Generic Environmental Impact Statement for Licensing of New Nuclear Reactors

Administrative practice and procedure, Environmental impact statements, Hazardous waste, Nuclear energy, Nuclear materials, Nuclear power plants and reactors, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

For the reasons set out in the preamble and under the authority of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended; the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, as amended; and 5 U.S.C. 552 and 553, the NRC amends 10 CFR part 51 as follows:

PART 51--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION REGULATIONS FOR DOMESTIC LICENSING AND RELATED REGULATORY FUNCTIONS

0 1. The authority citation for part 51 continues to read as follows:

Authority: Atomic Energy Act of 1954, secs. 161, 193 (42 U.S.C. 2201, 2243); Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, secs. 201, 202 (42 U.S.C. 5841, 5842); National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332, 4334, 4335); Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, secs. 144(f), 121, 135, 141, 148 (42 U.S.C. 10134(f), 10141, 10155, 10161, 10168); 44 U.S.C. 3504 note. Sections 51.20, 51.30, 51.60, 51.80. and 51.97 also issued under Nuclear Waste Policy Act secs. 135, 141, 148 (42 U.S.C. 10155, 10161, 10168). Section 51.22 also issued under Atomic Energy Act sec. 274 (42 U.S.C. 2021) and under Nuclear Waste Policy Act sec. 121 (42 U.S.C. 10141). Sections 51.43, 51.67, and 51.109 also issued under Nuclear Waste Policy Act sec. 114(f) (42 U.S.C. 10134(f)).

0 2. Amend Sec. 51.49 by: 0 a. Adding paragraph (a)(4). 0 b. Revising paragraph (b). 0 c. Adding paragraphs (c)(4), (d)(6), and (e)(3).

The additions and revisions read as follows:

Sec. 51.49 Environmental report--limited work authorization.

(a) * * *

(4) If the application for the construction permit or combined license will rely on any of the findings in appendix C to subpart A of this part in its environmental report, then the environmental report for the limited work authorization may implement the process in Sec. 51.50(d) to determine whether it can rely on any of the findings in appendix C to subpart A of this part.

(b) Phased application for limited work authorization and construction permit or combined license. If the construction permit or combined license application is filed in accordance with Sec. 2.101(a)(9) of this chapter, then the environmental report for part one of the application may be limited to a discussion of the activities proposed to be conducted under the limited work authorization. If the scope of the environmental report for part one is so limited, then:

(1) Part two of the application must include the information required by Sec. 51.50, as applicable; and

(2) If part two of the application will rely on any of the findings in appendix C to subpart A of this part in its environmental report, then the environmental report for part one may implement the process in Sec. 51.50(d) to determine whether it can rely on any of the findings in appendix C to subpart A of this part.

(c) * * *

(4) If the application for the early site permit will rely on any of the findings in appendix C to subpart A of this part in its environmental report, then the environmental report for the limited work authorization may implement the process in Sec. 51.50(d) to determine whether it can rely on any of the findings in appendix C to subpart A of this part.

(d) * * *

(6) If the environmental impact statement for the early site permit relied on any of the findings in appendix C to subpart A of this part in its environmental report, then the environmental report for the limited work authorization may implement the process in Sec. 51.50(d) to determine whether it can rely on any of the findings in appendix C to subpart A of this part for issues that were not resolved in the environmental impact statement for the early site permit.

(e) * * *

(3) If the environmental impact statement for the construction permit relied on any of the findings in appendix C to subpart A of this part in its environmental report, then the environmental report for the limited work authorization may implement the process in Sec. 51.50(d) to determine whether it can rely on any of the findings in appendix C to subpart A of this part. * * * * *

0 3. In Sec. 51.50, amend paragraph (a) by adding a new second sentence, and adding paragraph (d) to read as follows:

Sec. 51.50 Environmental report--construction permit, early site permit, or combined license stage.

(a) * * * For non-light-water reactors as defined in Sec. 50.2 of this chapter, the environmental report shall contain the basis for evaluating the contribution of the environmental effects of fuel cycle activities for the nuclear reactor. * * * * * * * *

(d) Application for a construction permit, early site permit, or combined license for a nuclear reactor. If an application is for a construction permit, an early site permit, or a combined license that does not reference an early site permit for a nuclear reactor, as defined in Sec. 50.2 of this chapter, and further, if the applicant chooses to rely upon the findings of one or more of the issues identified as Category 1 issues in appendix C to subpart A of this part, then, in addition to the information and analyses required in paragraph (a), (b), or (c) of this section, as appropriate, the applicant's environmental report will be subject to the following conditions and considerations:

(1) The environmental report must contain information to demonstrate that the values and assumptions in appendix C to subpart A of this part are met, and no new and significant information is identified in accordance with paragraph (d)(5) of this section, for each Category 1 issue for which the applicant relies on the finding for that issue.

(2) The environmental report is not required to contain analyses of the environmental impacts of any issue identified as a Category 1 issue in appendix C to subpart A of this part, provided that the environmental report contains the information specified in paragraph (d)(1) of this section.

(3) The environmental report must contain analyses of the environmental impacts of the proposed action, including the construction, operation, and decommissioning of the proposed nuclear reactor, for:

(i) Any Category 1 issue for which the values and assumptions are not met or for which new and significant information is identified in accordance with paragraph (d)(5) of this section; and

(ii) Each issue identified as a Category 2 issue in appendix C to subpart A of this part.

(4) The environmental report must contain a consideration of alternatives for reducing adverse environmental impacts, as required by Sec. 51.45(c), for all issues identified as Category 1 issues in appendix C to subpart A of this part for which the environmental report does not contain the information specified in paragraph (d)(1) of this section, and for

all issues identified as Category 2 issues in appendix C to subpart A of this part. No such consideration is required for Category 1 issues in appendix C to subpart A of this part that meet the applicable values and assumptions as specified in paragraph (d)(1) of this section.

(5) The environmental report must contain any new and significant information of which the applicant is aware regarding the environmental impacts for all issues identified as Category 1 issues in appendix C to subpart A of this part for which the applicant relies on the findings for those issues.

(6) The environmental report must contain a description of the process used to identify new and significant information regarding the issues identified as Category 1 issues in appendix C to subpart A of this part for which the applicant relies on the findings for those issues.

Sec. 51.53 [Amended]

0 4. In Sec. 51.53, amend paragraph (d) by removing the reference “Sec. 50.82 or Sec. 53.1080 of this chapter” and adding in its place the references “Sec. 50.82, Sec. 52.110, or Sec. 53.1080 of this chapter”.

0 5. In Sec. 51.75, add paragraph (d) to read as follows:

Sec. 51.75 Draft environmental impact statement--construction permit, early site permit, or combined license.

* * * * *

(d) Construction permit, early site permit, or combined license for a nuclear reactor. If a draft environmental impact statement is being prepared in accordance with paragraph (a), (b), or (c) of this section, and if applicant's environmental report relied upon the findings of one or more of the issues identified as Category 1 issues in appendix C to subpart A of this part, the draft environmental impact statement must be prepared as a supplement to NUREG-2249, “Generic Environmental Impact Statement for Licensing of New Nuclear Reactors.” In addition, the NRC staff will conduct scoping in accordance with Sec. 51.26(a) and (b). The draft supplemental environmental impact statement will incorporate the conclusions in NUREG-2249 for issues identified as Category 1 for which the applicant has demonstrated that the applicable values and assumptions have been met and for which neither the applicant nor the NRC identified any new and significant information. The draft supplemental environmental impact statement must contain an analysis for those issues identified as Category 1 for which the applicant could not demonstrate that the applicable values and assumptions were met or for which any new and significant information was identified by the applicant or the NRC, and for those issues identified as Category 2.

0 6. In Sec. 51.76, revise paragraph (f) to read as follows:

Sec. 51.76 Draft environmental impact statement--limited work authorization.

* * * * *

(f) Draft environmental impact statement. A draft environmental impact statement prepared under this section must separately evaluate the environmental impacts and proposed alternatives attributable to the activities proposed to be conducted under the limited work authorization. However, if the “Applicant's Environmental Report-- Limited Work Authorization Stage,” also contains the information required to be submitted in the environmental report required under Sec. 51.50, then the environmental impact statement must address the impacts of construction and operation for the proposed facility (including the environmental impacts attributable to the limited work authorization), and discuss the overall costs and benefits balancing for the underlying proposed action, in accordance with Sec. 51.71, and Sec. 51.75(a) or (c), as applicable. For any draft environmental impact statement prepared under this section, if the applicant's environmental report relied upon the findings of one or more of the issues identified as Category 1 issues in appendix C to subpart A of this part, the draft environmental impact statement must be prepared as a supplement to NUREG-2249, “Generic Environmental Impact Statement for Licensing of New Nuclear Reactors.” In addition, the NRC staff will conduct scoping in accordance with Sec. 51.26(a) and (b). The draft supplemental environmental impact statement will incorporate the conclusions in NUREG-2249 for issues identified as Category 1 for which the applicant has demonstrated that the applicable values and assumptions have been met and for which neither the applicant nor the NRC identified any new and significant information. The draft supplemental environmental impact statement must contain an analysis for those issues identified as Category 1 for which the applicant could not demonstrate that the applicable values and assumptions were met or for which any new and significant information was identified by the applicant or the NRC, and for those issues identified as Category 2.

0 7. Add Sec. 51.96 under the undesignated center heading “Final Environmental Impact Statements--Production and Utilization Facilities” to read as follows:

Sec. 51.96 Final supplemental environmental impact statement relying on a generic environmental impact statement for licensing new nuclear reactors.

(a) In connection with a construction permit, an early site permit, or a combined license that does not reference an early site permit for a nuclear reactor, as defined in 10 CFR 50.2, and for which the NRC staff relied on any of the findings in appendix C to subpart A of this part in preparing a draft supplemental environmental impact statement in accordance with Sec. 51.75(d), the NRC shall prepare a final supplemental environmental impact statement, which is a supplement to the Commission's NUREG-2249, “Generic Environmental Impact Statement for Licensing of New Nuclear Reactors.”

(b) The final supplemental environmental impact statement required by paragraph (a) of this section must contain the NRC staff's recommendation regarding the environmental acceptability of approving the construction permit, the early site permit, or the combined license. In order to make recommendations and reach a final decision on the proposed action, the NRC staff, adjudicatory officers, and Commission shall integrate:

(1) The conclusions in NUREG-2249 for issues designated as Category 1 for which the applicant has demonstrated that the applicable values and assumptions have been met and for which neither the applicant nor the NRC staff identified any new and significant information.

(2) Information developed for those Category 1 issues for which the applicant could not demonstrate that the applicable values and assumptions were met and those Category 2 issues applicable to the plant under Sec. 51.50(d) and any new and significant information.

(c) The final supplemental environmental impact statement required by paragraph (a) of this section shall address those issues as required by Sec. 51.91 and shall be distributed in accordance with Sec. 51.93.

(d) In connection with a combined license that references an early site permit for which the NRC staff relied on any of the findings in appendix C to subpart A of this part in preparing the supplemental environmental impact statement for that early site permit, the NRC shall prepare a supplement to that final supplemental environmental impact statement. The supplement must

meet the requirements of Sec. 51.92(e) and shall be considered a supplement to NUREG-2249.

(e) In connection with a combined license that references an early site permit for which the NRC staff relied on any of the findings in appendix C to subpart A of this part in preparing the draft supplemental environmental impact statement, the NRC staff shall prepare a supplement to the early site permit environmental impact statement. The supplement must be prepared in accordance with Sec. 51.92(e) and shall be considered a supplement to NUREG-2249.

(f) In connection with the issuance of an operating license for which the NRC staff relied on any of the findings in appendix C to subpart A of this part in preparing the supplemental environmental impact statement for the construction permit for that nuclear reactor, the NRC shall prepare a supplement to the final supplemental environmental impact statement. The supplement must meet the requirements of Sec. 51.95(b) and shall be considered a supplement to NUREG-2249.

0 8. Add appendix C to subpart A of part 51 to read as follows:

Appendix C to Subpart A of Part 51--Environmental Effect of Issuing a Permit or License for a New Nuclear Reactor

The Commission has assessed the environmental impacts associated with authorizing the construction, operation, and decommissioning of a nuclear reactor. Table C-1 summarizes the Commission's generic findings on the scope and magnitude of environmental impacts of such an authorization as required by section 102(2) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended. Table C-1 presents the results of the generic analysis of those environmental impacts associated with building,\1\ operating, and decommissioning a nuclear reactor that the NRC has designated as Category 1, as well as listing the issues that could not be resolved generically, designated as Category 2. The use of this table by applicants will be in accordance with Sec. 51.50(d), and the use by the staff will be in accordance with Sec. Sec. 51.75(d) and 51.96. On a 10-year cycle, the Commission intends to review the material in this appendix and update it if necessary. A scoping notice must be published in the Federal Register indicating the results of the NRC's review and inviting public comments and proposals for other areas that should be updated.

\1\ The term “building,” as used in the NR GEIS, includes the full range of preconstruction (building activities not within the NRC's regulatory authority), and construction and installation activities (building activities within the NRC's regulatory authority).

Table C-1--Summary of Findings on Environmental Issues for Issuing a Permit or License for a New Nuclear Reactor

\1\

Plant parameter envelope/site

Issue Category Finding \3\ parameter envelope values and

\2\ assumptions \4\

Land Use

Construction:

Onsite Land Use................... 1 SMALL....................... The proposed project,

including any associated land

uses, complies with NRC

siting regulations in 10 CFR

part 100. The site size is

100 acres [ac] (40.5 hectares

[ha]) or less. The permanent

footprint of disturbance

includes 30 ac (12 ha) or

less of vegetated lands, and

the temporary footprint of

disturbance includes no more

than an additional 20 ac (8.1

ha) or less of vegetated

lands. The proposed project

complies with the site's

zoning and is consistent with

any relevant land use plans

or comprehensive plans. The

site would not be situated

closer than 0.5 miles [mi]

(0.8 kilometers [km]) to

existing residential areas or

1.0 mi (1.6 km) to sensitive

land uses such as Federal,

State, or local parks;

wildlife refuges;

conservation lands; Wild and

Scenic Rivers; or Natural

Heritage Rivers. The site

does not have a history of

past industrial use capable

of leaving a legacy of

contamination requiring

cleanup to protect human

health and the environment.

The total wetland loss from

use of the site, including

use of any offsite rights-of-

way (ROWs), would be no more

than 0.5 ac (0.2 ha). Best

management practices (BMPs)

for erosion, sediment

control, and stormwater

management would be used.

Compliance with any

mitigation measures

established through zoning

ordinances, local building

permits, site use permits, or

other land use

authorizations.

Offsite Land Use.................. 1 SMALL....................... New offsite ROWs for

transmission lines,

pipelines, or access roads

would be no more than 100

feet [ft] (30.5 meters [m])

in width and total no more

than 1 mi (1.6 km) in length.

No new offsite ROW would be

situated closer than 0.5 mi

(0.8 km) to existing

residential areas or

sensitive land uses such as

Federal, State, or local

parks; wildlife refuges;

conservation lands; Wild and

Scenic Rivers; or Natural

Heritage Rivers. No existing

ROWs in residential areas

would be used or widened to

accommodate project features.

No ROW has a history of past

industrial use capable of

leaving a legacy of

contamination requiring

cleanup to protect human

health and the environment.

The total wetland loss from

use of the entire project,

including use of the site and

any offsite ROWs, would be no

more than 0.5 ac (0.2 ha).

BMPs for erosion, sediment

control, and stormwater

management would be used.

Compliance with any

mitigation measures

established through zoning

ordinances, local building

permits, site use permits, or

other land use

authorizations.

Impacts to Prime and Unique 1 SMALL....................... The site size is (40.5 ha) or

Farmland. less. The site does not

contain any prime or unique

farmland or other farmland of

statewide or local

importance; or the site does

not abut any agricultural

land and is not situated in a

predominantly agricultural

landscape.

Coastal Zone and Compliance with 1 SMALL....................... The site is not situated in

the Coastal Zone Management Act any designated coastal zone,

(16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.). or the applicant can

demonstrate that the affected

State(s) have or will issue a

consistency determination or

other indication that the

project complies with the

Coastal Zone Management Act. Operation:

Onsite Land Use................... 1 SMALL....................... The proposed project,

including any associated land

uses, complies with NRC

siting regulations in 10 CFR

part 100. The site size is

100 ac (40.5 ha) or less. If

needed, cooling towers would

be mechanical draft, not

natural draft; less than 100

ft (30.5 m) in height; and

equipped with drift

eliminators. Any makeup water

for the cooling towers would

be fresh water (less than 1

part per trillion [ppt]

salinity). BMPs for erosion,

sediment control, and

stormwater management would

be used.

Offsite Land Use.................. 1 SMALL....................... New offsite ROWs for

transmission lines,

pipelines, or access roads

would be no more than 100 ft

(30.5 m) in width and total

no more than 1 mi (1.6 km) in

length. BMPs for erosion,

sediment control, and

stormwater management would

be used (wherever land is

disturbed during the course

of ROW management).

Visual Resources

Construction:

Visual Impacts in Site and 1 SMALL....................... The site size is 100 ac (40.5

Vicinity. ha) or less. The site would

not be situated closer than

0.5 mi (0.8 km) to existing

residential areas or 1 mi

(1.6 km) to sensitive land

uses such as Federal, State,

or local parks; wildlife

refuges; conservation lands;

Wild and Scenic Rivers; or

Natural Heritage Rivers. The

maximum proposed building and

structure height is no more

than 50 ft (15.2 m), except

that the maximum height is

200 ft (61 m) for proposed

meteorological towers and 100

ft (30.5 m) for transmission

line poles/towers and

mechanical draft cooling

towers. The proposed project

structures would not be

visible from Federal or State

parks or wilderness areas

designated as Class 1 under

section 162 of the Clean Air

Act (42 U.S.C. 7472); or as a

Wild and Scenic River, a

Natural Heritage River, or a

river of similar State

designation.

Visual Impacts from Transmission 1 SMALL....................... New offsite ROWs for

Lines. transmission lines,

pipelines, or access roads

would be no more than 100 ft

(30.5 m) in width and total

no more than 1 mi (1.6 km) in

length. No transmission line

structures (poles or towers)

would be over 100 ft (30.5 m)

in height. The new offsite

ROWs would not be situated

closer than 1 mi (1.6 km) to

existing residential areas or

sensitive land uses such as

Federal, State, or local

parks; wildlife refuges;

conservation lands; Wild and

Scenic Rivers; or Natural

Heritage Rivers. Any proposed

new structures on offsite

ROWs would not be visible

from Federal or State parks

or wilderness areas

designated as Class 1 under

section 162 of the Clean Air

Act (42 U.S.C. 7472); or as a

Wild and Scenic River, a

Natural Heritage River, or a

river of similar State

designation. Operation:

Visual Impacts During Operations.. 1 SMALL....................... The site would not be situated

closer than 1 mi (1.6 km) to

existing residential areas or

sensitive land uses such as

Federal, State, or local

parks; wildlife refuges;

conservation lands; Wild and

Scenic Rivers; or Natural

Heritage Rivers. The maximum

proposed building and

structure height would be no

more than 50 ft (15.2 m),

except that the maximum

height would be 200 ft (61 m)

for proposed meteorological

towers and 100 ft (30.5 m)

for proposed transmission

line poles/towers and

proposed mechanical draft

cooling towers. The proposed

project structures would not

be visible from Federal or

State parks or wilderness

areas designated as Class 1

under section 162 of the

Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C.

7472); or as a Wild and

Scenic River, a Natural

Heritage River, or a river of

similar State designation. If

needed, cooling towers would

be mechanical draft, not

natural draft; less than 100

ft (30.5 m) in height; and

equipped with drift

eliminators. Any makeup water

for the cooling towers would

be fresh water (less than 1

ppt salinity).

Meteorology and Air Quality

Construction:

Emissions of Criteria Pollutants 1 SMALL....................... The site size is 100 ac (40.5

and Dust During Construction. ha) or less. The permanent

footprint of disturbance is

30 ac (12.1 ha) or less of

vegetated lands and the

temporary footprint of

disturbance is an additional

20 ac (8.1 ha) or less of

vegetated land. New offsite

ROWs for transmission lines,

pipelines, or access roads

would be no longer than 1 mi

(1.6 km) and have a maximum

ROW width of 100 ft (30.5 m).

Criteria pollutants emitted

from vehicles and standby

power equipment during

construction are less than

Clean Air Act de minimis

levels set by the U.S.

Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) if the site is

located in a nonattainment or

maintenance area, or the site

is located in an attainment

area. The site is not located

within 1 mi (1.6 km) of a

mandatory Class I Federal

area where visibility is an

important value. The level of

service (LOS) determination

for affected roadways does

not change. Mitigation

necessary to rely on the

generic analysis includes

implementation of BMPs for

dust control. Compliance with

air permits under State and

Federal laws that address the

impact of air emissions

during construction.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions During 1 SMALL....................... Greenhouse gases emitted by

Construction. equipment and vehicles during

the 97-year greenhouse gas

life-cycle period would be

equal to or less than

2,534,000 metric tons [MT] of

carbon dioxide equivalent

[CO2(e)]. Appendix H of NUREG-

2249, “Generic Environmental

Impact Statement for

Licensing of New Nuclear

Reactors” contains the NRC's

methodology for developing

this value, which includes

emissions from construction,

operation, and

decommissioning. As long as

this total value is met, the

impacts for the life cycle of

the project and the

individual phases of the

project are determined to be

SMALL. Operation:

Emissions of Criteria and 1 SMALL....................... Criteria pollutants emitted

Hazardous Air Pollutants during from vehicles and standby

Operation. power equipment during

operations are less than

Clean Air Act de minimis

levels set by the EPA if

located in a nonattainment or

maintenance area. The site is

not located within 1 mi (1.6

km) of a mandatory Class I

Federal area where visibility

is an important value. The

LOS determination for

affected roadways does not

change. Compliance with air

permits under State and

Federal laws that address the

impact of air emissions.

Hazardous air pollutant (HAP)

emissions will be within

regulatory limits.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions During 1 SMALL....................... Greenhouse gases emitted by

Operation. equipment and vehicles during

the 97-year greenhouse gas

life-cycle period would be

equal to or less than

2,534,000 MT of CO2(e).

Appendix H of NUREG-2249

contains the NRC's

methodology for developing

this value, which includes

emissions from construction,

operation, and

decommissioning. As long as

this total value is met, the

impacts for the life cycle of

the project and the

individual phases of the

project are determined to be

SMALL.

Cooling-System Emissions.......... 1 SMALL....................... If needed, cooling towers

would be mechanical draft,

not natural draft. Cooling

towers would be equipped with

drift eliminators. The site

is not located within 1 mi

(1.6 km) of a mandatory Class

I Federal area where

visibility is an important

value. Mechanical draft

cooling towers would be less

than 100 ft (30.5 m) tall.

Makeup water would be fresh

(with a salinity less than 1

ppt). Operation of cooling

towers is assumed to be

subject to State permitting

requirements. HAP emissions

would be within regulatory

limits. No existing

residential areas within 0.5

mi (0.8 km) of the site.

Emissions of Ozone and Nitrogen 1 SMALL....................... The transmission line voltage

Oxides during Transmission Line would be no higher than 1,200

Operation. kilovolts [kV].

Water Resources

Construction:

Surface Water Use Conflicts during 1 SMALL....................... Total Plant Water Demand Less

Construction. than or equal to a daily

average of 6,000 gallons per

minute [gpm] (0.379 cubic

meters per second [m\3\/s]).

If water is obtained from a

flowing water body, then the

following plant parameter

envelope/site parameter

envelope (PPE/SPE) parameter

and associated assumptions

also apply: Average plant

water withdrawals do not

reduce discharge from the

flowing water body by more

than 3 percent of the 95

percent exceedance daily flow

and do not prevent the

maintenance of applicable

instream flow requirements.

The 95 percent exceedance

flow accounts for existing

and planned future

withdrawals. Water

availability is demonstrated

by the ability to obtain a

withdrawal permit issued by

State, regional, or Tribal

governing authorities. Water

rights for the withdrawal

amount are obtainable, if

needed. If water is obtained

from a non-flowing water

body, then the following PPE/

SPE parameter and associated

value and assumptions also

apply: Water availability of

the Great Lakes, the Gulf of

America, oceans, estuaries,

and intertidal zones exceeds

the amount of water required

by the plant. Water

availability is demonstrated

by the ability to obtain a

withdrawal permit issued by

State, regional, or Tribal

governing authorities. Water

rights for the withdrawal

amount are obtainable, if

needed. The Coastal Zone

Management Act consistency

determination is obtainable,

if applicable, for the non-

flowing water body.

Groundwater Use Conflicts due to 1 SMALL....................... The long-term dewatering

Excavation Dewatering. withdrawal rate is less than

or equal to 50 gpm (0.003

m\3\/s) (the initial rate may

be larger). Dewatering

results in negligible

groundwater level drawdown at

the site boundary.

Groundwater Use Conflicts due to 1 SMALL....................... Groundwater withdrawal for all

Construction-Related Groundwater plant uses (excluding

Withdrawals. dewatering) is less than or

equal to 50 gpm (0.003 m\3\/

s). Withdrawal results in no

more than 1 ft (0.3 m) of

groundwater level drawdown at

the site boundary.

Withdrawals are not derived

from an EPA-designated Sole

Source Aquifer (SSA), or from

any aquifer designated by a

State, Tribe, or regional

authority to have special

protections to limit

drawdown. Withdrawals meet

any applicable State or local

permit requirements.

Water Quality Degradation due to 1 SMALL....................... The permanent footprint of

Construction-Related Discharges. disturbance includes 30 ac

(12.1 ha) or less of

vegetated lands, and the

temporary footprint of

disturbance includes no more

than an additional 20 ac (8.1

ha) or less of vegetated

lands. Adherence to

requirements in National

Pollutant Discharge

Elimination System (NPDES)

permits issued by the EPA or

State permitting program, and

any other applicable permits.

The long-term groundwater

dewatering withdrawal rate is

less than or equal to 50 gpm

(0.003 m\3\/s). Dewatering

discharge has minimal effects

on the quality of the

receiving water body (e.g.,

as demonstrated by

conformance with NPDES permit

requirements). There are no

planned discharges to the

subsurface (by infiltration

or injection), including

stormwater discharge.

Water Quality Degradation due to 1 SMALL....................... The site size is 100 ac (40.5

Inadvertent Spills during ha) or less. The permanent

Construction. footprint of disturbance

includes 30 ac (12.1 ha) or

less of vegetated lands, and

the temporary footprint of

disturbance includes no more

than an additional 20 ac (8.1

ha) or less of vegetated

lands. Applicable

requirements and guidance on

spill prevention and control

are followed, including

relevant BMPs and Integrated

Pollution Prevention Plans

(IPPPs).

Water Quality Degradation due to 1 SMALL....................... Groundwater Withdrawal for

Groundwater Withdrawal. Excavation or Foundation

Dewatering. The long-term

dewatering withdrawal rate is

less than or equal to 50 gpm

(0.003 m\3\/s) (the initial

rate may be larger).

Dewatering results in

negligible groundwater level

drawdown at the site

boundary. Groundwater

Withdrawal for Plant Uses

Groundwater withdrawal for

all plant uses (excluding

dewatering) is less than or

equal to 50 gpm (0.003 m\3\/

s). Withdrawal results in no

more than 1 ft (0.3 m) of

groundwater level drawdown at

the site boundary.

Withdrawals are not derived

from an EPA-designated SSA,

or from any aquifer

designated by a State, Tribe,

or regional authority to have

special protections to limit

drawdown. Withdrawals meet

any applicable State or local

permit requirements.

Water Quality Degradation due to 1 SMALL....................... In-water structures (including

Offshore or In-Water Construction intake and discharge

Activities. structures) are constructed

in compliance with provisions

of the Clean Water Act (CWA)

section 404 (33 U.S.C. 1344)

and section 10 of the Rivers

and Harbors Appropriation Act

of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 401 et

seq.). Adverse effects of

building activities

controlled and localized

using BMPs such as

installation of turbidity

curtains or installation of

cofferdams. Construction

duration would be less than 7

years.

Water Use Conflict Due to Plant 1 SMALL....................... The amount available from

Municipal Water Demand. municipal water systems

exceeds the amount of

municipal water required by

the plant (gpm). Municipal

Water Availability accounts

for all existing and planned

future uses. An agreement or

permit for the usage amount

can be obtained from the

municipality.

Degradation of Water Quality from 1 SMALL....................... Municipal Systems' Available

Plant Effluent Discharges to Capacity to Receive and Treat

Municipal Systems. Plant Effluent accounts for

all existing and reasonably

foreseeable future

discharges. Agreement to

discharge to a municipal

treatment system is

obtainable. Operation:

Surface Water Use Conflicts during 1 SMALL....................... Total plant water demand is

Operation due to Water Withdrawal less than or equal to a daily

from Flowing Waterbodies. average of 6,000 gpm (0.379

m\3\/s). Average plant water

withdrawals do not reduce

discharge from the flowing

water body by more than 3

percent of the 95 percent

exceedance daily flow and do

not prevent the maintenance

of applicable instream flow

requirements. The 95 percent

exceedance flow accounts for

existing and planned future

withdrawals. Water

availability is demonstrated

by the ability to obtain a

withdrawal permit issued by

State, regional, or Tribal

governing authorities. Water

rights for the withdrawal

amount are obtainable, if

needed.

Surface Water Use Conflicts during 1 SMALL....................... Total plant water demand is

Operation due to Water Withdrawal less than or equal to a daily

from Non-flowing Waterbodies. average of 6,000 gpm (0.379

m\3\/s). Water availability

of the Great Lakes, the Gulf

of America, oceans,

estuaries, and intertidal

zones exceeds the amount of

water required by the plant.

Water availability is

demonstrated by the ability

to obtain a withdrawal permit

issued by State, regional, or

Tribal governing authorities.

Water rights for the

withdrawal amount are

obtainable, if needed.

Coastal Zone Management Act

of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et

seq.) consistency

determination is obtainable,

if applicable.

Groundwater Use Conflicts Due to 1 SMALL....................... The long-term dewatering

Building Foundation Dewatering. withdrawal rate is less than

or equal to 50 gpm (0.003

m\3\/s) (the initial rate may

be larger). Dewatering

results in negligible

groundwater level drawdown at

the site boundary.

Groundwater Use Conflicts Due to 1 SMALL....................... Groundwater withdrawal for all

Groundwater Withdrawals for Plant plant uses (excluding

Uses. dewatering) is less than or

equal to 50 gpm (0.003 m\3\/

s). Withdrawal results in no

more than 1 ft (0.3 m) of

groundwater level drawdown at

the site boundary.

Withdrawals are not derived

from an EPA-designated SSA,

or from any aquifer

designated by a State, Tribe,

or regional authority to have

special protections to limit

drawdown. Withdrawals meet

any applicable State or local

permit requirements.

Surface Water Quality Degradation 1 SMALL....................... Total plant water demand is

Due to Physical Effects from less than or equal to a daily

Operation of Intake and Discharge average of 6,000 gpm (0.379

Structures. m\3\/s). Adhere to best

available technology

requirements of CWA 316(b)

(33 U.S.C. 1326). Operated in

compliance with CWA section

316(b) and 40 CFR 125.83,

including compliance with

monitoring and recordkeeping

requirements in 40 CFR 125.87

and 40 CFR 125.88,

respectively (40 CFR part

125). Best available

technologies are employed in

the design and operation of

intake and discharge

structures to minimize

alterations due to scouring,

sediment transport, increased

turbidity, and erosion.

Adherence to requirements in

NPDES permits issued by the

EPA or a given State. If

water is obtained from a

flowing water body, then the

following PPE/SPE parameter

and associated value also

apply: The average rate of

plant withdrawal does not

exceed 3 percent of the 95

percent exceedance daily flow

for the water body. If water

is obtained from a non-

flowing water body, then the

following PPE/SPE parameters

and associated values and

assumptions also apply: Water

availability of the Great

Lakes, the Gulf of America,

oceans, estuaries, and

intertidal zones exceeds the

amount of water required by

the plant.

Surface Water Quality Degradation 1 SMALL....................... Total plant water demand is

Due to Changes in Salinity less than or equal to a daily

Gradients Resulting from average of 6,000 gpm (0.379

Withdrawals. m\3\/s). If water is obtained

from a flowing water body,

then the following PPE/SPE

parameter and associated

assumptions also apply:

Average plant water

withdrawals do not reduce

discharge from the flowing

water body by more than 3

percent of the 95 percent

exceedance daily flow and do

not prevent the maintenance

of applicable instream flow

requirements. The 95 percent

exceedance flow accounts for

existing and planned future

withdrawals. Water

availability is demonstrated

by the ability to obtain a

withdrawal permit issued by

State, regional, or Tribal

governing authorities. Water

rights for the withdrawal

amount are obtainable, if

needed. If withdrawals are

from an estuary or intertidal

zone, then changes to

salinity gradients are within

the normal tidal or seasonal

movements that characterize

the water body. If water is

obtained from a non-flowing

water body, then the

following PPE/SPE parameter

and associated values and

assumptions also apply: Water

availability of the Great

Lakes, the Gulf of America,

oceans, estuaries, and

intertidal zones exceeds the

amount of water required by

the plant. Water availability

is demonstrated by the

ability to obtain a

withdrawal permit issued by

State, regional, or Tribal

governing authorities. Water

rights for the withdrawal

amount are obtainable, if

needed. If withdrawals are

from an estuary or intertidal

zone, then changes to

salinity gradients are within

the normal tidal or seasonal

movements that characterize

the water body.

Surface Water Quality Degradation 2 Undetermined................ The NRC determined that a

Due to Chemical and Thermal generic analysis to determine

Discharges. operational impacts on

surface water quality due to

chemical and thermal

discharges was not possible

because (1) some States may

impose effluent constituent

limitations more stringent

that those required by the

EPA, (2) limitations imposed

on effluent constituents may

vary among States, and (3)

the establishment of a mixing

zone may be required. Because

all of these issues related

to degradation of surface

water quality from chemical

and thermal discharges

require consideration of

project-specific information,

a project-specific assessment

should be performed in the

supplemental environmental

impact statement.

Groundwater Quality Degradation 1 SMALL....................... The plant is outside the

Due to Plant Discharges. recharge area for any EPA-

designated SSA, or any

aquifer designated to have

special protections by a

State, Tribal, or regional

authority. The plant is

outside the wellhead

protection area or designated

contributing area for any

public water supply well.

There are no planned

discharges to the subsurface

(by infiltration or

injection).

Water Quality Degradation due to 1 SMALL....................... Applicable requirements and

Inadvertent Spills and Leaks guidance on spill prevention

during Operation. and control are followed,

including relevant BMPs and

IPPPs. There are no planned

discharges to the subsurface

(by infiltration or

injection), including

stormwater discharge. A

groundwater protection

program conforming to

currently applicable industry

guidance is established and

followed. The site size is

100 ac (40.5 ha) or less. Use

of BMPs for soil erosion,

sediment control, and

stormwater management.

Adherence to requirements in

NPDES permits issued by the

EPA or a given State, and any

other applicable permits.

Water Quality Degradation due to 1 SMALL....................... The long-term dewatering

Groundwater Withdrawals. withdrawal rate is less than

or equal to 50 gpm (0.003

m\3\/s) (the initial rate may

be larger). Dewatering

results in negligible

groundwater level drawdown at

the site boundary.

Groundwater withdrawal for

all plant uses (excluding

dewatering) is less than or

equal to 50 gpm (0.003 m\3\/

s). Withdrawal results in no

more than 1 ft (0.3 m) of

groundwater level drawdown at

the site boundary.

Withdrawals are not derived

from an EPA-designated SSA,

or from any aquifer

designated by a State, Tribe,

or regional authority to have

special protections to limit

drawdown. Withdrawals meet

any applicable State or local

permit requirements.

Water Use Conflict from Plant 1 SMALL....................... Usage amount is within the

Municipal Water Demand. existing capacity of the

system(s), accounting for all

existing and planned future

uses. An agreement or permit

for the usage amount can be

obtained from the

municipality.

Degradation of Water Quality from 1 SMALL....................... Municipal Systems' Available

Plant Effluent Discharges to Capacity to Receive and Treat

Municipal Systems. Plant Effluent accounts for

all existing and reasonably

foreseeable future

discharges. Agreement to

discharge to a municipal

treatment system is

obtainable.

Terrestrial Ecology

Construction:

Permanent and Temporary Loss, 1 SMALL....................... The permanent footprint of

Conversion, Fragmentation, and disturbance would include 30

Degradation of Habitats. ac (12.1 ha) or less of

vegetated lands, and the

temporary footprint of

disturbance would include no

more than an additional 20 ac

(8.1 ha) or less of vegetated

lands. Temporarily disturbed

lands would be revegetated

using regionally indigenous

vegetation once the lands are

no longer needed to support

building activities. New

offsite ROWs for transmission

lines, pipelines, or access

roads would be no more than

100 ft (30.5 m) in width and

total no more than 1 mi (1.6

km) in length. The footprint

of disturbance (permanent and

temporary) would contain no

ecologically sensitive

features such as floodplains,

shorelines, riparian

vegetation, late-successional

vegetation, land specifically

designated for conservation,

or habitat known to be

potentially suitable for one

or more Federal or State

threatened or endangered

species. Total wetland

impacts from use of the site

and any offsite ROWs would be

no more than 0.5 ac (0.2 ha).

Applicants would demonstrate

an effort to minimize

fragmentation of terrestrial

habitats by using existing

ROWs, or widening existing

ROWs, to the extent

practicable. BMPs would be

used for erosion, sediment

control, and stormwater

management.

Permanent and Temporary Loss and 1 SMALL....................... Applicant would provide a

Degradation of Wetlands. delineation of potentially

impacted wetlands, including

wetlands not under CWA

jurisdiction. Total wetland

impacts from use of the site

and any offsite ROWs would be

no more than 0.5 ac (0.2 ha).

If activities regulated under

the CWA are performed, those

activities would receive

approval under one or more

nationwide permits (NWPs) (33

CFR part 330) or other

general permits recognized by

the U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers. Temporary

groundwater withdrawals for

excavation or foundation

dewatering would not exceed a

long-term rate of 50 gpm

(0.003 m\3\/s). Applicants

would be able to demonstrate

that the temporary

groundwater withdrawals would

not substantially alter the

hydrology of wetlands

connected to the same

groundwater resource. Any

required State or local

permits for wetland impacts

would be obtained. Any

mitigation measures indicated

in the NWPs or other permits

would be implemented. BMPs

would be used for erosion,

sediment control, and

stormwater management.

Effects of Building Noise on 1 SMALL....................... Noise generation would not

Wildlife. exceed 85 A-weighted decibels

[dBA] 50 ft (15.2 m) from the

source.

Effects of Vehicular Collisions on 1 SMALL....................... The site size would be 100 ac

Wildlife. (40.5 ha) or less. The

permanent footprint of

disturbance would include 30

ac (12.1 ha) or less of

vegetated lands, and the

temporary footprint of

disturbance would include no

more than an additional 20 ac

(8.1 ha) or less of vegetated

lands. There would be no

decreases in the LOS

designation for affected

roadways. The licensee would

communicate with Federal and

State wildlife agencies and

implement mitigation actions

recommended by those agencies

to reduce potential for

vehicular injury to wildlife.

Bird Collisions and Injury from 1 SMALL....................... The site size would be 100 ac

Structures and Transmission Lines. (40.5 ha) or less. New

offsite ROWs for transmission

lines, pipelines, or access

roads would be no more than

100 ft (30.5 m) in width and

total no more than 1 mi (1.6

km) in length. No

transmission line structures

(poles or towers) would be

more than 100 ft (30.5 m) in

height. Licensees would

implement common mitigation

measures such as those

provided by the American Bird

Conservancy for buildings, by

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service (FWS) for towers, and

by the Avian Power Line

Interaction Committee (APLIC)

for transmission lines.

Important Species and Habitats-- 2 Undetermined................ The NRC is unable to determine

Resources Regulated under the the significance of potential

Endangered Species Act of 1973 impacts without consideration

(ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). of project-specific factors,

including the specific

species and habitats affected

and the types of ecological

changes potentially resulting

from each specific licensing

action.

Important Species and Habitats-- 1 SMALL....................... Applicants would communicate

Other Important Species and with State natural resource

Habitats. or conservation agencies

regarding wildlife and plants

and implement mitigation

recommendations of those

agencies. Operation:

Permanent and Temporary Loss or 1 SMALL....................... Temporarily disturbed lands

Disturbance of Habitats. would be revegetated using

regionally indigenous

vegetation once the lands are

no longer needed to support

building activities. The

total wetland loss from site

disturbance over the

operational life of the plant

would be no more than 0.5 ac

(0.2 ha). Any State or local

permits for wetland impacts

would be obtained. Any

mitigation measures indicated

in the NWPs or other wetland

permits would be implemented.

BMPs would be used for

erosion, sediment control,

and stormwater management.

Effects of Operational Noise on 1 SMALL....................... Noise generation would not

Wildlife. exceed 85 dBA 50 ft (15.2 m)

from the source. There would

be no decreases in the LOS

designation for affected

roadways. The licensee would

communicate with Federal and

State wildlife agencies and

implement mitigation actions

recommended by those agencies

to reduce potential for

vehicular injury to wildlife.

Effects of Vehicular Collisions on 1 SMALL....................... Noise generation would not

Wildlife. exceed 85 dBA 50 ft (15.2 m)

from the source. There would

be no decreases in the LOS

designation for affected

roadways. The licensee would

communicate with Federal and

State wildlife agencies and

implement mitigation actions

recommended by those agencies

to reduce potential for

vehicular injury to wildlife.

Exposure of Terrestrial Organisms 1 SMALL....................... Applicants would demonstrate

to Radionuclides. in their application that any

radiological nonhuman biota

doses would be below

International Atomic Energy

Agency (IAEA) and National

Council on Radiation

Protection and Measurements

(NCRP) guidelines.

Cooling-Tower Operational Impacts 1 SMALL....................... If needed, cooling towers

on Vegetation. would be mechanical draft,

not natural draft; less than

100 ft (30.5 m) in height;

and equipped with drift

eliminators. Any makeup water

for the cooling towers would

be fresh water (less than 1

ppt salinity).

Bird Collisions and Injury from 1 SMALL....................... The site size would be 100 ac

Structures and Transmission Lines. (40.5 ha) or less. New

offsite ROWs for transmission

lines, pipelines, or access

roads would be no more than

100 ft (30.5 m) in width and

total no more than 1 mi (1.6

km) in length. No

transmission line structures

(poles or towers) would be

more than 100 ft (30.5 m) in

height. Licensees would

implement common mitigation

measures such as those

provided by the American Bird

Conservancy for buildings, by

the FWS for towers, and by

the APLIC for transmission

lines.

Bird Electrocutions from 1 SMALL....................... New offsite ROWs for

Transmission Lines. transmission lines,

pipelines, or access roads

would be no more than 100 ft

(30.5 m) in width and total

no more than 1 mi (1.6 km) in

length. Common mitigation

measures, such as those

recommended by APLIC, would

be implemented.

Water Use Conflicts with 1 SMALL....................... Total plant water demand would

Terrestrial Resources. be less than or equal to a

daily average of 6,000 gpm

(0.379 m\3\/s). If water is

withdrawn from flowing water

bodies, average plant water

withdrawals would not reduce

flow by more than 3 percent

of the 95 percent exceedance

daily flow and would not

prevent maintenance of

applicable instream flow

requirements. Any water

withdrawals would be in

compliance with any EPA or

State permitting

requirements. Applicants

would be able to demonstrate

that hydroperiod changes are

within historical or seasonal

fluctuations.

Effects of Transmission Line ROW 1 SMALL....................... Vegetation in transmission

Management on Terrestrial line ROWs would be managed

Resources. following a plan consisting

of integrated vegetation

management practices. All ROW

maintenance work would be

performed in compliance with

all applicable laws and

regulations. Herbicides would

be applied by licensed

applicators, and only if in

compliance with applicable

manufacturer label

instructions.

Effects of Electromagnetic Fields 1 SMALL....................... Based on the literature review

on Flora and Fauna. in the License Renewal

Generic Environmental Impact

Statement (LR GEIS), the NRC

determined that this is a

Category 1 issue and impacts

would be SMALL regardless of

the length, location, or size

of the transmission lines.

The NRC did not recommend any

mitigation in the LR GEIS;

hence, none is needed here.

The NRC did not rely on any

PPE and SPE values or

assumptions in reaching this

conclusion.

Important Species and Habitats-- 2 Undetermined................ The NRC is unable to determine

Resources Regulated under the ESA the significance of potential

of 1973. impacts without consideration

of project-specific factors,

including the specific

species and habitats affected

and the types of ecological

changes potentially resulting

from each specific licensing

action.

Important Species and Habitats-- 1 SMALL....................... Applicants would communicate

Other Important Species and with State natural resource

Habitats. or conservation agencies

regarding wildlife and plants

and implement mitigation

recommendations of those

agencies.

Aquatic Ecology

Construction:

Runoff and sedimentation from 1 SMALL....................... BMPs would be used for erosion

construction areas. and sediment control.

Temporarily disturbed lands

would be revegetated using

regionally indigenous

vegetation once the lands are

no longer needed to support

building activities.

Dredging and filling aquatic 1 SMALL....................... Applicant would obtain

habitats to build intake and approval, if required, under

discharge structures. NWP 7 in 33 CFR part 330.

Applicant would implement any

mitigation required under NWP

7 in 33 CFR part 330.

Applicant would minimize any

temporarily disturbed

shoreline and riparian lands

needed to build the intake

and discharge structures and

restore those areas with

regionally indigenous

vegetation suited to those

landscape settings once the

disturbances are no longer

needed. BMPs would be used

for erosion and sediment

control.

Building transmission lines, 1 SMALL....................... If activities regulated under

pipelines, and access roads the CWA are performed, they

across surface waterbodies. would receive approval under

one or more NWPs (33 CFR part

330) or other general permits

recognized by the U.S. Army

Corps of Engineers. Pipelines

would be extended under (or

over) surface through

directional drilling without

physically disturbing

shorelines or bottom

substrate. Access roads would

span streams and other

surface waterbodies with a

bridge or ford, and any fords

would include placement and

maintenance of matting to

minimize physical disturbance

of shorelines and bottom

substrates. No access roads

would be extended across

stream channels over 10 ft (3

m) in width (at ordinary high

water). Any bridges or fords

would be removed once no

longer needed, and any

exposed soils or substrate

would be revegetated using

regionally indigenous

vegetation appropriate to the

landscape setting. Any

mitigation measures indicated

in the NWPs or other permits

would be implemented. BMPs

would be used for erosion and

sediment control.

Important Species and Habitats-- 2 Undetermined................ The NRC is unable to determine

Resources Regulated under the ESA the significance of potential

and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery impacts without consideration

Conservation and Management Act of project-specific factors,

(16 U.S.C.1801 et seq.). including the specific

species and habitats affected

and the types of ecological

changes potentially resulting

from each specific licensing

action. Furthermore, the

Endangered Species Act (16

U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery

Conservation and Management

Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.)

require consultations for

each licensing action that

may affect regulated

resources.

Important species and habitats-- 1 SMALL....................... Applicants would communicate

Other Important Species and with State natural resource

Habitats. or conservation agencies

regarding aquatic fish,

wildlife, and plants and

implement mitigation

recommendation of those

agencies. Operation:

Stormwater runoff................. 1 SMALL....................... Preparation, approval by

applicable regulatory

agencies, and implementation

of a stormwater management

plan. Obtaining and

compliance with any required

permits for the storage and

use of hazardous materials

issued by Federal and State

agencies under Resource

Conservation and Recovery Act

(RCRA). BMPs would be used

for stormwater management.

Exposure of aquatic organisms to 1 SMALL....................... Applicants would demonstrate

radionuclides. in their application that any

radiological nonhuman biota

doses would be below IAEA and

NCRP guidelines.

Effects of refurbishment on 1 SMALL....................... BMPs would be used for

aquatic biota. erosion, sediment control,

and stormwater management.

Exposed soils would be

restored as soon as possible

with regionally indigenous

vegetation.

Effects of maintenance dredging on 1 SMALL....................... If activities regulated under

aquatic biota. the CWA are performed, those

activities would receive

approval under one or more

NWPs (33 CFR part 330) or

other general permits

recognized by the U.S. Army

Corps of Engineers. Any

mitigation measures indicated

in the NWPs or other permits

would be implemented. BMPs

would be used for erosion and

sediment control.

Impacts of transmission line ROW 1 SMALL....................... Vegetation in transmission

management on aquatic resources. line ROWs would be managed

following a plan consisting

of integrated vegetation

management practices. All ROW

maintenance work would be

performed in compliance with

all applicable laws and

regulations. Herbicides would

be applied by licensed

applicators, and only if in

compliance with applicable

manufacturer label

instructions. BMPs would be

used for erosion and sediment

control.

Impingement and entrainment of 1 SMALL....................... Intakes would comply with

aquatic organisms. regulatory requirements

established by EPA in 40 CFR

125.84 to be protective of

fish and shellfish. Best

available control technology

would be employed in the

design of intakes to minimize

entrainment and impingement,

such as use of screens and

intake rates recognized to

minimize effects.

Thermal impacts on aquatic biota.. 2 Undetermined................ The NRC would have to first

review the discharge plume

analysis (as described in

section 3.4) and the aquatic

biota potentially present

before being able to reach a

conclusion regarding the

possible significance of

impacts to that biota.

Other effects of cooling-water 2 Undetermined................ The NRC would have to first

discharges on aquatic biota. review the discharge plume

analysis (as described in

section 3.4) and the aquatic

biota potentially present

before being able to reach a

conclusion regarding the

possible significance of

impacts to that biota.

Water use conflicts with aquatic 1 SMALL....................... If needed, cooling towers

resources. would be mechanical draft,

not natural draft; less than

100 ft (30.5 m) in height;

and equipped with drift

eliminators. Any makeup water

for the cooling towers would

be fresh water (less than 1

ppt salinity). Total plant

water demand would be less

than or equal to a daily

average of 6,000 gpm (0.379

m\3\/s). If water is

withdrawn from flowing

waterbodies, average plant

water withdrawals would not

reduce flow by more than 3

percent of the 95 percent

exceedance daily flow and

would not prevent maintenance

of applicable instream flow

requirements. Any water

withdrawals would be in

compliance with any EPA or

State permitting

requirements. Applicants

would be able to demonstrate

that hydroperiod changes are

within historical or seasonal

fluctuations.

Important Species and Habitats-- 2 Undetermined................ The NRC is unable to determine

Resources Regulated under the ESA the significance of potential

and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery impacts without consideration

Conservation and Management Act. of project-specific factors,

including the specific

species and habitats affected

and the types of ecological

changes potentially resulting

from each specific licensing

action. Furthermore, the

Endangered Species Act (16

U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery

Conservation and Management

Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.)

require consultations for

each licensing action that

may affect regulated

resources.

Important species and habitats-- 1 SMALL....................... Applicants would communicate

Other Important Species and with State natural resource

Habitats. or conservation agencies

regarding aquatic fish,

wildlife, and plants and

implement mitigation

recommendations of those

agencies.

Historic and Cultural Resources

Construction:

Construction impacts on historic 2 Undetermined................ Impacts on historic and

and cultural resources. cultural resources are

analyzed on a project-

specific basis. The NRC will

perform a National

Environmental Policy Act

(NEPA) analysis and a

National Historic

Preservation Act (NHPA)

Section 106 consultation as

required, in accordance with

36 CFR part 800, including

consultation with the State

and Tribal Historic

Preservation Officers, Indian

Tribes, and other interested

parties. Operation:

Operation impacts on historic and 2 Undetermined................ Impacts on historic and

cultural resources. cultural resources are

analyzed on a project-

specific basis. The NRC will

perform a National

Environmental Policy Act

(NEPA) analysis and a

National Historic

Preservation Act (NHPA)

Section 106 consultation as

required, in accordance with

36 CFR part 800, including

consultation with the State

and Tribal Historic

Preservation Officers, Indian

Tribes, and other interested

parties.

Environmental Hazards--Radiological Environment

Construction:

Radiological dose to construction 1 SMALL....................... For protection against

workers. radiation, the applicant must

meet the regulatory

requirements of:

--10 CFR 20.1101 Radiation

Protection Programs if issued

a license

--10 CFR 20.1201 Occupational

dose limits for adults 10 CFR

20.1301 Dose limits for

individual members of the

public

--Appendix B to 10 CFR part 20

Annual Limits on Intake

(ALIs) and Derived Air

Concentrations (DACs) of

Radionuclides for

Occupational Exposure;

Effluent Concentrations;

Concentrations for Release to

Sewerage

--10 CFR 50.34a Design

objectives for equipment to

control releases of

radioactive material in

effluents--nuclear power

reactors

--10 CFR 50.36a. Technical

specifications on effluents

from nuclear power reactors

Application contains

sufficient technical

information for the staff to

complete the detailed

technical safety review.

Application will be found to

be in compliance by the NRC

with the above regulations

through a radiation

protection program and an

effluent release monitoring

program. Operation:

Occupational doses to workers..... 1 SMALL....................... For protection against

radiation, the applicant must

meet the regulatory

requirements of:

--10 CFR 20.1101 Radiation

Protection Programs if issued

a license

--10 CFR 20.1201 Occupational

dose limits for adults

--Appendix B of 10 CFR part 20

Annual Limits on Intake

(ALIs) and Derived Air

Concentrations (DACs) of

Radionuclides for

Occupational Exposure;

Effluent Concentrations;

Concentrations for Release to

Sewerage

--10 CFR 50.34a Design

objectives for equipment to

control releases of

radioactive material in

effluents--nuclear power

reactors

--10 CFR 50.36a Technical

specifications on effluents

from nuclear power reactors.

Application contains

sufficient technical

information for the staff to

complete the detailed

technical safety review.

Application will be found to

be in compliance by the NRC

with the above regulations

through a radiation

protection program and an

effluent release monitoring

program.

Maximally exposed individual 1 SMALL....................... For protection against

annual doses. radiation, the applicant must

meet the regulatory

requirements of:

--10 CFR 20.1101 Radiation

Protection Programs if issued

a license

--10 CFR 20.1301 Dose limits

for individual members of the

public

--Appendix B of 10 CFR part 20

ALIs and DACs of

Radionuclides for

Occupational Exposure;

Effluent Concentrations;

Concentrations for Release to

Sewerage

--10 CFR 50.34a Design

objectives for equipment to

control releases of

radioactive material in

effluents--nuclear power

reactors

--10 CFR 50.36a Technical

specifications on effluents

from nuclear power reactors.

Application contains

sufficient technical

information for the staff to

complete the detailed

technical safety review.

Application will be found to

be in compliance by the NRC

with the above regulations

through a radiation

protection program and an

effluent release monitoring

program.

Total population annual doses..... 1 SMALL....................... For protection against

radiation, the applicant must

meet the regulatory

requirements of:

--10 CFR 20.1101 Radiation

Protection Programs if issued

a license

--10 CFR 20.1301 Dose limits

for individual members of the

public

--Appendix B of 10 CFR part 20

ALIs and DACs of

Radionuclides for

Occupational Exposure;

Effluent Concentrations;

Concentrations for Release to

Sewerage

--10 CFR 50.34a Design

objectives for equipment to

control releases of

radioactive material in

effluents--nuclear power

reactors

--10 CFR 50.36a Technical

specifications on effluents

from nuclear power reactors.

Application contains

sufficient technical

information for the staff to

complete the detailed

technical safety review.

Application will be found to

be in compliance by the NRC

with the above regulations

through a radiation

protection program and an

effluent release monitoring

program.

Nonhuman biota doses.............. 1 SMALL....................... Applicants would demonstrate

in their application that any

radiological nonhuman biota

doses would be below IAEA and

NCRP guidelines.

Environmental Hazards--Nonradiological Environment

Construction:

Building impacts of chemical, 1 SMALL....................... The applicant must adhere to

biological, and physical all applicable Federal,

nonradiological hazards. State, local or Tribal

regulatory limits and permit

conditions for chemical

hazards, biological hazards,

and physical hazards. The

applicant will follow

nonradiological public and

occupational health BMPs and

mitigation measures, as

appropriate.

Building impacts of N/A Uncertain................... Studies of 60 hertz [Hz] EMFs

electromagnetic fields (EMFs). have not uncovered consistent

evidence linking harmful

effects with field exposures.

Because the state of the

science is currently

uncertain, no generic

conclusion on human health

impacts is possible. If, in

the future, the Commission

finds scientific information

sufficient to draw

conclusions about potential

human health impacts, the

Commission may require

applicants to submit plant-

specific reviews of these

health effects as part of

their application. Until such

time, applicants are not

required to submit

information about this issue. Operation:

Operation impacts of chemical, 1 SMALL....................... The applicant must adhere to

biological, and physical all applicable Federal,

nonradiological hazards. State, local or Tribal

regulatory limits and permit

conditions for chemical

hazards, biological hazards,

and physical hazards. The

applicant will follow

nonradiological public and

occupational health BMPs and

mitigation measures, as

appropriate.

Operation impacts of EMFs......... N/A Uncertain................... Studies of 60 Hz EMFs have not

uncovered consistent evidence

linking harmful effects with

field exposures. Because the

state of the science is

currently uncertain, no

generic conclusion on human

health impacts is possible.

If, in the future, the

Commission finds scientific

information sufficient to

draw conclusions about

potential human health

impacts, the Commission may

require applicants to submit

plant-specific reviews of

these health effects as part

of their application. Until

such time, applicants are not

required to submit

information about this issue.

Noise

Construction:

Construction-related noise........ 1 SMALL....................... The noise level would be no

more than 65 dBA at site

boundary, unless a relevant

State or local noise

abatement law or ordinance

sets a different threshold,

which would then be the

presumptive threshold for PPE

purposes. If an applicant

cannot meet the 65 dBA

threshold through mitigation,

then the applicant must

obtain a variance or

exception with the relevant

State or local regulator. The

project would implement BMPs,

such as modeling, foliage

planting, construction of

noise buffers, and the timing

of construction and/or

operation activities. Operation:

Operation-related noise........... 1 SMALL....................... The noise level would be no

more than 65 dBA at site

boundary, unless a relevant

State or local noise

abatement law or ordinance

sets a different threshold,

which would then be the

presumptive threshold for PPE

purposes. If an applicant

cannot meet the 65 dBA

threshold through mitigation,

then the applicant must

obtain a variance or

exception with the relevant

State or local regulator. The

project would implement BMPs,

such as modeling, foliage

planting, construction of

noise buffers, and the timing

of construction and/or

operation activities.

Waste Management--Radiological Waste Management

Operation:

Low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) 1 SMALL....................... Applicants must meet the

regulatory requirements of 10

CFR part 20 (e.g., 10 CFR

20.1406 and subpart K), 10

CFR part 61, 10 CFR part 71,

and 10 CFR part 72.

Quantities of LLRW generated

at a new nuclear reactor

would be less than the

quantities of LLRW generated

at existing nuclear power

plants, which generate an

average of 21,200 cubic feet

[ft\3\] (600 cubic meters

[m\3\]) and 2,000 curies [Ci]

(7.4 x 1013 becquerels [Bq])

per year for boiling water

reactors and half that amount

for pressurized water

reactors.

Onsite spent nuclear fuel 1 SMALL....................... Compliance with 10 CFR part

management. 72.

Mixed waste....................... 1 SMALL....................... RCRA Small Quantity Generator

for Mixed Waste.

Waste Management--Nonradiological Waste Management

Construction:

Construction nonradiological waste 1 SMALL....................... The applicant must meet all

the applicable permit

conditions, regulations, and

BMPs related to solid,

liquid, and gaseous waste

management. For hazardous

waste generation, applicants

must meet conformity with

hazardous waste quantity

generation levels in

accordance with RCRA. For

sanitary waste, applicants

must dispose of sanitary

waste in a permitted process.

For mitigation measures, the

applicant would perform

mitigation measures to the

extent practicable, such as

recycling, process

improvements, or the use of a

less hazardous substance. Operation:

Operation nonradiological waste... 1 SMALL....................... The applicant must meet all

the applicable permit

conditions, regulations, and

BMPs related to solid,

liquid, and gaseous waste

management. For hazardous

waste generation, applicants

must meet conformity with

hazardous waste quantity

generation levels in

accordance with RCRA. For

sanitary waste, applicants

must dispose of sanitary

waste in a permitted process.

For mitigation measures, the

applicant would perform

mitigation measures to the

extent practicable, such as

recycling, process

improvements, or the use of a

less hazardous substance.

Postulated Accidents

Operation:

Design Basis Accidents Involving 1 SMALL....................... For the exclusion area

Radiological Releases. boundary, the maximum total

effective dose equivalent for

any 2-hour period during the

radioactivity release should

be calculated. For the low-

population zone, the total

effective dose equivalent

should be calculated for the

duration of the accident

release (i.e., 30 days, or

other duration as justified).

The above calculations would

compare the design basis

accident doses with the dose

criteria given in regulations

related to the application

(e.g., 10 CFR 50.34(a)(1), 10

CFR 52.17(a)(1), and 10 CFR

52.79(a)(1)), standard review

plans (e.g., standard review

plan criteria, table 1 in

standard review plan section

15.0.3 of NUREG-0800), and

regulatory guides, (e.g., RG

1.183), as applicable.

Accidents Involving Releases of 1 SMALL....................... Reactor inventory of a

Hazardous Chemicals. regulated substance is less

than its Threshold Quantity

(TQ). TQs are found in 40 CFR

68.130, tables 1, 2, 3, and

4; and Reactor inventory of

an extremely hazardous

substance is less than its

Threshold Planning Quantity

(TPQ). TPQs are found in 40

CFR part 355, appendices A

and B.

Severe Accidents.................. 1 SMALL....................... Within the maximum population

dose risk 95th confidence

bounding value of 9.727 x

10\3\ person-rem per reactor

year (i.e., Indian Point

Energy Center Units 2 and 3)

specified in the 1996 LR GEIS

and demonstrating the

utilization of 10 CFR 50.155

or diverse and flexible

coping strategies (FLEX) to

address mitigation of beyond-

design-basis events; or

Within the maximum 10- and

150-mile Exposure Index at

the 95th confidence bounding

value of 1.896 x 10\4\ and

2.864 x 10\6\, respectively

(i.e., Indian Point Energy

Center Units 2 and 3)

specified in the 1996 LR GEIS

and demonstrating the

utilization of 10 CFR 50.155

or FLEX to address mitigation

of beyond-design-basis

events; or Utilizing the

source term from 10 CFR

50.34(a)(1)(ii)(D), or the

equivalent 10 CFR 52

regulation, with a non-intact

containment or confinement

for population density

assessments under 10 CFR

100.21(h) to demonstrate a

calculated total effective

dose equivalent (TEDE) of no

greater than 1 rem over a

period of 30 days and that no

further mitigation is

necessary because health

effects are shown not to be

significant or a new reactor

that is co-located with an

existing LWR may compare its

source terms to demonstrate

that the LWR's severe

accident risks bounds the new

reactor's risks; or Utilizing

10 CFR 50.33(g)(2) to

demonstrate there is no plume

exposure pathway emergency

planning zone where the

projected total effective

dose equivalent exceeds 1 rem

over 96 hours (i.e., 10 CFR

50.33(g)(2)(i)(A)) and no

further mitigation is

necessary because health

effects are shown not to be

significant. Acts of Terrorism..................... 1 SMALL....................... The environmental impacts of

acts of terrorism and

sabotage only need to be

addressed if a reactor

facility is subject to the

jurisdiction of the U.S.

Court of Appeals for the

Ninth Circuit.

Socioeconomics

Construction:

Community Services and 1 SMALL....................... The housing vacancy rate in

Infrastructure. the affected economic region

does not change by more than

5 percent, or at least 5

percent of the housing stock

remains available after

accounting for in-migrating

construction workers.

Student:teacher ratios in the

affected economic region do

not exceed locally mandated

levels after including the

school age children of the in-

migrating worker families.

Transportation Systems and Traffic 1 SMALL....................... The LOS determination for

affected roadways does not

change. Mitigation measures

may include implementation of

traffic flow management,

management of shift-change

timing, and encouragement of

ride-sharing and use of

public transportation

options, such that LOS values

can be maintained with the

increased volumes.

Economic Impacts.................. 1 Beneficial.................. The economic impacts of

construction and operation of

a new nuclear reactor are

expected to be beneficial;

therefore, this is a Category

1 issue. If, during the

project-specific

environmental review, the NRC

determines a detailed

analysis of economic costs

and benefits is needed for

analysis of the range of

alternatives considered or

relevant to mitigation, the

NRC may require further

information from the

applicant.

Tax Revenue Impacts............... 1 Beneficial.................. The tax revenue impacts of

construction and operation of

a new nuclear reactor are

expected to be beneficial;

therefore, this is a Category

1 issue. If, during the

project-specific

environmental review, the NRC

determines a detailed

analysis of tax revenue costs

and benefits is needed for

analysis of the range of

alternatives considered or

relevant to mitigation, the

NRC may require further

information from the

applicant. Operation:

Community Services and 1 SMALL....................... The housing vacancy rate in

Infrastructure. the affected economic region

does not change by more than

5 percent, or at least 5

percent of the housing stock

remains available after

accounting for in-migrating

construction workers.

Student:teacher ratios in the

affected economic region do

not exceed locally mandated

levels after including the

school age children of the in-

migrating worker families.

Transportation Systems and Traffic 1 SMALL....................... The LOS determination for

affected roadways does not

change. Mitigation measures

may include implementation of

traffic flow management,

management of shift-change

timing, and encouragement of

ride-sharing and use of

public transportation

options, such that LOS values

can be maintained with the

increased volumes.

Economic Impacts.................. 1 Beneficial.................. The economic impacts of

construction and operation of

a nuclear reactor are

expected to be beneficial;

therefore, this is a Category

1 issue. If, during the

project-specific

environmental review, the NRC

determines a detailed

analysis of economic costs

and benefits is needed for

analysis of the range of

alternatives considered or

relevant to mitigation, the

NRC may require further

information from the

applicant.

Tax Revenue Impacts............... 1 Beneficial.................. The tax revenue impacts of

construction and operation of

a nuclear reactor are

expected to be beneficial;

therefore, this is a Category

1 issue. If, during the

project-specific

environmental review, the NRC

determines a detailed

analysis of tax revenue costs

and benefits is needed for

analysis of the range of

alternatives considered or

relevant to mitigation, the

NRC may require further

information from the

applicant.

Fuel Cycle

Operation:

Uranium Recovery.................. 1 SMALL....................... Table S-3 of 10 CFR 51.51 is

expected to bound the impacts

for new reactor fuels,

because of uranium fuel cycle

changes since WASH-1248,

including:

--Increasing use of in situ

leach uranium mining has

lower environmental impacts

than traditional mining and

milling methods.

--Current light-water reactors

(LWRs) are using nuclear fuel

more efficiently due to

higher levels of fuel burnup

resulting in less demand for

mining and milling

activities.

--Less reliance on coal-fired

electrical generation plants

is resulting in less gaseous

effluent releases from

electrical generation sources

supporting mining and milling

activities.

Must satisfy the regulatory

requirements of 10 CFR part

40, Domestic Licensing of

Source Material and 10 CFR

part 71, Packaging and

Transportation of Radioactive

Material.

Uranium Conversion................ 1 SMALL....................... Table S-3 of 10 CFR 51.51 is

expected to bound the impacts

for new reactor fuels because

of uranium fuel cycle changes

since WASH-1248, including:

Current LWRs are using

nuclear fuel more efficiently

due to higher levels of fuel

burnup resulting in less

demand for conversion

activities. Less reliance on

coal-fired electrical

generation plants is

resulting in less gaseous

effluent releases from

electrical generation sources

supporting conversion

activities. Must satisfy the

regulatory requirements of 10

CFR part 40, Domestic

Licensing of Source Material

and 10 CFR part 71, Packaging

and Transportation of

Radioactive Material, and 10

CFR part 73, Physical

Protection of Plants and

Materials.

Enrichment........................ 1 SMALL....................... Table S-3 is expected to bound

the impacts for new nuclear

reactor fuels, because of

uranium fuel cycle changes

since WASH-1248, including:

Transitioning of U.S. uranium

enrichment technology from

gaseous diffusion to gas

centrifugation, which

requires less electrical

usage per separative work

unit. Current LWRs are using

nuclear fuel more efficiently

due to higher levels of fuel

burnup resulting in less

demand for enrichment

activities. Less reliance on

coal-fired electrical

generation plants is

resulting in less gaseous

effluent releases from

electrical generation sources

supporting enrichment

activities. Must satisfy the

regulatory requirements of 10

CFR part 40, Domestic

Licensing of Source Material;

10 CFR part 70, Domestic

Licensing of Special Nuclear

Material; 10 CFR part 71,

Packaging and Transportation

of Radioactive Material; and

10 CFR part 73, Physical

Protection of Plants and

Materials.

Fuel Fabrication (excluding metal 1 SMALL....................... Table S-3 is expected to bound

fuel and liquid-fueled molten the impacts for new nuclear

salt). reactor fuels, because of

uranium fuel cycle changes

since WASH-1248, including:

Current LWRs are using

nuclear fuel more efficiently

due to higher levels of fuel

burnup resulting in fewer

discharged fuel assemblies to

be fabricated each year and

due to longer time periods

between refueling. Less

reliance on coal-fired

electrical generation plants

is resulting in less gaseous

effluent releases from

electrical generation sources

supporting fabrication. Must

satisfy the regulatory

requirements of 10 CFR part

40, Domestic Licensing of

Source Material, 10 CFR part

70, Domestic Licensing of

Special Nuclear Material, 10

CFR part 71, Packaging and

Transportation of Radioactive

Material, and 10 CFR part 73,

Physical Protection of Plants

and Materials.

Reprocessing...................... 1 SMALL....................... Table S-3 is expected to bound

the impacts for new nuclear

reactor fuels, because of

uranium fuel cycle changes

since WASH-1248, including:

Current LWRs are using

nuclear fuel more efficiently

due to higher levels of fuel

burnup resulting in fewer

discharged fuel assemblies to

be reprocessed each year.

Less reliance on coal-fired

electrical generation plants

is resulting in less gaseous

effluent releases from

electrical generation sources

supporting reprocessing.

Reprocessing capacity up to

900 metric tons of uranium

[MTU]/yr. Must satisfy the

regulatory requirements of 10

CFR part 40, Domestic

Licensing of Source Material;

10 CFR part 50, Domestic

Licensing of Production and

Utilization Facilities;10 CFR

part 70, Domestic Licensing

of Special Nuclear Material;

10 CFR part 71, Packaging and

Transportation of Radioactive

Material; 10 CFR part 72,

Licensing Requirements for

the Independent Storage of

Spent Fuel, High-Level

Radioactive Waste, and

Reactor-related Greater Than

Class C Waste; and 10 CFR

part 73, Physical Protection

of Plants and Materials.

Storage and Disposal of 1 SMALL....................... Table S-3 is expected to bound

Radiological Wastes. the impacts for new nuclear

reactor fuels, because of

uranium fuel cycle changes

since WASH-1248, including:

Current LWRs are using

nuclear fuel more efficiently

due to higher levels of fuel

burnup resulting in fewer

discharged fuel assemblies to

be stored and disposed. Less

reliance on coal-fired

electrical generation plants

is resulting in less gaseous

effluent releases from

electrical generation sources

supporting storage and

disposal. Waste and spent

fuel inventories, as well as

their associated certified

spent fuel shipping and

storage containers, are not

significantly different from

what has been considered for

LWR evaluations in NUREG-

2157. Must satisfy the

regulatory requirements of 10

CFR part 40, Domestic

Licensing of Source Material;

10 CFR part 70, Domestic

Licensing of Special Nuclear

Material; 10 CFR part 71,

Packaging and Transportation

of Radioactive Material; 10

CFR part 72, Licensing

Requirements for the

Independent Storage of Spent

Fuel, High-Level Radioactive

Waste, and Reactor-related

Greater Than Class C Waste;

and 10 CFR part 73, Physical

Protection of Plants and

Materials.

Transportation of Fuel and Waste

Operation:

Transportation of Unirradiated 1 SMALL....................... The maximum annual one-way

Fuel. shipment distance does not

exceed 59,160 km (36,760 mi).

The annual shipments

associated with the one-way

shipment distance have been

normalized to a net

electrical output of 880

megawatts electric [MW(e)],

i.e., 1,100 MW(e) with an 80

percent capacity factor from

WASH-1238. The maximum annual

round-trip shipment distance

does not exceed 118,320 km

(73,520 mi). The annual

shipments associated with the

round-trip shipment distance

have been normalized to a net

electrical output of 880

MW(e), i.e., 1,100 MW(e) with

an 80 percent capacity factor

from WASH-1238.

Transportation of Radioactive 1 SMALL....................... The maximum annual round-trip

Waste. shipment distance does not

exceed 293,145 km (182,152

mi). The annual shipments

associated with the round-

trip shipment distance have

been normalized to a net

electrical output of 880

MW(e), i.e., 1,100 MW(e) with

an 80 percent capacity factor

and a shipment volume of 2.34

m\3\/shipment from WASH-1238.

Transportation of Irradiated Fuel. 1 SMALL....................... The maximum annual one-way

shipment distance does not

exceed 505,393 km (314,037

mi). The annual shipments

associated with the one-way

shipment distance have been

normalized to a net

electrical output of 880

MW(e), i.e., 1,100 MW(e) with

an 80 percent capacity factor

and a shipment capacity of

0.5 MTU/shipment from WASH-

1238. The maximum annual

round-trip shipment distance

does not exceed 1,010,786 km

(628,073 mi). The annual

shipments associated with the

round-trip shipment distance

have been normalized to a net

electrical output of 880

MW(e), i.e., 1,100 MW(e) with

an 80 percent capacity factor

and a shipment capacity of

0.5 MTU/shipment from WASH-

1238. A maximum assembly

averaged burnup of 80

gigawatt-days [GWd]/MTU for

UO2 fuel and peak pellet

burnup of 133 GWd/MTU for TRi-

structural ISOtropic (TRISO)

fuel.

Decommissioning

Decommissioning....................... 1 SMALL....................... The environmental impacts for

the following resource areas

were generically addressed in

NUREG-0586, Supplement 1,

would be limited to

operational areas, would not

be detectable or

destabilizing and are

expected to have a negligible

effect on the impacts of

terminating operations and

decommissioning:

--Onsite Land Use

--Water Use

--Water Quality

--Air Quality

--Aquatic Ecology within the

operational area

--Terrestrial Ecology within

the operational area

--Radiological

--Radiological Accidents (non-

spent-fuel-related)

--Occupational Issues

--Socioeconomic

--Onsite Cultural and Historic

Resources for plants where

the disturbance of lands

beyond the operational areas

is not anticipated

--Aesthetics

--Noise

--Transportation

--Irretrievable Resource

The following issues were not

addressed in NUREG-0586,

Supplement 1, but have been

determined to be Category 1

issues:

--Nonradiological waste

--Greenhouse Gases Decommissioning....................... 2 Undetermined................ Threatened and endangered

species was an issue

identified in NUREG-0586,

Supplement 1, as requiring a

project-specific review.

Four conditionally project-

specific issues identified in

NUREG-0586, Supplement 1,

will require a project-

specific review if present:

--Land use involving offsite

areas to support

decommissioning activities

--Aquatic ecology for

activities beyond the

licensed operational area

--Terrestrial ecology for

activities beyond the

licensed operational area

--Historic and cultural

resources (archaeological,

architectural, structural,

historic) for activities

within and beyond the

licensed operational area

with no current (i.e., at the

time of decommissioning)

evaluation of resources for

National Register of Historic

Places (NRHP) eligibility

Additionally, the following

two environmental resource

areas are additional

decommissioning impacts that

require project-specific

review:

--Climate Change: the effects

of climate change are

location-specific and cannot,

therefore, be evaluated

generically (see section

1.3.3.2.2, Category 2 Issues

Applying Across Resources, of

NUREG-2249)

--Cumulative: must be

considered on a project-

specific basis where impacts

would depend on regional

resource characteristics, the

resource-specific impacts of

the project, and the

cumulative significance of

other factors affecting the

resource. (see section

1.3.3.2.2, Category 2 Issues

Applying Across Resources, of

NUREG-2249).

Issues Applying Across Resources

Climate Change Impacts on 2 Undetermined................ The effects of climate change

Environmental Resources. on environmental resources

are location-specific and

cannot, therefore, be

evaluated generically. For

example, while climate change

may cause many areas to

receive less than average

annual precipitation, other

areas may see an increase in

average annual precipitation.

Therefore, applicants and the

NRC would address the effects

of climate change on

environmental resources in

the environmental documents

for new nuclear reactor

licensing. Cumulative Impacts.................... 2 Undetermined................ Applications must individually

consider the cumulative

impacts from past, present,

and reasonably foreseeable

actions known to occur at

specific sites for proposed

new nuclear reactors and

briefly present those

considerations in

supplemental NEPA

documentation. The staff

would address whether these

individualized evaluations of

potential cumulative impacts

alter any of the generic

analyses and conclusions

relied upon for Category 1

issues. The individualized

cumulative impact analyses

may also identify

opportunities where NRC might

rely upon the generic

analyses for some Category 1

issues for which certain of

the PPE or SPE values and

assumptions might be

exceeded.

Non-Resource Related Issues

Purpose and Need...................... 2 Undetermined................ Must be described in the

environmental report

associated with a given

application. Need for Power........................ 2 Undetermined................ Must be described in the

environmental report

associated with a given

application. Site Alternatives..................... 2 Undetermined................ Must be described in the

environmental report

associated with a given

application. Energy Alternatives................... 2 Undetermined................ Must be described in the

environmental report

associated with a given

application. System Design Alternatives............ 2 Undetermined................ Must be described in the

environmental report

associated with a given

application.

\1\ Data supporting this table are contained in NUREG-2249, “Generic Environmental Impact Statement for

Licensing of New Nuclear Reactors.” \2\ The categories are defined as follows: Category 1 issues--environmental issues for which the NRC has been able to make a generic finding of SMALL

adverse environmental impacts, or beneficial impacts, provided that the applicant's proposed reactor facility

and site meet or are bounded by relevant values and assumptions in the PPE and SPE that support the generic

finding for that Category issue. Category 2 issues--Environmental issues for which a generic finding regarding the environmental impacts cannot

be reached because the issue requires the consideration of project-specific information that can only be

evaluated once the proposed site is identified. The impact significance (i.e., SMALL, MODERATE, or LARGE) for

these issues will be determined in a project-specific evaluation. N/A--Issues related to exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) for which there is no national scientific

agreement regarding adverse health effects. \3\ A finding of SMALL impacts means that 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 Commission's regulations are considered SMALL as the term is used in this table. For issues

where probability is a key consideration (i.e., accident consequences), probability was a factor in

determining significance. \4\ Because the Category 2 issues require a project-specific review, there are no associated values and

assumptions of the plant parameter envelope and site parameter envelope. A brief summary explanation for the

designation of the Category 2 issues is provided in lieu of values and assumptions.

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Dated: April 22, 2026. Carrie Safford, Secretary of the Commission. [FR Doc. 2026-08015 Filed 4-23-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7590-01-P