur upriver of the facility, effects of license renewal on those prey fish would be relevant to the analysis.

Report findings in accordance with terminology used in the MSA and its implementing regulations as identified in Table 4-2. Make individual effect determinations for each EFH species and life stage; the number of EFH findings for a given license renewal will depend on the number of EFH

species and life stages with EFH present in the affected area. Importantly, EFH effect determinations characterize the effects on the habitat of the EFH species and their life stages. They do not characterize the effects on the species or the life stages themselves. Similarly, effect determinations for EFH prey characterize the effects on the prey as a food resource rather than the effects on the prey species themselves. For instance, a proposed action that involves water withdrawal from a river for cooling purposes could cause habitat loss (i.e., temporary or permanent physical loss of a portion of the water column). Associated effluent discharge could cause chemical or biological (i.e., temperature and dissolved oxygen content) alterations to the habitat. With respect to prey species, water withdrawals could impinge or entrain prey organisms, which would represent a reduction in available food resources for EFH species within that habitat.

Table 4-2. Possible EFH Effect Determinations Made by the Federal Action Agency EFH Effect Determinations Spatial Extent Duration substantial adverse effects surface area, depth, and more than minimal but less than seasonality described in writing substantial adverse effects with explicit measurements, to temporary v. permanent minimal adverse effects the extent possible, or pictorially short-term v. long-term no adverse effects on a map

Give special attention to HAPCs. The Fishery Management Councils and National Marine Fisheries Service identify HAPCs within designated EFH based on the importance of the habitats ecological function; the extent to which the habitat is sensitive to human-induced environmental degradation; whether, and to what extent, development activities are, or will be, stressing the habitat type;

and the rarity of the habitat type (50 CFR 600.815(a)(8)). If an HAPC is present, make separate effect determinations for the EFH and the HAPC within that EFH. Actions that occur in HAPCs may receive more scrutiny by the National Marine Fisheries Service during EFH consultation when developing conservation recommendations.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to coordinate with the National Marine Fisheries Service on this issue during preparation of the ER, especially for those license renewals that may require EFH

consultation. Include copies of any relevant correspondence in the ER and give special consideration to the Services views when making EFH effect determinations.

National Marine Sanctuaries Act: Sanctuary Resources

This issue concerns the potential effects of continued nuclear power plant operation during an initial LR or SLR term on sanctuary resources protected under the NMSA.

Table B-1 states the following:

The potential effects of continued nuclear power plant operation and refurbishment on sanctuary resources would depend on numerous site-specific factors, including the ecological setting; national marine sanctuaries present in the area; and plant-specific

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 58 factors related to operations, including water withdrawal, effluent discharges, and other activities that may affect aquatic habitats. Consultation with the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries under National Marine Sanctuaries Act Section 304(d) would be required if license renewal could destroy, cause the loss of, or injure sanctuary resources.

Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(E) requires the following:

All license renewal applicants shall assess the impact of refurbishment, continued operations, and other license-renewal-related construction activities on important plant and animal habitats. Additionally, the applicant shall assess the impact of the proposed action on federally protected ecological resources in accordance with Federal laws protecting such resources, including but not limited to, the Endangered Species Act, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act.

Section 4.6.1.3.4 of the LR GEIS discusses sanctuary resources. This Category 2 issue applies to all nuclear power plants whose operation may affect the resources of a national marine sanctuary.

National marine sanctuaries occur in coastal and marine waters as well as within certain Great Lakes.

This issue is generally not relevant for license renewal reviews of plants located on rivers or freshwater lakes or at plants that draw cooling water from human-made cooling ponds or canals that do not hydrologically connect to natural surface waters. Applicants that meet these conditions should provide the information and analysis described below. All other applicants should note in the ER that this issue is not relevant; these applicants need not provide additional information.

Information and Analysis Content

The ER format should follow the general approach described in RG Section 4.6.1 for all ecological resource issues. Specific information and analysis relevant to this issue are as follows. Notably, in addition to analyzing the impacts of this issue, the ER should contain sufficient information to support the NRC staffs interagency consultation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.

Analyze the potential effects of license renewal on sanctuary resources of the national marine sanctuary determined in Chapter 3 of this RG to be potentially present in the affected area. Consistent with the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Overview of Conducting Consultation Pursuant to Section 304(d) of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (Ref. 59), consider including the following information, as applicable:

  • the purpose or objectives of the proposed action
  • the location of the action and any alternative locations
  • the methods and means for carrying out the action and any alternative methods available
  • the equipment proposed to be used and any alternative equipment
  • documentation that supports the determination of the likelihood of the action causing injury to sanctuary resources
  • the results of site surveys, studies, and inspections that evaluate the affected area of the project

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 59

  • the views of recognized experts on the sanctuary resources that may be affected
  • a review of pertinent scientific literature and related information
  • an analysis of alternate actions considered
  • copies of any Federal, territory, State, local, or Indian Tribes authorizations, permits, licenses, or other forms of approval (or applications for authorizations, permits, or licenses, if not yet granted)

required for the project or a summary of such approvals that have been sought

  • copies of pertinent reports, including, but not limited to, any EIS, environmental assessment, or biological assessment prepared, and any other relevant information

Report findings in accordance with terminology used in the NMSA as identified in Table 4-3.

Table 4-3. Possible NMSA Effect Determinations Made by the Federal Action Agency NMSA Effect Determinations may affect and is likely to destroy, cause the loss of, or injure may affect but is not likely to destroy, cause the loss of, or injure no effect

Notably, sanctuary resources can include historic resources in addition to ecological resources.

Thus, this analysis should be coordinated with the historic and cultural resource analysis if any historic sanctuary resources are present, and the two analyses may be cross-referenced, as appropriate.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to coordinate with the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries on this issue during preparation of the ER, especially for those license renewals that may require NMSA

consultation. Include copies of any relevant correspondence in the ER and give special consideration to the Services views when making sanctuary resource effect determinations.

4.7 Historic and Cultural Resources

The following Category 2 issue requires a plant-specific assessment.

Historic and Cultural Resources

Table B-1 states the following:

Impacts from continued operations and refurbishment on historic and cultural resources located onsite and in the transmission line ROW are analyzed on a plant-specific basis.

The NRC will perform a National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 review, in accordance with 36 CFR Part 800 which includes consultation with the State and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Indian Tribes, and other interested parties.

Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(ii)(K) requires the following:

All applicants shall identify any potentially affected historic and cultural resources and historic properties and assess whether continued operations and any planned refurbishment activities would affect these resources in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and in the context of the National Environmental Policy Act.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 60

Section 4.7 of the LR GEIS discusses historic and cultural resources. Section 106 of the NHPA

requires that Federal agencies consider the effects of the agencys undertaking (including issuance of a license) on historic properties included in, or eligible for, the NRHP and, before approval of an undertaking, give the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation a reasonable opportunity to comment on the undertaking. The NHPA defines undertakings as any project or activity that is funded or under the direct jurisdiction of a Federal agency, or any project or activity that requires a Federal permit, license, or approval. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation s regulations at 36 CFR Part 800, Protection of Historic Properties, set forth the procedures that define how Federal agencies meet Section 106 responsibilities.

The applicant should provide the information and analysis needed for the NRC to comply with Section 106 requirements in a manner that minimizes the potential for delays in the environmental review.

The applicant should identify any activities and impacts associated with continued operations (including maintenance activities) and any refurbishment activities that could affect historic properties within the direct and indirect APE. Applicants should involve and seek input from the SHPO, local historic preservation officials, THPO, Indian Tribes, and interested parties in the assessment and include letters that support these interactions. The applicant should also consider the effects of continued nuclear plant operations and refurbishment activities on historic and cultural resources that do not meet the criteria to be considered a historic property under the NHPA, but could be considered by the SHPO, THPO, Indian Tribes, or local historians to have local historic value and could contribute substantially to an areas sense of historic character.

Information and Analysis Content

The applicant should include the following information in the ER (with appropriate reference to Chapter 3 of the ER to avoid duplication of information):

  • Identify any activities associated with continued operations, maintenance, and refurbishment that could affect onsite or offsite historic and cultural resources located within the direct and indirect APEs. Such activities include ground-disturbing activities (e.g., land clearing, grading, excavating, road work), increases in traffic, and noise and visual intrusions.
  • Identify and assess effects to historic properties found in the direct and indirect APEs that may be affected by the proposed undertaking (i.e., initial LR or SLR). Use the criteria specified in 36 CFR 800.5 to assess adverse effects on historic properties. Provide a basis and documentation for how a conclusion is reached.
  • Identify and assess effects to historic and cultural resources that are not determined to be historic properties but may be considered important in the context of NEPA (e.g., sacred sites, cemeteries, local gathering areas).
  • Discuss the direct and indirect effects (e.g., ground disturbance, physical, visual, auditory, atmospheric such as fugitive dust, light, and traffic), if any, from the proposed project, and from any associated transmission lines on nearby historic properties or important historic and cultural resources.

The assessment should lead to one of three conclusions for NHPA (see 36 CFR 800.4):

  • No historic properties present, the undertaking will have no effect to historic properties
  • Historic properties present, but the undertaking will have no adverse effect upon them

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  • Historic properties present: the undertaking will have an adverse effect upon them (see

36 CFR 800.5)

If a qualified professional has recommended a no historic properties present determination, then the applicant should provide supporting documentation in the ER.

If a qualified professional has recommended a finding of no adverse effect to historic properties, the applicant should develop a plan that outlines protective measures to minimize or avoid these effects. The applicant should engage the SHPO, THPO, Indian Tribes, and interested parties in the formalization of these protection plans and document this within the ER.

If a qualified professional determines that adverse effects to historic properties could occur, the applicant should engage with the SHPO, THPO, Indian Tribes, and interested parties and document this determination in the ER. The ER should describe any procedures and cultural resource management plans developed by the applicant to protect historic and cultural resources as well as any measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate adverse effects. These procedures should also include steps to take in the event of inadvertent discoveries, including the discovery of human remains.

The applicant should be aware that the NRC, as a Federal agency, is responsible for consulting with the SHPO, THPO, Indian Tribes, and interested parties as part of the Section 106 compliance process. If the NRC determines an adverse effect may occur, it will, in accordance with 36 CFR Part 800,

develop proposed measures in consultation with identified consulting parties that might avoid, minimize, or mitigate such effects. Such measures, as appropriate, would be discussed in the NRC staffs SEIS. The applicant will have the responsibility for implementing the measures identified and agreed upon by the consulting parties to avoid, minimize, or mitigate the effects.

For historic or cultural resources that do not meet the criteria to be considered a historic property under the NHPA, the applicant should assess whether there are any potential impacts through the NEPA

process as a result of continued operations and provide documentation to support the assessment in the ER.

4.8 Socioeconomics

Socioeconomic impacts are evaluated in the LR GEIS and are generic (the same or similar at all plants) or Category 1. The applicant should discuss any new and significant information in the ER, if applicable; otherwise, socioeconomic impacts do not need to be analyzed.

4.9 Human Health

The following human health-related Category 2 issues require a plant-specific assessment.

Microbiological Hazards to the Public

Table B-1 states the following about the public health effects of microbiological (thermophilic)

organisms:

These microorganisms are not expected to be a problem at most operating plants except possibly at plants using cooling ponds, lakes, canals, or that discharge to publicly accessible surface waters. Impacts would depend on site-specific characteristics.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 62 Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(G) requires the following:

If the applicants plant uses a cooling pond, lake, canal, or discharges to publicly accessible surface waters, an assessment of the impact of the proposed action on public health from thermophilic organisms in the affected water must be provided.

Section 4.9.1.1.3 of the LR GEIS discusses this issue. Nuclear plants that use cooling ponds, lakes, canals, or that discharge to publicly accessible surface waters have a potential to enhance the concentration of thermophilic microorganisms . Microbiological organisms of concern for public and occupational health include enteric pathogens (bacteria that typically exist in the intestines of animals and humans [e.g., Pseudomonas aeruginosa]), thermophilic fungi, bacteria (e.g., Legionella spp. and Vibrio spp.), free-living amoebae (e.g., Naegleria fowleri and Acanthamoeba spp.), as well as organisms that produce toxins that affect human health (e.g., dinoflagellates [Karenia brevis] and blue-green algae).

Information and Analysis Content

If the applicant can show that the nuclear plant does not use cooling ponds, lakes, canals and does not discharge to publicly accessible surface waters, the ER should note this fact, and further information or analysis need not be provided. If the plant does use cooling ponds, lakes, canals, or discharges to publicly accessible surface waters, the applicant should provide the following information in the ER:

  • If the State advises that tests should be conducted for concentration of N. fowleri or other thermophilic microorganisms in the receiving waters, perform the tests when the facility has been operating at a power level typical of the level anticipated during the license renewal period for at least 1 month to ensure a steady-state population during the sampling. Collect samples at locations of potential public use.
  • Assess the data collected to determine the magnitude of potential impacts of thermophilic microorganisms on public health during the license renewal term.
  • Describe proposed mitigation measures to minimize the exposure to members of the public and the rationale for not implementing any measures that were considered but rejected.

Electric Shock Hazards

Table B-1 states the following:

Electrical shock potential is of small significance for transmission lines that are operated in adherence with the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) . Without a review of conformance with NESC criteria of each nuclear power plants in -scope transmission lines, it is not possible to determine the significance of the electrical shock potential.

Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(H) requires the following:

If the applicants transmission lines that were constructed for the specific purpose of connecting the plant to the transmission system do not meet the recommendations of the National Electrical Safety Code for preventing electric shock from induced currents, an assessment of the impact of the proposed action on the potential shock hazard from the transmission lines must be provided .

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 63 Section 4.9.1.1.5 of the LR GEIS discusses this issue, which concerns only the in-scope transmission lines. Sections 3.1.1 and 3.1.7 of the LR GEIS specifically define which transmission lines are considered in-scope with respect to license renewal environmental reviews. The issue of electric shock potential is reviewed as part of the construction permit. Most transmission lines were designed to comply with the NESC recommendations for electric shock hazard. However, unless the utility has had an active program of transmission line management aimed at reviewing changes in land use in the ROW and the operating characteristics of the transmission line, as well as ensuring compliance with changes in the NESC, the line may not meet current NESC recommendations.

Information and Analysis Content

If the in-scope transmission lines meet current NESC clearance standards, the discussion in the ER should demonstrate that fact. The demonstration should take one of two forms, either (1) a calculation that demonstrates adherence to the current NESC standard and a description of an ongoing program of transmission line ROW supervision and management aimed at ensuring that current electrical shock provisions of the NESC are met, or (2) a transmission line survey. The survey should consider the transmission line characteristics, clearances, and human uses of the transmission corridor and describe measures that could be taken to meet the standards, the measures the applicant plans or proposes to undertake, and whether those measures will meet the standards. It should also consider basic electrical design parameters, including transmission design voltage or voltages, line capacity, conductor type and configuration, spacing between phases, minimum conductor clearances to ground, maximum predicted electrical field strength(s) at 1 meter above ground, the predicted electrical field strength at the edge of the ROW in kilovolts per meter, and the design bases for these values.

Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(iii), if any in-scope transmission lines do not meet current NESC

clearance standards, the applicant should describe the mitigating alternatives available for reducing any adverse impacts. If applicable, the applicant should explain in detail the rationale for concluding that the standards are not appropriate to the situation (such as other governing standards) or the rationale for not making modifications to me et the standards.

Postulated Accidents

In the June 2013 Revisions to Environmental Review for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating License, Final Rule (78 FR 37282) (Ref. 60), the Commission reaffirmed that a plant-specific consideration of severe accident mitigation alternatives (SAMAs) will be required at the time of license renewal unless the applicant has previously performed a SAMA analysis for a given nuclear plant. If an applicant has not previously performed a SAMA analysis for their plant, then refer to RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Revision 1 (Ref. 61). In the revised LR GEIS (NUREG-1437, Revision 2), the NRC

reviewed postulated accidents including severe accidents and determined they are Category 1. Further information regarding postulated accidents is provided in Chapter 5 of this RG.

4.10 Environmental Justice

The following Category 2 issue requires a plant-specific assessment.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 64 Impacts on Minority Populations, Low-Income Populations, and Indian Tribes

Table B-1 states the following:

Impacts on minority populations, low-income populations, Indian Tribes, and subsistence consumption resulting from continued operations and refurbishment associated with license renewal will be addressed in nuclear plant-specific reviews.

Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(N) requires the following:

Applicants shall provide information on the general demographic composition of minority and low-income populations and communities (by race and ethnicity) and Indian Tribes in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant that could be disproportionately affected by license renewal, including continued reactor operations and refurbishment activities.

Section 4.10 of the LR GEIS discusses environmental justice. Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions To Address Environ mental Justice in Minority Populations and Low -Income Populations, issued February 11, 1994 (Ref. 62), directs each Federal agency to make achieving environmental justice part of its mission by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects of its programs, policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income populations. Independent agencies, including the NRC, are not required to follow the terms of Executive Order 12898, but are requested to comply with the provisions of [the]

order. In a letter to the President, former NRC Chairman Ivan Selin pledged the NRC would endeavor to carry out the measures set forth in Executive Order 12898 as part of NRCs efforts to comply with NEPA (Ref. 63).

CEQ has oversight of the Federal governments compliance with Executive Order 12898 and NEPA. In consultation with EPA, the Environmental Justice Interagency Working Group, and other affected agencies, CEQ developed guidance to further assist Federal agencies with their NEPA

procedures so that environmental justice concerns are effectively identified and addressed. On December 10, 1997, CEQ issued Environmental Justice: Guidance under the National Environmental Policy Act (Ref. 64). CEQ developed this guidance to further assist Federal agencies with their National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures. As a matter of policy, the NRC considers CEQ

guidance on environmental justice in its NEPA review process.

CEQ provides the following information on disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects in its guidance:

Disproportionately High and Adverse Human Health Effects - Adverse health effects are measured in terms of the risks and rates of fatal or nonfatal exposure to an environmental hazard and are evaluated as to whether they are significant (as employed by NEPA), or above generally accepted norms. Adverse health effects may include bodily impairment, infirmity, illness, or death. Disproportionately high and adverse human health effects occur when the risk or rate of exposure to an environmental hazard by a minority population, low-income population, or Indian Tribe to an environmental hazard is significant (as employed by NEPA) and appreciably exceeds or is likely to appreciably exceed the risk or exposure rate for the general population or for another appropriate comparison group. The ER should also consider w hether health effects occur in a minority population, low-income population, or Indian Tribe affected by cumulative or multiple adverse exposures from environmental hazards.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 65 Disproportionately High and Adverse Environmental Effects - Disproportionately high and adverse environmental effects occur when an impact on the natural or physical environment significantly (as employed by NEPA) and adversely affects a minority population, low-income population, or Indian Tribe. Such effects may include ecological, cultural, human health, economic, or social impacts on minority communities, low-income communities, or Indian Tribes when those impacts are interrelated with impacts on the natural or physical environment; the environmental effects are significant (as employed by NEPA) and are or may be having an adverse impact on minority populations, low-income populations, or Indian Tribes that appreciably exceeds or is likely to appreciably exceed those on the general population or other appropriate comparison group; and the environmental effects occur or would occur in a minority population, low-income population, or Indian Tribe affected by cumulative or multiple adverse exposures from environmental hazards.

In 2004, the Commission issued its Policy Statement on the Treatment of Environmental Justice Matters in NRC Regulatory and Licensing Actions (69 FR 52040) (Ref. 65), which states, The Commission is committed to the general goals set forth in E.O. 12898, and strives to meet those goals as part of its NEPA review process. This policy statement further states that the NRCs goal is to identify and adequately weigh or mitigate effects on low-income and minority communities by assessing impacts peculiar to those communitiesEJ is a tool, within the normal NEPA context, to identify communities that might otherwise be overlooked and identify impacts due to their uniqueness as part of the NRCs NEPA review process. The following guidance is consistent with this policy statement.

The environmental justice review involves identifying minority and low -income populations and Indian Tribes in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant that may be affected by license renewal and any concerns and potential environmental and human health effects that may affect these populations. This includes identifying the geographic areas of comparison (e.g., the percentage of minority and low-income populations and Indian Tribes that geographically reside within affected census block(s) as compared to the average percentage of these populations within a 50-mile [80-kilometer] radius of the site), as well as the significance of any concerns and potential environmental and human health effects and whether these effects would be disproportionately high and adverse when compared to impacts on the general population. The appropriate unit of geographic analysis may be a political jurisdiction, county, region, or State or other similar unit that is chosen so as not to artificially dilute or inflate the affected minority population. If the effects would be disproportionately high and adverse, the review should consider possible mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate these effects. The NRC will perform the environmental justice review to determine whether there would be disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects on minori ty populations, low-income populations, and Indian Tribes for the plant-specific SEIS. The review will be based on information provided in the ER and scoping.

Information and Analysis Content

The applicant should include the following information in the ER to assist NRC staff in its environmental justice review:

  • Based on information about minority and low -income populations, Indian Tribes, and communities residing in the immediate vicinity of the nuclear power plant (as presented in Section 3.10 of this RG that addresses ER Section 3.10), identify any potential human health and environmental concerns these populations and communities may have about continued reactor operations. Also discuss the potential for disproportionately high and adverse human health and environmental effects on these populations and communities.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 66

  • To the extent that information is available, describe any observed subsistence consumption behavior patternsspecifically fish and wildlife consumptionby minority and low-income populations and Indian Tribes in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant (see Section 4-4 of Executive Order 12898). This subsistence consumption behavior could consist of hunting, fishing, and trapping of game animals and any other general food-gathering activities (e.g.,

collecting nuts and berries) conducted by minority and low-income populations and Indian Tribes in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant.

  • To the extent that information is available, provide any information about current or past wildlife sampling and testing for radioactivity in game animals such as deer, squirrel, turkey, pheasant, duck, and other game birds and animals that may have been conducted in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant.
  • If it is determined that reactor operations and other license renewal-related activities could affect minority and/or low-income populations and Indian Tribes, describe any mitigation measures that have been or could be implemented.

4.11 Waste Management

Impacts associated with waste management activities evaluated in the LR GEIS are generic (the same or similar at all plants) or Category 1. The applicant should discuss any new and significant information in the ER, if applicable; otherwise, waste management impacts do not need to be analyzed.

4.12 Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change

Impacts associated with GHG emissions are evaluated in the LR GEIS and are generic or Category 1. The applicant should discuss any new and significant information in the ER, if applicable;

otherwise, the impact on climate change from the plants GHG emissions does not need to be analyzed.

The following Category 2 issue requires a plant-specific assessment.

Climate Change Impacts on Environmental Resources

Table B-1 states the following:

Climate change can have additive effects on environmental resource conditions that may also be directly impacted by continued operations and refurbishment during the license renewal term. The effects of climate change can vary regionally and climate change information at the regional and local scale is necessary to assess trends and the impacts on the human environment for a specific location. The impact s of climate change on environmental resources during the license renewal term are location-specific and cannot be evaluated generically.

Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(Q) requires the following:

Applicants shall include an assessment of the effects of any observed and projected changes in climate on environmental resource areas that are affected by license renewal.

Section 4.12 of the LR GEIS discusses GHG emissions and climate change impacts.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 67 Information and Analysis Content

The climate change impact analysis should focus on the climate change impacts on those resource areas where there are incremental impacts from continued nuclear power plant operations and any refurbishment activities during the license renewal term. The applicant should include the following information in the ER:

  • Climate change projections: Future regional climate change projections for the 20-year license renewal term from climate change models, studies, and reports (e.g., U.S. Global Climate Change Research Program). The geographic scope considered for climate change projections should not be greater than the U.S. National Climate Assessment regions (Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, etc.), and when available, local scale projections should be used. Changes in climate parameters (e.g., climate change indicators) should be quantified, including changes in, but not limited to, ambient temperature, precipitation, surface water temperature and levels, length of growing season, and flooding, as appropriate. Climate change projections presented in the ER should specify which future GHG emission scenario(s) were considered.
  • Climate change impacts: The scope of the climate change impact analysis should focus on those resource areas that could be incrementally affected by the proposed action (license renewal),

including consideration of any observed and projected changes in climate on environmental resource areas. The reasonably foreseeable climate change impacts should be discussed in proportion to their significance. The analysis should discuss the impacts and implications from projected climate change parameters on the resource area baseline conditions that were discussed in Chapter 3 of the ER (e.g., elevated water intake temperatures can result in increases in cooling water withdrawals). This establishes the future environmental baseline.

  • Mitigation measures: Describe mitigation measures, including adaptation and climate change resilience measures, to avoid or minimize adverse climate change impacts on resource areas that are impacted by the proposed action.

4.13 Cumulative Effects

The following Category 2 issue requires a plant-specific assessment.

Cumulative Effects

Table B-1 states the following:

Cumulative effects or impacts of continued operations and refurbishment associated with license renewal must be considered on a plant-specific basis. The effects depend on regional resource characteristics, the incremental resource-specific effects of license renewal, and the cumulative significance of other factors affecting the environmental resource.

Specifically, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(ii)(O) requires the following:

Applicants shall provide information about other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions occurring in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant that may result in a cumulative effect.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 68 Section 4.13 of the LR GEIS discusses cumulative effects. CEQ defines cumulative effects in

40 CFR 1508.1(i)(3) as effects on the environment that result from the incremental effects of the action when added to the effects of other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions regardless of what agency (Federal or non-Federal) or person undertakes such other actions . Cumulative effects can result from actions with individually minor but collectively significant effects taking place over a period of time. Cumulative effect analyses should consider new and ongoing activities, such as license renewal that are conducted, regulated, or approved by a Federal agency. The goal of the analysis is to introduce environmental considerations into the planning process as early as needed to improve decisionmaking.

The analysis should focus on environmental resources that could be affected by the proposed license renewal action, including continued reactor operations and refurbishment activities. CEQ discusses the assessment of cumulative effects in its 1997 publication Considering Cumulative Effects Under the National Environmental Policy Act (Ref. 66). EPA presents useful perspectives on assessing cumulative impacts in EPA 315-R-99-002, Consideration of Cumulative Impacts in EPA Review of NEPA

Documents, issued May 1999 (Ref. 67).

The cumulative effects analysis in the ER should include the following considerations:

  • The geographic region of influence that encompasses the areas of potential environmental effects and the distance at which the environmental effects of the proposed action and past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions may be experienced. Geographic regions of influence vary by affected resource.
  • The timeframe for the cumulate effects analysis incorporates the incremental effects of the proposed action (initial LR or SLR) with past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions because these combined effects may accumulate or develop over time . Past and present actions include all actions up to and including the date of the license renewal request. The timeframe for the consideration of reasonably foreseeable actions is the 20-year license renewal (initial LR or SLR)

term. Reasonably foreseeable actions include current and ongoing planned activities, approved and funded for implementati on, or generally have a high probability of being implemented.

  • The environmental effects from past and present actions are accounted for in baseline assessments presented in affected environment discussions in Chapter 3 of the ER. Chapter 4 of the ER accounts for the incremental effects or impacts of license renewal.
  • The incremental effects of the proposed action (license renewal) when added to the effects from past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions result in the overall cumulative effect. A

qualitative cumulative effects analysis is conducted in instances where the incremental effects of the proposed action (license renewal) and past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions are uncertain or not well known.

  • For some resource areas (e.g., water and aquatic resources), the incremental contributions of ongoing actions within a region are regulated and monitored through a permitting process (e.g.,

NPDES) under State or Federal authority. In these cases, it may be assumed that cumulative effects are managed as long as these actions (e.g., facility operations) are in compliance with their respective permits.

If, however, the cumulative effects analysis indicates that moderate to large impacts would occur because of license renewal, the ER should identify mitigation measures to reduce and/or avoid any adverse effects. Recent license renewal reviews have found cumulative effects to be small for most environmental resources near a nuclear power plant, with some exceptions.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 69

4.14 Impacts Common to All Alternatives

4.14.1 Uranium Fuel Cycle

Impacts associated with the uranium fuel cycle evaluated in the LR GEIS are generic (the same or similar at all plants) or Category 1. The applicant should discuss any new and significant information in the ER, if applicable; otherwise, uranium fuel cycle impacts do not need to be analyzed.

Transportation is a Category 1 issue, and impacts are small as long as nuclear fuel is not enriched beyond 5-percent uranium-235 and the average level of burnup for the peak rod does not exceed

62,000 megawatt-days per metric ton of uranium (MWd/MTU). Applicants that use or plan to seek approval for use of nuclear fuel enriched beyond 5-percent uranium-235 or operate at an average burnup for the peak rod beyond 62,000 MWd/MTU should request early guidance from NRC staff on how to address this issue in the ER.

4.14.2 Termination of Nuclear Power Plant Operations and Decommissioning

Impacts associated with the termination of plant operations and decommissioning are generic (the same or similar at all plants) or Category 1. The applicant should discuss any new and significant information in the ER, if applicable; otherwise, termination of reactor operations and decommissioning impacts do not need to be analyzed.

Chapter 5 Assessment of New and Significant Information

Section C.1 of this RG discusses the regulatory requirement to report new and significant information. While new and significant information can be identified from site visits, environmental audits, and public comments on the draft SEIS, it is also critical for the applicant to identify new and significant information prior to the beginning of the initial LR or SLR environmental review. For each Category 1 issue, the applicant must determine whether any new and significant information exists that would provide a seriously different picture of the environmental consequences of the proposed (license renewal) action than previously considered in the LR GEIS, such as an environmental impact finding different from that codified in Table B-1 (see Section C.1 of this RG for a definition of new and significant information) and if so, describe those differences and assess any relevant plant-specific environmental impacts. Applicants should also describe the methods used to identify potential new and significant information. Chapter 5 of the ER should summarize the following information:

  • Describe the process for gathering and reviewing new and significant information for the ER.

Explain how the process resulted in the identification of any new and significant information for Category 1 issues and any other issues. The explanation should address (1) the process used to identify new information and (2) the process for determining the significance of any new information. The process for identifying new information could include the review of environmental monitoring reports, scientific literature, interviews with environmental and operations staff, discussions with licensees and other peer groups and industry organizations, consultations with experts knowledgeable about the local environment, and consultations with other Federal, State, and local agencies, environmental justice communities, and Indian Tribes, as well as natural resource, permitting, and land use planning agencies. If there is no new and significant information, the applicant should state this determination in the ER.

  • Describe any environmental impacts associated with the new and significant information.
  • Describe any mitigation measures considered, and implemented, for any adverse impact.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 70

The applicant need not include a detailed description about the discovery of any new and significant information, but such information should be referenced in the ER and made available for review by NRC staff.

If a SAMA review has previously been completed, an applicant must provide an assessment of new and significant information with respect to a prior SAMA analysis. If the probability-weighted consequences of a severe accident have gone down since the applicants SAMA review (no adverse impact), it is unlikely that any cost beneficial SAMAs would be found. One acceptable method is provided in NEI 17-04, Revision 1, Model SLR New and Significant Assessment Approach for SAMA,

dated August 2019 (Ref. 68). NEI 17-04, Revision 1 is endorsed in this RG for plant-specific environmental reviews.

Chapter 6 Summary of License Renewal Impacts and Mitigating Actions

6.1 License Renewal Impacts

In the ER, the applicant should present a table summarizing the environmental impacts of continued plant operations during the license renewal term (initial LR or SLR). The table should be organized by environmental resource areas in the order of the environmental issues listed in Table B-1 in Appendix B to Subpart A of 10 CFR Part 51.

6.2 Mitigation

The ER should also summarize in tabular form any mitigation measures considered for implementation.

6.3 Unavoidable Adverse Impacts

The ER should summarize any adverse environmental effects which cannot be avoided should the proposal be implemented, as required by 10 CFR 51.45(b)(2). Chapters 4 and 5 of the ER should identify unavoidable adverse effects, providing a level of detail commensurate with the significance of the effects.

6.4 Irreversible or Irretrievable Resource Commitments

The ER should summarize any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources which would be involved in the proposed action should it be implemented, as required by 10 CFR 51.45(b)(5).

Irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources include energy, materials, and resources committed and consumed in conjunction with continued nuclear power plant operations and any license renewal-related refurbishment activities and additional waste materials generated. The applicant should briefly describe the magnitude and significance of the resource commitments in the ER. Discussions should be proportionate to the significance of the resource commitments.

6.5 Short-Term Use Versus Long-Term Productivity of the Environment

The ER should summarize the relationship b etween local short-term uses of mans environment and the maintenance and enhancement of long -term productivity, as required by 10 CFR 51.45(b)(4).

For operational impacts, short-term indicates the operating life of the nuclear power plant (including any extension of reactor operations through license renewal), and long-term indicates the period after reactor operations end, continuing as long as the nuclear power plant could have a discernible environmental effect. The term productivity should be interpreted broadly to include

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 71 both the productivity of resources useful for human activity and the productivity and stability of ecological systems, even those that are not used directly by humans.

Chapter 7 Alternatives to the Proposed Action Regarding alternatives, 10 CFR 51.45(b)(3) states, in part, the following:

The discussion of alternatives shall be sufficiently complete to aid the Commission in developing and exploring, pursuant to section 102(2)(E)13 of NEPA, appropriate alternatives to recommended courses of action in any proposal which involves unresolved conflicts concerning alternative uses of available resources. To the extent practicable, the environmental impacts of the proposal and the alternatives should be presented in comparative form.

In addition, 10 CFR 51.53(c)(2) states, in part, the following:

[T]he applicant shall discuss in this report the environmental impacts of alternatives and any other matters described in § 51.45. The report is not required to include discussion of need for power or economic costs and economic benefits of the proposed action or of alternatives to the proposed action except insofar as such costs and benefits are either essential for a determination regarding the inclusion of an alternative in the range of alternatives considered or relevant to mitigation. The environmental report need not discuss other issues not related to the environmental effects of the proposed action and the alternatives.

The regulation at 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(iii) states the following:

The report must contain a consideration of alternatives for reducing adverse impacts, as required by § 51.45(c), for all Category 2 license renewal issues in Appendix B to subpart A of this part. No such consideration is required for Category 1 issues in Appendix B to subpart A of this part.

Section 5, Alternatives including the Proposed Action, of Appendix A to Subpart A of 10 CFR Part 51 presents requirements for the treatment of alternatives in an EIS. These requirements are consistent with the CEQ regulations implementing NEPA (40 CFR 1502.14), which require that an EIS:

  • Rigorously explore and objectively evaluate reasonable alternatives to the proposed action, and, for alternatives that the agency eliminated from detailed study, briefly discuss the reasons for their elimination. The agency need not consider every conceivable alternative to a proposed action; rather, it shall consider a reasonable range of alternatives that will foster informed decisionmaking. Agencies also may include reasonable alternatives not within the jurisdiction of the lead agency.
  • Discuss each alternative considered in detail, including the proposed action, so that reviewers may evaluate their comparative merits.
  • Include the no action alternative.

13 Changes to the NEPA statute (42 U.S.C. § 4321 et seq.) from the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (Public Law No. 118-5,

137 Stat. 10) included adding a new Section 102(2)(F) directing agencies to study, develop, and describe technically and economically feasible alternatives (Ref. 69).

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 72

  • Identify the agencys preferred alternative or alternatives, if one or more exists, in the draft statement and identify such alternative in the final statement unless another law prohibits the expression of such a preference.
  • Include appropriate mitigation measures not already included in the proposed action or alternatives.
  • Identify the environmentally preferable alternative or alternatives amongst the alternatives considered in the environmental impact statement.

Alternatives to the proposed action include the use of other energy sources potentially capable of meeting the purpose and need of the proposed action (initial LR or SLR). A reasonable replacement energy alternative must be commercially viable on a utility scale and operational before the expiration of the reactors operating license or expected to become commercially viable on a utility scale and operational before the expiration of the reactors operating license. Reasonable alternatives should also include mitigation measures that would reduce or avoid adverse effects . In deciding whether to renew the operating license, the NRC will consider the environmental impacts of alternatives as well as those of the proposed action. The NRC considers environmental effects of license renewal according to 10 CFR 51.103(a)(5), which states the following:

In making a final decision on a license renewal action pursuant to Part 54 of this chapter, the Commission shall determine whether or not the adverse environmental impacts of license renewal are so great that preserving the option of license renewal for energy planning decisionmakers would be unreasonable.

7.1 Alternative Energy Sources

Alternatives Considered

The purpose and need for the proposed action, as stated in Chapter 1 of the LR GEIS and in Chapter 1 of this RG, is to provide an option that allows for baseload power generation capability beyond the term of the current nuclear power plant operating license to meet future system generating needs.

Such needs may be determined by other energy-planning decisionmakers.

In addition to considering the environmental effects, or impacts, of the proposed action (license renewal), the NRC must also consider the environmental effects of alternatives to replace or offset the generating capacity of the nuclear power plant. Alternatives that meet the purpose and need include

(1)replacing existing nuclear generating capacity using other energy sources (i.e., constructing and operating new fossil fuel, nuclear, and renewable energy power plants), and (2) offsetting existing nuclear generation capacity using conservation and energy efficiency (demand-side management), delayed retirement, or purchased power. These alternatives must also be commercially viable on a utility scale and operational before the expiration of the reactors operating license or expected to become commercially viable on a utility scale and operational before the expiration of the reactors operating license.

In the ER, the applicant should describe the process used to identify reasonable replacement energy alternatives (see also Section 2.6 of this RG). The applicant should describe each of the replacement energy alternatives selected for detailed analysis. In addition, the applicant should explain why certain alternatives were eliminated from detailed study. The applicant should also indicate which alternatives have been considered by State, utility, or other Federal authorities (e.g., public service commissions; environmental, natural resource, or energy agencies; or other interest groups vested with energy-planning authority, depending on existing energy regulatory structures) and how

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 73 these considerations relate to the applicants selection. This discussion should include State regulations that promote, enhance, prohibit, or challenge alternatives.

Environmental Impacts of Alternative Energy Sources

The ER should describe the environmental impacts of the replacement energy alternatives selected for detailed study in sufficient detail and in similar format to the proposed action so NRC staff can compare the effects of the replacement power alternatives with the effects of continued plant operations. The analyses should address construction and operations impacts (as appropriate) affecting land use and visual resources, air quality and noise, geology and soils, water resources (surface water and groundwater), ecological resources, historic and cultural resources, socioeconomics, human health, environmental justice, and waste management and pollution prevention . The analysis should consider direct and indirect effects and identify unavoidable adverse impacts, irreversible and irretrievable resource commitments, and tradeoffs between short -term use and the long-term productivity of the environment. Each alternative should be analyzed on a site -specific basis. Applicants should consider analyzing the impacts of a replacement energy alternative at either the existing power plant site, at other existing plant or brownfield sites, or on a State- or region-specific basis, depending on the applicants service area (when applicable) or the power market into which the applicant sells electricity. The applicant should analyze each impact in proportion to its significance. Appendix D of the LR GEIS

includes the results of an analysis of the generic environmental impacts of several electricity generating technologies. The applicant may use these results to the extent that they are applicable and brought up to date. Any findings on impact levels for alternatives included in the LR GEIS are intended to illustrate likely impacts and must be revisited on a site- and plant-specific basis in the ER.

7.2 Alternatives for Reducing Adverse Impacts

Alternatives Considered

As noted in 10 CFR 51.53(c)(3)(iii), The report must contain a consideration of alternatives for reducing adverse impacts, as required by § 51.45(c), for all Category 2 license renewal issues in Appendix B to subpart A of this part. Applicants should describe in the ER the process they used to identify and select alternatives for reducing adverse impacts (see also Section 2.6 of this RG). Applicants should describe all the alternatives considered and indicate which alternatives they evaluated in detail.

Typical alternatives considered include closed-cycle cooling or intake modification options for nuclear power plants that currently use once-through cooling.

Environmental Impacts of Alternatives for Reducing Adverse Impacts

The ER should describe the impacts of alternatives for reducing adverse effects in sufficient detail and in similar format to the proposed action so that NRC staff can compare the effe cts. The analyses should address construction and operations impacts (as appropriate) affecting land use and visual resources, air quality and noise, geology and soils, water resources (surface water and groundwater),

ecological resources, historic and cultural resources, socioeconomics, human health, environmental justice, and waste management and pollution prevention. The analysis should consider direct and indirect effects and identify unavoidable adverse impacts, irreversible and irretrievable resource commitments, and tradeoffs between short-term use and the long-term productivity of the environment. Alternatives should be analyzed on a site-specific basis and in proportion to their significance.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 74

7.3 No-Action Alternative

The ER must include an analysis of the no-action alternative. For license renewal (initial LR or SLR), the no-action alternative is a scenario in which the NRC does not renew the applicants operating license, and the nuclear power plant continues to operate until the expiration of the current license. The applicant/licensee could also decide to terminate reactor operations and begin decommissioning activities prior to license expiration. Decommissioning is not a consequence of the no -action alternative, however, because it could occur at any point in time, at license expiration, or whenever the applicant/licensee decides that the nuclear power plant is no longer economically viable and terminates reactor operations.

The impacts of the no -action alternative are the impacts from terminating reactor operations and preparing the nuclear power plant for decommissioning. The analysis should consider direct and indirect effects. The level of detail should be commensurate with the significance of the environmental impacts.

The applicant may also summarize and incorporate by reference information from the LR GEIS to the extent practicable.

Further, the no-action alternative does not meet the purpose and need for the proposed action as stated in Section 1.3 of the LR GEIS (i.e., to provide an option that allows for baseload power generation capability beyond the term of the current nuclear power plant operating license to meet future system generating needs) . Because energy needs may be determined by State, utility, and, where authorized, Federal (other than NRC) decisionmakers, it may require the applicant, power plant owners, State regulators, and/or system operators to take action to replace or compensate for lost power generation. The no-action alternative should consider the impacts of these actions, and the applicant may incorporate by reference the impacts from analyses developed for the replacement energy alternatives discussed in Section 7.1.

Chapter 8 Comparison of the Environmental Impact of License Renewal with the Alternatives

The ER should compare the environmental impacts of license renewal, reasonable energy replacement alternatives, and the no-action alternative to assist the NRC in determining whether or not the adverse environmental impacts of license renewal are so great that preserving the option of license renewal for energy -planning decisionmakers wou ld be unreasonable (see 10 CFR 51.95(c)(4)). The applicant may present this comparison in any format, such as Tables 2.4 -1 through 2.4-5 in the LR GEIS.

The comparison discussion should emphasize the more significant environmental impacts.

Chapter 9 Status of Compliance

Pursuant to 10 CFR 51.45(d), an applicant must , in part, discuss in the ER the status of compliance with applicable environmental quality standards and requirements:

The environmental report shall list all Federal permits, licenses, approvals and other entitlements which must be obtained in connection with the proposed action and shall describe the status of compliance with these requirements . The environmental report shall also include a discussion of the status of compliance with applicable environmental quality standards and requirements including, but not limited to, applicable zoning and land -use regulations, and thermal and other water pollution limitations or requirements which have been imposed by Federal, State, regional, and local agencies having responsibility for environmental protection.

Appendix F of the LR GEIS presents a brief discussion of Federal and State laws, regulations, executive orders, and other requirements that may apply to, or be triggered by, the renewal and continued

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 75 reactor operation at NRC-licensed nuclear power plants. These include Federal and State laws, regulations, and other requirements designed to protect the environment, including land and water use, air quality, aquatic resources, terrestrial resources, radiological impacts, solid waste, chemical impacts, and socioeconomic conditions.

Applicable Federal and State laws and regulations include the following:

  • laws and regulations that could require the NRC or the applicant to undergo a new authorization or consultation process with Federal or State agencies outside the NRC; and
  • laws and executive orders that could require the NRC, or laws that could require the applicant, to renew authorizations currently granted or hold additional consultations with Federal or State agencies outside the NRC.

Appendix F of the LR GEIS is provided as a basic overview to assist the applicant in identifying environmental and natural resources laws that may apply to, or be triggered by, the license renewal process. The descriptions of each of the laws, regulations, executive orders, and other directives are general in nature and are not intended to provide a comprehensive analysis or explanation of any of the items listed. Appendix F is not intended as a complete and final list, and the applicant is reminded that a variety of additional Federal, State, local, and regional requirements may apply to a license renewal application for a specific nuclear power plant site.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 76

D. IMPLEMENTATION

The methods described in this RG will be used in reviewing applications for renewal of nuclear power plant operating licenses (initial LR or SLR), which include information under 10 CFR 51.45,

51.51, 51.52, and 51.53, with respect to compliance with applicable regulations governing the environmental review of operating nuclear power plants, unless the applicant proposes an acceptable alternative method for complying with those regulations. Backfitting, issue finality, and forward-fitting considerations do not apply to the NRCs use of this RG to support these NRC reviews.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 77 E. REFERENCES14

1. U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Requirements for Renewal of Operating Licenses for Nuclear Power Plants, Part 54, Title 10, Energy.15

2. CFR, Environmental Protection Regulations for Domestic Licensing and Related Regulatory Functions, Part 51, Title 10, Energy.

3. National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, 42 United States Code (U.S.C.)

4321 et seq.16

4. Executive Order 11514, Protection and Enhancement of Environmental Qual ity. Federal Register, 35 FR 4247, March 5, 1970, Office of the President, Washington, DC.

5. Executive Order 11991, Environmental Impact Statements, Federal Register, 42 FR 26967, May 25, 1977, Office of the President, Washington, DC.

6. CFR, Chapter V - Council on Environmental Quality - Parts 1500 Through 1508, Parts

1500-1508, Title 40, Protection of Environment.

7. Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2133 et seq.

8. Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 5841 et seq.

9. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), NUREG-1437, Revision 2, Final Report, Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, Washington, DC.

(ADAMS Accession No. ML24087A133).

10. NRC, NUREG-1555, Supplement 1, Revision 2, Final Report, Standard Review Plans for Environmental Reviews for Nuclear Power Plants, Supplement 1: Operating License Renewal Washington, DC. (ML23201A227).

11. NRC, Environmental Review for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses. Federal Register, Vol. 61, No. 109, June 5, 1996, pp. 28467-28497.

12. NRC, Environmental Review for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses; Final Rule. Federal Register, 61 FR 66537. December 18, 1996, Washington, DC.

14 Publicly available NRC published documents are available electronically through the NRC Library on the NRCs public website at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/ and through the NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS ) at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. For problems with ADAMS, contac t the Public Document Room sta ff a t 301-415-4737 or (800 ) 397-4209, o r email pdr.resource@nrc.gov. The NRC Public Document Room (P DR), where you may also examine and orde r copies of publicly available documen ts, is open by appointment. To make an appointment to visit the P DR, please send an email to pdr.resource@nrc.gov o r call

1-800-397-4209 or 301-415-4737, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. eastern time (ET), Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

15 The Code of Federal Regulations may be obtained electronically from the U.S. Government Printing Office at:

https://www.ecfr.gov/.

16 The United States Code (U.S.C.) can be obtained electronically from the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the House of Representatives at https://uscode.house.gov.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 78

13. NRC, Changes to Requirements for Environmental Review for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses; Final Rule. Federal Register, 64 FR 48496. September 3, 1999, Washington, DC.

14. NRC, Revisions to Environmental Review for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses. Federal Register, 78 FR 37282. June 20, 2013, Washington, DC.

15. NRC, Regulatory Guide (RG) 4.2, Revision 3, Preparation of Environmental Reports for Nuclear Power Stations, Washington, DC. (ML18071A400).

16. CFR, Licenses, Certifications, and Approvals for Nuclear Power Plants, Part 52, Title 10,

Energy.

17. Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994, 25 U.S.C. 479a et seq.

18. CFR, Agency Rules of Practice and Procedure, Part 2, Title 10, Energy.

19. NRC, Nuclear Regulatory Commission International Policy Statement . Federal Register, 79 FR

39415. July 10, 2014, Washington, DC.

20. NRC, Management Directive (MD) 6.6, Regulatory Guides, Washington, DC .

21. NRC, NUREG-0750, Volume 74, Book 1, Nuclear Regulatory Commission Issuances: Opinion and Decisions of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission with Selected Orders, Washington, DC.

(ML14028A554).

22. Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.

23. Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

24. National Marine Sanctuaries Act, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.

25. National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, 54 U.S.C. 300101 et seq.

26. CFR, Identification of historic properties, Part 800, Title 36, Parks, Forests, and Public Property.

27. Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 82 et seq.

28. Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics Consortium (MRLC), 2019, National Land Cover Dat abase Class Legend and Description, https://www.mrlc.gov/data/legends/national-land-cover-database- class-legend-and-description.

29. Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 145 6 et seq.

30. CFR, National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards, Part 50, Title 40,

Protection of Environment.

31. Clean Air Act of 1970, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.

32. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Revisions to the General Conformity Regulations.

Federal Register, 75 FR 17254. April 5, 2010, Washington, DC.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 79

33. United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Web Soil Survey, https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/soils/survey/.

34. Farmland Protection Policy Act, as amended, 7 U.S.C. 4201 et seq.

35. Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly referred to as the Clean Water Act), as amended,

33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.

36. CFR, State Certification of Activities Requiring a Federal License or Permit, Part 121, Title 40,

Protection of Environment.

37. EPA, Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification Improvement Rule. Federal Register, 88 FR 66558. September 27, 2023, Washington, DC.

38. Migratory Bird Treaty Act, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.

39. Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.

40. CFR, Interagency CooperationEndangered Species Act of 1973, As Amended, Part 402, Title 50, Wildlife and Fisheries.

41. United States Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, IPaC: Information for Planning and Consultation, https://ipac.ecosphere.fws.gov/.

42. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service,

2020, Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Mapper, https://www.habitat.noaa.gov/apps/efhmapper/.

43. NOAA, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Maps, https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/about/maps.html.

44. CFR, National Register of Historic Places, Part 60, Title 36, Parks, Forests, and Public Property.

45. CFR, Procedures for State, Tribal, and Local Government Historic Preservation Programs, Part 61, Title 36, Parks, Forests, and Public Property.

46. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Standards Association (IEEE SA). National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), Piscataway, NJ.17

47. Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI). 2019. Industry Groundwater Protection Initiative - Final Guidance Document, Rev. 1, NEI 07-07, Revision 1, Washington, DC (ML19142A071).18

48. CFR, Standards for Protection Against Radiation, Part 20, Title 10, Energy.

17 Copies of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) documents may be purchased from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Service Center, 445 Hoes Lane, PO Box 1331, Piscataway, NJ 08855 or through the IEEEs public website at https://www.ieee.org/publications_standards/index.html.

18 Publications from the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) are available at their website: http://www.nei.org/ or by contacting the headquarters at Nuclea r Energy Institute, 1776 I Stree t NW, Washington, DC 20006-3708, Phone: 202-739-800, Fax:

202-785-4019.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 80

49. CFR, Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities, Part 50, Title 10, Energy.

50. Daily, G.C., S. Alexander, P.R. Ehrlich, J. Lubchenco, P.A. Matson, H.A. Mooney, S. Postel, S.H. Schneider, D. Tilman, and G.M. Woodwell, Ecosystem Services: Benefits Supplied to Human Societies by Natural Ecosystems, Issues in Ecology, 2:1-16, 1997. Available at http://www.esa.org/science_resources/issues/FileEnglish/issue2.pdf.

51. EPA, Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment. Federal Register, 63 FR 26846. May 14, 1998, Washington, DC.

52. Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), 1993, Incorporating Biodiversity Considerations Into Environmental Impact Analysis Under the National Environmental Policy Act, Washington, DC.

Available at https://ceq.doe.gov/docs/ceq-publications/Incorporating_Biodiversity_1993.pdf.

53. Menzie, C., M.H. Henning, J. Cura, K. Finkelstein, J. Gentile, J. Maughan, D. Mitchell, S. Petron, B. Potocki, S. Svirsky, and P. Tyler, Special Report of the Massachusetts Weight-of-Evidence Workgroup: A Weight-Of-Evidence Approach for Evaluating Ecological Risks, Human and Ecological Risk Assessment, 2:277-304, 1996. Available at https://doi.org/10.1080/10807039609383609.

54. NRC, NUREG-1437, Supplement 10, Second Renewal, Generic Environmental Impact State ment of License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, Regarding Subsequent License Renewal for Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3, Final Report, Washington, DC (ML20023A937).

55. CFR, EPA Administered Permit Programs: The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Part 122, Title 40, Protection of Environment.

56. CFR, Criteria and Standards for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Part 125, Title 40, Protection of Environment.

57. EPA, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination SystemFinal Regulations To Establish Requirements for Cooling Water Intake Structures at Existing Facilities and Amend Requirements at Phase I Facilities. Federal Register, 79 FR 48300. August 15, 2014, Washington, DC.

58. CFR, Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions, Part 600, Title 50, Wildlife and Fisheries.

59. NOAA, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, 2009, Overview of Conducting Consultation Pursuant to Section 304(d) of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 1434(d)), Silver Spring, MD. Available at https://nmssanctuaries.blob.core.windows.net/sanctuaries- prod/media/archive/management/pdfs/304d.pdf .

60. NRC, Revision to Environmental Review for Renewal of Nuclear Power Plant Operating Licenses. Federal Register, 78 FR 37282. June 20, 2013, Washington, DC.

61. NRC, Regulatory Guide (RG) 4.2, Supplement 1, Revision 1, Preparation of Environmental Reports for Nuclear Power Stations, Washington, DC. (ML13067A354) .

62. Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions To Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations. Federal Register, 59 FR 7629, February 11, 1994, Office of the President, Washington, DC.

Rev. 2 of RG 4.2, Supplement 1, Page 81

63. NRC, Letter from NRC Chairman Ivan Selin to the President, dated March 31, 1994.

(ML033210526).

64. CEQ, 1997, Environmental Justice: Guidance under the National Environmental Policy Act, Washington, DC. Available at https://ceq.doe.gov/docs/ceq-regulations-and- guidance/regs/ej/justice.pdf.

65. NRC, Policy Statement on the Treatment of Environmental Justice Matters in NRC Regulatory and Licensing Actions. Federal Register, 69 FR 52040. August 24, 2004, Washington, DC.

66. CEQ, 1997, Considering Cumulative Effects Under the National Environmental Policy Act.

(ML12243A349).

67. EPA, 315-R-99-002, 1999, Consideration of Cumulative Impacts in EPA Review of NEPA

Documents. Available at https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2014-

08/documents/cumulative.pdf.

68. NEI. 2019. Model SLR New and Significant Assessment Approach for SAMA, NEI 17-04, Revision 1, Washington, DC (ML19318D216).

69. Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. Public Law No. 118-5, 137 Stat. 10.

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