Report a Safety Concern
Search

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is in the process of rescinding or revising guidance and policies posted on this webpage in accordance with Executive Order 14151 Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing, and Executive Order 14168 Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government. In the interim, any previously issued diversity, equity, inclusion, or gender-related guidance on this webpage should be considered rescinded that is inconsistent with these Executive Orders.

Home About NRC Radiation Protection How the NRC Protects You Health Physics Positions Based on 10 CFR Part 20

Health Physics Questions and Answers - Question 67

Question 67: This question concerns water approaches to nuclear sites. Several sites for nuclear power plants include portions of navigable lakes or rivers within their licensed exclusion areas. Obviously, the utility does not own these areas. Would such boundaries as defined in our licenses qualify as restricted areas, controlled areas, or unrestricted areas?

Answer: The licensee cannot limit access to navigable lakes or rivers that the licensee does not own; therefore, these bodies of water cannot be part of a restricted area or controlled area and must be considered to be unrestricted areas. However, for the dose calculations for airborne effluents that are required by reactor technical specifications and that are related to 10 CFR 50 Appendix I, doses are not required to be calculated over such bodies of water.

(Reference: 10 CFR 20.1003)

Page Last Reviewed/Updated Wednesday, December 13, 2017