Regulatory Guide 4.11

Terrestrial Environmental Studies for Nuclear Power Stations

ML13350A243
Person / Time
Issue date:	07/31/1976
From:	NRC/OSD
To:
References
RG-4.011
Download: ML13350A243 (9)

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY

COMMISSION

REGULATORY

GUIDE OFFICE OF STANDARDS

DEVELOPMENT

REGULATORY

GUIDE 4.11 TERRESTRIAL

ENVIRONMENTAL

STUDIES FOR NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS July 1976

A. INTRODUCTION

ixtientiaJl ctivit1JnarTieti ,ct.,!ts5 mcudine iuddeti -11 extet.nAlized custs. of nucicau power statikin construction and The Nuclear Regulatory Conmiits,,n's policy and operation.

By identifying importanl envirornn,,znl costs procedures for picparing and proccssing erivirotimental priot to site preparation and statnun construction.

the impact statements and related documents pursuant ito costs can be rmduced to acceptable levels by wleclting as-Section 102(2) (C) of the National invironmental Policy appropriate site. revising the station de.i"'or modifying Act of 1969 (Public Law 91-190, 83 Stat. 852) are set operating piocedures.

forth in 10 C(FR Part SI, "Licensing and Regulatory C., Policy arid Procedures foi Environmental Prtc'tion.'" In this guide. environmental str4ies aute.4vided into Regulatory Guide 4.2. "Preparation of Environmental four phases: rote Selection.

box* ' Mbdies. cnsitu.tion Reports for Nuclear Power Stations," identifies the monitoring, arid -rih .1 able I shows informnation needed by the NRC staff in its aswscsnment the oruganization foz ,=restual tdies identifying majoi of the potential eavironmental etlects of a lijpoted task.5and their apprt'*).tetim&:hedults.

nuclear facility.

This regulatory guide provides technical Adversw t Jke Jtl o.gafisrh or ecological inlfornima ion Imo the design and.c.c ecution of eterest rial systems h.c histAoI4y itulted fr omr loss or niodifica.

environmental studies for nuclear power stations.

The titit Lol out rtinvtals or toxic chemiicals information resulting from these studies, ai they relate illtot eti nrtimt, and dnect desitruction of biota. A to ecological aspects of site selection, as.sessment of bholcd*Cl,,eil'I

nay be expressed at the level of lih terrestrial effects of station cons truction and operation, :'

itr throuh the collective jrcnponrt.

and formulation of related monitorting activitcs.

mtay be 4.sins ,t the system level.. k.xar1-,:

of effect- o',t appropriate for inclusion in the applicant's ii)4gvithil organisms include death. redu, :, n of heallh tal report. *1or'ltalty, accurmulation of roxi" subs...nces.

and`ta. llteration of reproductive success. Lxa.mples of ecolo.Although there is a need for a thorou,0,4i1uait*

gical system efc1TIs include changes in birth mi, death environmental impacts, it is important thaItresouw.09s not rate. changes of toxic ekinent concentrations through-be needlessly dissipated on programs of-.t*iteJ&'%aflu¢.

out entire food webs, and changes in population mle ot The need for accuraite evaluation and view of community structure, the environmental report makes it eswrntial to focus Mos lant and animal sopuletions havc sutficient quickly on Iearingful

'I9 a nd to avoid exhaustive Modt pl a ct y o n ma k Upu fort o sshe1s t't,:ie w analyses not directiy fter ;.1station impacts. This reproductive capacity tu make up for loses of a few guide racommindrirtk, C Itu ssessments, resource mdtvidual.

without chanes in 3verage population W.,es management, s.f.c -and control of effects asWhen th loss of individual means for ,ro~ting terrestrial ecology. The ap- becomes sufficiently great, however, the populattori irs a proach r j061nn62 d f.1 terrestrial surveys begins with whorce ttay eas to punction em a elf.suy tahning.broadly anll and biotic inventories and then renewable resource.

The poplation may then be focuses number of significant environmental overstressed.

and species extinction or undesitable shifts issues. 1Rý in community structure may become possible.

B. DISCUSSION

It is important (hat environmental assessments pro-vide the information needed to estimate and limit Excessive population stresses have resulted from natural phenomena, hunting, trapping.

draining of wet-lands, harvesting forests, plowing prairies, widespread USNAC RE.GULATORY

GUIDES Corn"rt.9 Sh.ould 104 so-t tothi swc..tsv of t" rnte~, U a I cls 1%g,.tato,v Guide* Ole iltus4 to d~renit.h and _4119 4*AO0 to~e~' 0.4t.,.~ Outwitg:o DCic Sam"^t.4Octwg e mefthods acce~lbillt

990 tIle i9C stetI Of 'rnPtlt.ttt~tg

11009to Parts Of %as Comnrn16,00

S togujtbt.ofts.

to dol~tes~bgtetVha

'J&" air Ito~ Ot.t ft *Vt The quid"e.l,.e,1'ttsfla nthf eo~ fftobroa8d ff9.softe sting tiepc-fic ptoblernt at posttuteled

&cc~de'tt a' to Po'tde guidane. to .o~tt.coots Regulatory Gwtlfs 11te not subst.1too to, mot elalto'te.

oed Itemt9,9'c*

I Power 01tescs.'e Pioduct witth thte t %a'tt toqu,Irtd Melhads and Solutionse different

1. -rn too".se Sol. Ot I 40sc W4 7#11 Arttorf 7 tlia guides will be accoptebie itlt ihyotovide a bastm #to ttt. 9.~donqlt9'44001%

to 3 ul n Iloeii Ftectttt~es S etit crostions Meot!?Ike ilstuatco or cotnounvrc of a Ostrn't 0, hetrn. kV th~e Cotrnntlwt..

4 an SIT..9 I A.mtnw Commtentts and 1W994geetlot o 110, ....'t -, titeog 9-69.i% 61* mtCOu.aged1 a matoene 6`14 Pont Pltodtlan'

90 Conoete Mt all totes. .1,d guide -,It be ,oI.as *00'oo.,etu.

In aeccOM'tOodet torn" tm.e.ts and to t*tt~ct neow -Itai-,atm'

o a, ..ec O 4 ,w4ea Commen~eton~

capt," at pubttl"04 gwude mnay be obtotp bl, tantlan, 004"h11 tttdeetag fth flits quid*. .9 received wittvin About two moths'tI.

After its 1.fOsu~* w~tt be Par tbW~ovans dl"~ To fthe US 9t~l ftoctla egltory Cornvstewo.

Waettotp 0 t DC ftc.1a'tV

useful to oisetuht..q the need to- a. soetiy eiruon 2Mý Aite..ytott D..eo'w. etfhte at Simteo.4de eonp

9 TABLE 1 TERRESTRIAL

ENVIRONMENTAL

STUDIES RELATED TO THE CONSTRUCTION

AND OPERATION

OF NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS Phase Site selection Baseline studies at the proposed site Construction monitoring at the :approved site Operational monitoring at the approved site* CP = construction permit ER = environmental report OL = operating license Major Task Regional land-use analysis Local land-use analysis Biological iivcnborics Monitoring of construction practice Problem-oliented monitoring (short-term and continuing programs)Time When Task Pcrformed*

Prior to apphcation for CP when candidate areas are being selected Prior to application for CP when preferred site is being sIcicted Prior to application for CP when ER is being prepared;m"ay continuc into period after CtP issuance (bui before OL issuarnce)

DMring period bet-'eco CP issuance and OL issuance After OL is issued dispersion of toxic substances, and other activities This does nut imply that these activities are always incom-patible with the well-being of natural systems. Experi-ence has shown that good management often permits the coexistence of desired ecological systems with various enterprises.

Site Selection The results of site selection surveys are useful in identifying potential Impacts of station siting, construe-tion, and operation on terrestrial ecological systems and permit evaluation of alternatives that could reduce ad-verse effects. In this guide, the suggested site selection procedures*

are limited to terrestrial ecoloey.Site selection surveys may be descriptive in nature. In describing biota, emphasis is generally placed on ecolo-gically significant groupings of organisms and manage-ment of resources rather than on ecological detail. it is important, however, that the investigations rapidly focus on matters of special sensitivity, rather than retaining a broad and diffitse approach.Site selection surveys can be conduct'.s in two phases, regional land-use and local land-u:.-," analysis.Regional land-use analysis is used in conjunction with*See also Regulatory Guide 4.7, "General Site Suitability Cri-teria for Nuclear Power. Stations." engineering surveys to select candidate sites for tht nuclear station. Local land-use anralysi3 is directed u candidate sites and is used in conjunction with engi-W nec .ing consideratims to sclect a preferred site. Site selection surveys of terrestrial ecology are coordinated with prelinidnary engineering.

studies. The information needed could be ob!ained from such sources as aerial photographs.

topographic maps, reconnaissance, litera-ture, and regional or local zoning and planning data. Site ,election surveys aaa performed with the objective of providing data for resource nunagement analysis, rather than for detailed functional analysts of ecosystems.

Terrestrial criteria at the regional level what are needed in the selection of candidate sites include the extent of valuable farmland in the region and the altematives avail-able for siting on land of lower utility, the extent of valuable wildlife habitat in the region and alternatives to Its use, and the extent of valuable forests in the region and alternatives to their use. Also needed is information on the current status of land use and zoning plans within the region. This includes an accounting of all land within the region in major categories such as. agricultural land, forest land, urban areas. highway-s, and airporls.The selection process examines reasonable oppor-tunities for utilizing sites that have minimal impact on the diversity of regional land use, present and future.Preservation of a range of options for land use is important for the consideration of biologically rare or.s 4.11-2 unique areas. A unique wildljfe babita.1 may be und':six-able for a site since to use it could furodose oppof-tunities for propagation of wildlife.

scientifk" study, natural history study, recreatu'tr, and public enjuyrnent of wildlife.Federal, State, regional, and local planning authoritis may be consulted to dct.ermine the existence and location of areas withiri the region that have. icen dedicated to the public interest or areas in which 5iting would be in conflict with preexisting zoning plars.Examples of such areas include dedicated patrks and forests, especially produetive fartland, places whe're specialty c-rops are produced.

rate but as yet undedicated forests and wildlife habitats, scenic arcai, and wetland,.More specilfic land-use classes are needed in t~Rw fucal surveys than in the regional surveys, but they should be based on information obtained by reconnsance rather than detailed binlogical invcntory.

Land-use cate-gories may include farms. fields. secondary succeisiort (indicating dominant species), foiests, and residentiaJ.

industrial, and commercial areas. If aerial photognphs are used for local land.u5c analysis, it is important that their scale is sufficient to present views of the candidate sites and their inunediate environs.Major soil data for each sioe being may be obtained from existing literature or thirough recofltais- santce it' not otherwise available.

Soil Counrvtion Service offices are usually able to .upply sufficient Information.

Information may be %upplied as a soil association map that is keyed to a t ab!t of descriptive information.

The selection of a cooling method for the propsed plant is an important consideration in itle selection.

Cooling reservoirs may require loss of land, which may be unacceptable compared to the use of coolinp towers.in su:e re'ioits.

Howvver. cooling towers could be objectionlabe in sceruc aicas where a coohng lake could be an aseiet. Visible plunes from coolirn tovtts could be ntoze Abjvctivmb!e e ironrstentirly at sov sitcs it others becausc Of ground Itogs or sraig, l'ible 2 is an example matrix that could be to.d it bAa.ncing the& I -f factorV. i FKY th.e lWca studies. .nkcrasi.ng delail 1s ncedcd in tOle tatbi:iion of plant and anmal speci-e uegun during the rei.nun.d sunrey'. T'h. specis list mayx be enla-,ed omorn kanvidge or pdincipd habnaials

%f the sites, re,'nt~nai.--

tsance. ttw literature..

anid 1 t .At thi s wtg' it is tr-pi-qtwit to esutabbsh whterhe there te m>b4wiovs differences aiuntg sites with ,rsp-,et to endAngercd

3pcjc. es, gamn. waitmals.

or ,other ialportant spc'ies of The ,tvruwett ftr c4ch size should Jnclude c'-u iderariorn o~f the a ot prelefled habitat of w4eicies (iie Secki'n 22 of. Regt" rio"y Guide 4.2) that would be, affected.tnt'ointutivr.

ic uircd fwn r-k-vsiorcirtlo~i t-mmAnilm in nature to rtial. for. candidate site setkctiuf.

DetaiLead cormidoi routes wt!.' not norrnall.

be Known it this stage. Nevertheless.

tvnisi&-citiom needs to be gi'en to prtIsbblb c0,or nid IteI'fh, YIaTuurl barriers, imllpac on lai d use. utits for ne'w transmission lir.es with pree.xisting tourees, and tbeltiC 0ffects in the wetectic.r of candidate sites..Tabie 3 is wa example matrix that could be used inand balancing altematihe sites. Site % lecriun ts dependent on a wide range of ficlors other th~an those rclating to tvrrestrial e'ology. In .ome c seCS the weirring and balancing of Al factors may rt.mult in a selctiwn thtr is les3 than optimum by renres'tial ecologic.l cJi1em1a.

I.n these cases the need for suhsequent ptrtans may be greater in the case of mote nearly optimum choices. tomever, norve of the candidate sites shiould be OLE 2 FACTORS CONSIDERED

IN THE SELECTION

OF SITES AND COOLING METHODS Environmental Variable Farn-land Woodland Wasteland Coastland Wetland Special Wildlife Habitats Preserves and Parks Aesthetic Impacts Once.Througts Cooling COOlinS LAke Cowling Towei Spray Canals 4.11-3 W

TABLE 3 SELECTION

OF SITES: TERRESTRIAL

FACTORS*Factor Site A Site B Site C Land use Farmland Woodland Wildlife iHabitat Unique or Rare Habitats Area of Site Transmission Corridors'Terrestrial Ecolog Inportant Species Present Endangered and Threatened Species Present OUnits %hould be quantitative whenever appropriate:

hWCveC, judgmenta3 eMr6 are acveptatlc if necde4..located in critical, unique, of highly valuable haibitat areas.rhe goal of the regional and local land-use surveys is the selection of a preferred site that does not have critical habitats or habitats in short local supply. Any site selected, of course, %,li result in the loss of some habitat and its associated residents.

This loss is assessed through an inventory of species present.Baseline Studies Baseline studies of the preferred site, including transmission corridors, are needed to fully describe the site and to establish a basis for predicting the impact of construction or operation.

Baseline studies may be used for comparison with later construction or operational studies.Biological studies of the proposed site are made in advance of plant construction or operation.

The qualita-tive notations of station and animal abundance included In the baseline inventory are normally sufficient.

Quanti-tative measurement of population density Is not usually needed as part of the species Inventory unless profes-sional judgment based on field study leads to a reason-able conclusion that one or more populations of Important species could be adversely affected by con-struction ot operation This judgernt should be based on examination ot each us"ng the criteria cited here and on professional biolo:cal ltetrpretation.

Cons-derations include the biolo cal reason for timportance and the link between the nuclear station and thc organisrm The spvcies considered important are those that meet the d&fmition in Guide 4.12 and that are linked adversely to the station in some reasonable way. These may require further quantitative effort in the baseline studies and operational monitoring surveys.It is important that judgment be exercised in selecting the thine for initiating quantitative population studies if they are needed. Where construction effects are antrkips-ted. quantitative studies should beg& in the bairline phase. Where an effect of station operation is expected.it would be best to defer quantitative baseline studies until some time prior to operation to ensure reasonable compatibility with the operational studies. It will usually be adequate to bracket the per d of anticipated impact with I or 2 years of prior studies and an appropriate term of following studies.Properly designed studies will avoid placinr undue emphasis on certain easily accessible groups of orn-isms. Most species of insects. for example, are ecolo-gically important In local food webs. However, species that cannot reasonably be judged threatened by the nuclear station or that are not likely to become of 4 4.11-4 econom1ic o.1 r public health significance because of construction ot operation need not be studied quatiti-tatively beyond the initial iniventories.

Rtodeints are also ecologically imnportasit food web organisnis.

However.quantitative population mleasuremrients are riot needed as long as there is no reason to believe that station construction or operation will have an effect on their populations beyond that caused by the loss of habitat.Cettain station site and designs have required special envitonmental assssriment effort. Thiee i,'..ude sites With large cooling take.. or rew't voirs and planis having ckrO t ing trowets, part tolarly itf the wate, soIrce Is vi-wvatcf or0 b0a1: isfl wate,. These arc di.d ii, more detail in the t(1i4wing i:Ctuons.It is iniplortant that the baseline stildivs of powcr stations having proposed mnan-mrade coiling laks con-sider physical anrd Olvi:ical ,elation.shlps bctweei the water shed and lake; use of a new, habitwt by birds, insects, and other anirriws in both bieeficial and adverse aspects: and the potential for successful rehabilitation of the lake basin if the station is decommissioned.

Both beneficial and adverse effects of the lake on the environ-menrt s101uld be consideTed, Water quality of the artificial like riu.v te intluenced no, only It source water qualiry but also by ,elatioh.ships with aoils and the surrounding landscape.

Develop-nirrt of a watershed management plan ib needed as well as an estirate of the amoutltl of rtwirffi oi" dissolved substances and soil into the lake ftorn the surrounding landscape, A new forms a new htabitat for plants and animals. Waterfowl may be attracted in suhstantial numbiexrs during their normal migration and their nfigra-tion habits may be altered, e.g., by overwinteting in a northern chnmte om a warni.water lake. Waterfowl attracted to a lake may cause econrnit.

loss to agricul-ture by their feeding activities and may cause degrada.lion of the lake water quality ifom their metabolic wastes.Evaporative cooling towers affect ecosystems by&eposition of drift containing dissolved minerals oft the landscape or by production of fog. Drift may be beneficdal or adverse depending on the chemlical c.m.pound# and elements being deposited and the amounts of depostion.

The baseline program is designed to evwduatt the, potential effects of drift and to establish reference n*easmierenrts for comparison with later opera.tieOed mnfltoring obsenatlons by determinIng the amounts and kinds of alirborne chen*icals being deposi.ted on site prior to cooling tower operation.

Acceptable data could be obtained from existing sources of inform.a tion or from monthly sampling of collectors that collect rboth dry and wet fallout. If a sampling program is used, it is normally continued for at least I year. Table 4 suggests chemicals that are usually considered ini plan.ninlg the program.Drift from saltgatet or brackish water cooling towers contains NaC I and Ltthet salts. Tile baseline chemical measurements establish the Ni and Cl content of soils and plants in the expected drift field of cooliig towers that use seawater or brackish water. Baseline soil measurements noirmall , include the conductivity of saturated extracts ani' phI of samples obtained froni tire expected drift field.It' the driflt frotr either fre-liwatler or saltwater towcr is likely to r t ollal i.. .lwk , .ccs, their ttoficellrr iJtinlls are Irreasurmd ultless it 1,; c!.t: tit the allillrts irrid concelrtraltlons

ire SttflitCw r low ri precl ode short.trerf t arnd cUlrlrrrr'

., adverse effects. Advirse biological eft:iecs cart rrstrally her filed ot withr lessorn.able certainly r i ros t elv' re nis aind crt found it n tire whei the expected additions corthrred with jreexistifliz tortell wotrld rot r aise tlhe concetllliration at'life Itoxrc subslanrce oulside lhie ranlge oii v ithitlioll notmally found in I lie hiot a or soils of tlie regionr Chemical analyses of' soils, plants, and animals in the drift field of freshwater cooling towers ate riot usually needed when all of the following apply: (I ) the domi-mant salts ate hatmiless mixtutres of hiolocieral ltrlimrrents as slhowwn in Table 4. (2) the expected deposition ieyoild the nearest site boundary is less thar 20 kglha-yy of mixed salts, and (3) Lii," drilt does riot cOntlin toxic o corCmpounds it amolntois thalt could be hazardous to plants o, either b% direct or indirect exposure over tIhe expected lifelintie of the facility.Usually, relference specimens of' soils, plants, and animals for possible future aiilysis ;are retaihed iii cases where it is determinied tihat drift presert rs a chemilcl halTzard to the envillolniltnt.

The spýcirtietis tilay consist of subsarirples of matertal that were collected prior to tower uperatirn afnd analyzed for baseline data. The stored samples are adequately protected for analytical pu rpose s.Constnrction Monitoring Biological monitoring of imnportant species Is necess.ary if unavoidable construction practice causes a threat to some natural population or ecosystem that could extend beyond the bounds of the area actually dedicated to construction or associated activities.

it such cases, studies may be designed to document the impact and develop possible corrective actions.4.11.5 I -- I I -I TABLE 4 ELEMENTS AND COMPOUNDS

OF POSSIBLE CONCERN IN CHEMICAL MONITORING

PROGRAMS FOR TERRESTRIAL

SYSTEMS 0 Group Nil cron it i rienI 4 3 4

• 4 Ca, Mg, K, -kn Cu. Zn. Co, 8. Mo..V..Fe. I" ,NJ. C, F. 11CO) Co 2 Chemical compounds commonly found in sonic required by animals Rt Btv Oiosoicsl kafrard.Wlnot vi r.Q r"-. zx.cpt in No hs"~Ji 0Whu~ a~ of tsakwrns ye !otweiale to hugh ktinor flhk at Winez'r'dpen~icr c'n wircji '4 m 1.oQdum saall ruve Irxh rrk Pie.vrn~ed high. bologicila risk atI ail ~.ic ~auii al bjvc thow'i ntmally found in nsture.Preiurned high hi~nlopjcal risk if Present in cooing tower drift.Toxic Ph, I1g. Cd, Cr. Ai Bijocides added to cuoling wate.s Operasionall Mon~itoring All C, REGULATORY

POSITION Monitoring after coimnl ence n!iht of station opera-tions is intended to determine whether or not there are adverse biological effects attributable to station opera-tions. This monitoring program is outlined in detail in the technical specifications that arc issued in connection with the station operating license. The scope of these studies is determined by the degree of direct linkage between the proposed station and the terrestrial eco-system. It is not necessary to hypothesize vague effects or to undertake a program to measure a phenomenon that has no reasonable relationship to station operation.

However, when an adverse relationship between station operation and a terrestrial community Is reasonably thought to exist, a thorough evaluation is necessary.

This evaluation is usually started during site selection or baseline survey stages and continued after commence-ment of station operation.

There may be cases In which no important impact on the terrestrial ecological community is anticipated.

When such cases are adequately supported.

there may be no necessity for terrestrial monitoring during operation.

i. It is important to co.rdinate all the programs discussed in Regulatory Guides 4.1. -Program.

for Mdont-toting Radioactivity in the Environs of Nuclear Power Plants," and 4.2, "Preparation of Enritonrental Reports for Nuclear Powmer Stations'" Since precise prediction.

and assessments of impacts on terrestrial ecologicil systems are not allways p,.ssible, reasonable professictra interpretations

ýhould be made v*hen quantitative pre-diction is impossible.

2. Adequate assessment of current land-use status should show (by a table, for example) major l-and-use categories and areas devoted to each category along with aerial photographs showing the same categories.

When data are not available from existing records, an acceptable means of acquiring them would be through the use of aerial photographs in conjunction with ground reconnaissance.

The scale of photographs should be appropriate to the degree of detail required.4.11.6

3. Di)ussioi of .Ails shoulk inclode ussociatimn na~nws.' c~apbill'

elasscs,#

and p~erc'entge or" sil coverage by eack amociatiun.

1Whn lliwunlmlts tlols of ,iiilo extent 1."C prcot li. it is acceptable to accouilt for 10 to I Slyfl o, the total utea in a tiui:ella- neous cukgoiii.

.rxcept for areas of ci;ique %alue.Dktrilc,, ¢onlsiderationt of soils and t11e1 productioin potential is necessary fot biles located iln areas that are especially productivc of agiicu tirfal or fotwstty prod.uctI .4. lbldogical momuitrig prtjigam.s sho,:h1 he inlioaly devisd Io b0v sci, 1I i ri.:vedhes to detctI k1.lesil-4ble Milects. If aidvcrsc biological ftle,'ts are dctecled.dc-taied ito aitic hf4h4giuhiJ "nd e"olohg.ka analyses itlay hlie IriiUicd to deieimijle cattse anid t) devise I('.".tR'

Ii ;3dVerseC

1t¢l 1 t l lc lot dcltected qHatll U tative studies are rot neredad.The sjic,ýwý invenlory of tile site should include

1wihi las id norirnal scastoitu variationS.

Lo-call, pro)milnt

0i1l imporlanlt ,asculat plants, fiaintials, birds repuies, amphiblans.

inwects, and other plants and animnals should be included.

The invenlory should he terisonably cormnpelbe hut may be terrinated when addi.tioiq field effort no lo k.gr yields significant numbers of previoisly unobstn-cd tpecles.The inventory of inv,,cts Nieed not account for all spCeie FiMce it RmRy bN po,,lble oIQ find previouVly wjitabulated species for years after the beginning of the study. Insect surveys should provide Information on important specics such as disease vectors, pests. and pollinating insects. Interpretation of insect data should inclu.de whether or not populations could he altered, Willh advers consequences Io alnimls, vegetation, or humans, by construction or operation of the station.Protectton of terrestrial syxtenri is usually adequate when it can be shown that (I) habitat losses or alterations are insignificant to populations of Important species in the regional or local context, (2) cheotical emissions from the station ate sufficiently small to permit reasonable assurance that no adverse effect will occur, and (3) no mechinism exists for causing uin-tended destruction of organisms, or its occurrence Is infrequent enough to give reasonable assurance that whole populations will nol be adversely affected.Environmental protection should be achieved by control of common Sources of environmental effects.These Include soil erosion, siltation, use of herbicides.

dust and noise during construction, and others.Biological conequences can usually be prevented or reduced to acceptable levels through proper manage-rent.*U.S. Deptment of Agriculturte I-VNi System should be used.If cooling towers arte being considered, the mineral conzent ot the cooling water supply should be determined in lte baseline studies. An estimte should ti" made of the amounts and dispersion of salts expected to be deposited froni the towers. The eistimate should t., based oin cooling water q 1 ualiy.maunufa:t.urc r's specificationss drift release fronm the towers, concentration factors, and prevadiin c eteono.logical conditions at the site, Meteorological disperswon models atre useful to obtain estimates of drift deposition.

Elsthiated drift deposition fronl coouling tuweis may be Plotted on a base map or graph centered on the towers and showing isopleths of salt deposit ion. The maps should have a radius sufficient to show the ointsti at which -the amountt of drilft tomm the lower fall within thle normal range of annual variation of backgtound deposition from other sources. They should also show thc vegetation types that occur in the drift field.Reco-lnaissance iand intpectioi of Woh.wa in Ihliit field beforc and a'fter cooling tower operation is a it1Ci:11,1 Icornmended It' delecltion ot" pi:;sible adverse tlfTects of drift. The baseline hnI.neclion should be caitied out iy specialists In; biology workingg systC t'liltically foillt check.lists of possible advetse effects% In the coniunily, Scasonal aerial and giound-level photographs in color or inf.ared false color of iwrilanetit vegetation plots are often useful aids. Quanttiatlse chemical analysis of plants, animals, and soils arc needed if chemical deposits are expected to exceed toxic or injurious thrcsholds.

Population monitoring of selected species could also he needed in such cases.The assessment of coolinig lakes should include a detailed consideration ol the effects of land diversion oin local, regional, 31nd Staie agriculitual prodct lI0ion, foresl production, on rmc teat loital uses. The assessment should include both adveise and beneficial aspects of cooling lake onstruction, Where a cooling lake: Is pitoposcd.

ithe ba.eline studies should Include a prelimInury assessnent of the potential for rechtination of the lake boltton for agricultural, ccologlcad, or forestry use after decotninis.

sloning. It Is not necessary, however, ito prejudge tuluue u11 of the lake site It is sufficient to establish whether the option exists to reclalt the site for other pioducLtivC

uses or whether tile creation of the lake consiltutes an irretrievable change In land use.The asscssinenl should also include a report of the number of hectares of the lake site that will feittain undisturbed during construction, thle number of hectares and vegetation that will be disturbed, the source of"borrow" material for dike construction, and the man-agement of' topsoil removed during constructiion.

Use of topsoil stripped fronm the lake bottom for vegetative stabilization of dikes and for ultimate replacement on the lake bottom for rehabilitation should be considered.

4.11.7

11.. na s, capability class.* and pCerIteagc of "lie 4Oc~erap by each.x a~x-iatv.-n V. cn unomceo'.

msxiz-tions, of rnrino extent 1 e pr.Xinl. I, n act;.IANC

1, account for 10 to 15'5.* of the iotwl arco in a ritawe!.nIeous category, except tot areas of ct~*ique Vtut.Detailed consideration of sujs. and tfir prudthjitwn potential is necessary for sites located in areaex tha4 are especialy productive of airicultutal or forestry piod.,-tic Is.4. Wiolugl,.al Iua lltul lurg

>.hId b13c mittilly devised to be succemnng pru,.edu,,%

to d u!,kr u. -able effects. If advcr.c biulogical ef(,",ts are detected, delailed quapijtrii ivc biolop-ial and c ,Kl.gic..

anAlysc.s liay heV wiqoimed to d.luwlit¢

i Iii d lo : ci,, 1r0'1edies.

Ii' advere effects arc not detcctcl.

quAilti-tallve studies are irot needed.The species inventory ot ithe site should ic:lure important habitats and normal Seasonal ,4fuItions, Lo.cally prominent ol imputlasit Lmants mnamals.birds. rcptiles, amphibians, inwcts, and other plants And animals should be included.

The inventory should be reasonably complete but may be merninamed when addi-tilonal field effort no longer yields significant nomhcrs of previously unobserved species.'The inventory of insects necd not account for aU species sifWe it may be possible to find .jeviouoly

.untabulated spucict for yeitts after the beginning of the study, lnscct surveys should provide Informaton on important species such as disease vectors, pests, and pollinating insects. Interpretation of in.icct data should include whether or not populations could be altered.with adverse consequences to animals, vegetation.

or humans. by construction or operation of the station.Protection of terrestrial systems is usually adeqclate when it can be shown that (I) habitat losses or alterations are Insignificant to populations of important species in the regional or local context, (2) chemical emissions from the station are sufficiently small to* permit reasonable assurance that no adverse effe t will occur, and (3) no mechanism exists for causing u.,n-tended destruction of organisms, or its occurrence Is infrequent enough to give reasonable assurance that whole populations will not be adversely affected.Environmental protection should be achieved by control of common sources of environmental effects.These include soil erosion, siltation, ut: of herbicides, dust and noise during construction, and others.Biological consequences can usually be prevented or reduced to acceptable levels through proper manage-ment.*U.S. Department of Agriculture l-NtU System should be used.If -veIa"WitnA~~

Conteni A ftb il, "aA' tinj zuorl4d ) nyly o paerntsed in tisd vaeed tfr ").Je dpoi expeted to ee dl. tow or 'ýsc f't¢,1bh C s ttnma it le ou"d 4.cte b d ~a -t L .v; IaZ rn Tanul. : etunr,'s "A-et ,i ,ii n I dr z tek.ýat.d II I:-.dtoAers. atefc nd n rtevn o ls tcki coniirons at the ute, 1eo' ai s:.n inclua.de bush ader to ~ btvn ci dt.t ckLingi1.iI

Flotted onrt a bau nup 4:er A ceo tl i-on i roe tVie shoulid Ave s shaoius a t-i*4rW X aznms iý,t wofjiv the ptetua f u rici q! tin the Ow r raeIl wahe-oi the mrir;t.l ra-, m e-twe ot v f atry u f : kick.TK u1-dvsitonmg Itise- n flt hwevey tobwj A1e,K'Ig the Weewption types that ics, the the dorift he odu and (4 Wof.n Int~t 1r e '10jt field befuC w j au .er -,oiAWF IC1oe;e op atiolt- 4 noa,ýCss41tittertlhed t'o &errctou -At p idak1.e 4dww rffiettýof djifs. The bav.on u i i pectseri siould be a teed out bh spn erhAIS rbaoes otke ak siten nzamth.at, wl rhemai-nistus ie pdv n Averse t if-t,is in the r n bohmutars Scasdvetna t ;1i0 tAd pritsndvl be Pdtb in ceOr or irrf:aoed false cski of permanent veprtatm Plots air often useful aids. ouante*utjrig cothemirionalysis of plants, animals, and fros are if bottofar dcpoaite ate expvcted to exceed 101cOfk orq ixauris 111teshdAl~.

PojpuLitiorr monitoring of xieertrd sqpýOei cculd attso 4C 11eedled in such cases.The wsessmnen vf cxv1inj; lakeý- fhould tri-Llvd a detabili onsoderites n of the effects of rd divercsnt on th aeal. reh itoal. and StAte agtri htural jmWd&eion.

f'redi F170(111COOT, o~r reiJeAtiOrtAl uses. 11e J36sae1Irnt

-,h 1 ,uld include both Adverse andi bemcficial

opecis ofcoln lake cumnstructiurm.%'here a cor.4ing lake it, p-oposed, ttee baseline stodies should include a prelminrthry asine-vt~t of the potential fut reclaxnaimsfn teC the take hottoin lar agricultural, ecological.

or forestry use after decomitusw sioning, It ii not necessary, however, to prepbdge futurr use of the take site It is vifficient to es~tablisth whether the option exmists to reclaim the site for other prod~uctive u~s-s Or whether the Creation of the lake constituites An irretrievale change in land use.The asscssment should alm) include a reprtit of the number of hectares of the lake site that will remain undisutubed during construction, the numbeT of hectare~s and vegetation that rMil be disturbed, the source of"borrow" material for dike constructiorm.

and the man-agement of topsoil removed during construction.

Use of topsoil stripped front the lake bottom for vegetative stabilization of dikes and for ultimate replacement ont the lake bottom for rehabilitation should be considered.

4.11-7 When a pruposed lake is to be built on substrates.having a potential for affecting water quality, chemical analyses of the substrates should be performed.

The elements to be measured depend on the nature of the substrate.

If the substrate is formerly fertili.ed farndand.analysis for elements common to chemical fertiliers is needed. If the substrate is land of some special history,.such as strip-mine land, appropriate chemical assessmnent of the water-soluble and exchange- ,le components ,of thle substrate should be made to obtain an estimate of chemical input to the lake. Special attention is given those elements that-could reach toxic concentrations in water, accumulate to toxic levels in food .-:"bs. or affect the pil of the Like. The chemical analyses should be performed on appropriate chemical extracts of the soil material.

The characterization of soil material shouid also include deteumination of exchanri.

capacity, organic matter, ph, and textural class.When a reservoir is proposed, the baseline studies should !ude reasonable predictions of the numober of birds (especially waterfowl)

expected to use the lake on an annual basis, their expected residence time. the expected Impact on farnilands, and all other impacts either on the birds themselves or on the surrounding area due to their prescnce.

The estimates should be the best obtainable bawed on known flyways, estimates of farm acreages nearby, literature, or 1,xal evidence of bird utilization of other rescrvuirs under similar conditions.

If significant numbers of waterfowl are expected to congregate at the lake for app e'lable periods of time, a monitoring progiam should be started when the lake ha-s been filled The program should determine the number of waterfowl, the extent of crop damage in hectares.

the value of crop lost on art annual basis due to bird fecifing, and the numbers of dead or obviously diseased birds.5. Whcn adverse effects of construction ot operation can be reasonably inferred from information obtained during the baseline phase, quantitative studies that can be compared with later studies during construction or operational phases should be initiated.

Such studies could Include measurements of population densities of endangered species or chemical measurements of toils and blota within the potential drift field of a cooling tower, for example.The preferred method of biological protection on many constructlon sites is direct control of potentially injurious work practice.

Systematic inspection during construction at the site along transmission corridors and in adjacent areas should be used to detect injurious or unauthorized activities.

Examples of items that may be checked are: a. TPafflc Control -Vehicles should be confined to authorized roadways and stream crossings.

b. Dust Contrl --OD t should be controlled by watering, gpaveling.

kn paving. Areas subjec to wind erosion should be controlled by mulching or seedin,.c. ,oiaW Conrrtd Noise should be monoimred at zite bounda~ies.

d. Smoke Contrul -Open slash busaing of plant nateriai shouidJ be conducted in accidanct local and State regulations.

• C. ChOwdcal and Solid Wase Ccnfrol ..- Cerryta..cleiicahs, fuels. sanmry 'asie'. lublic.an2s.

bilwrcit ýflushing solutions, om other potentially hatzzid,.:.mi rruterials should bc vavaged or disharged sifet) in accordance with existing regulatos.

Spills ,sh..Wd tb cle;ned up before dhey become a hazard.f. Soil Erosion and Sediment Conpul -E!-should be cont odled by piped drainagt.

diversion dikes.flumes, sediment control structures,.

ground o.other appropriate neanf..g. Dewneerirg.

D )watern~g. b. cotonfined to the area needed for construction;

test wells or pie-existing wells should be monitored

":w ch.ne.s in t&,)water table.If. after analysis o( the inventory oi svperis and consideration of potential effects of the nuclear ;pwer station, a conclusion is wartanmed Otuf if.erte vvi K- tit, advesew impact on biota, there may be no need to carry out biological nionitoring ptopanms at the ctstroctih and operational stages and, correspondi,.gy, these mny be no wtee.d to tnitiate such piograms during the bascnire stage.Special studk;s could he necessary if adverse effects on hiota are detected and there is no obvious explana-tion or remedy for the effect. In the usual ca.se, however, if habitat loss or alteration, dicrnjcal emissions, or direct destruction of organisms do not constitute a threat to a population of an important species. the effect need not be studied further even though it is important in an ecological sense.

D. IMPLEMENTATION

The purpose of this section is to provide information to applicants regarding the NRC staff's plans for using this regulatory guide.This guide reflects current NRC staff practice.

There-fore, except in those cases in which the applicant proposes an acceptable alternative methud for com, plying with specified portions of the Commission's regulations, the method described herein is being and will continue to be used in the evaluation of submittals for operating license or construction permit applications until this guide is revised as a result of suggestions from the public or additional staff review.4.11-8