[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 159 (Thursday, August 17, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42924-42925]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-20379]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-293]
Boston Edison Company; Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station;
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is
considering issuance of an exemption from certain requirements of its
regulations to Facility Operating License No. DPR-35, issued to Boston
Edison Company (the licensee), for operation of the Pilgrim Nuclear
Power Station located in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of Proposed Action
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application dated June 21, 1995, for an exemption from certain
requirements of 10 CFR 73.55, ``Requirements for physical protection of
licensed activities in nuclear power plant reactors against
radiological sabotage.'' The requested exemption would allow the
implementation of a hand geometry biometric system of site access
control in conjunction with photograph identification badges, and would
allow the badges to be taken offsite.
The Need for the Proposed Action
Pursuant to 10 CFR 73.55(a), the licensee is required to establish
and maintain an onsite physical protection system and security
organization.
The Code of Federal Regulations at 10 CFR 73.55(d), ``Access
Requirements,'' specifies in part that: ``The licensee shall control
all points of personnel and vehicle access into a protected area.'' The
Code of Federal Regulations at 10 CFR 73.55(d)(5), specifies in part
that: ``A numbered picture badge identification system shall be used
for all individuals who are authorized access to protected areas
without escort.'' It further indicates that an individual not employed
by the licensee (e.g., contractors) may be authorized access to
protected areas without an escort provided the individual, ``receives a
picture badge upon entrance into the protected area which must be
returned upon exit from the protected area.''
Currently, unescorted access for both employee and contractor
personnel into the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station is controlled through
the use of picture badges. Positive identification of personnel who are
authorized and request access into the protected area is established by
security personnel making a visual comparison of the individual
requesting access and that individual's picture badge. The picture
badges are issued, stored, and retrieved at the entrance/exit location
to the protected area. These picture badges are not taken offsite. This
current practice is in accordance with the applicable requirements of
10 CFR Part 73 discussed above.
The licensee proposes to implement an alternative unescorted access
control system which would eliminate the need to issue and retrieve
picture badges at the entrance/exit location to the protected area. The
proposal would also allow all individuals, including contractors, who
have unescorted access to keep their picture badges in their possession
when departing the Pilgrim site. Thus, an exemption is required from 10
CFR 73.55(d)(5) to allow contractors who have unescorted access to keep
their picture badges in their possession when departing the Pilgrim
site.
Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action.
In addition to their picture badges, all individuals with authorized
unescorted access will have the physical characteristics of their hand
(hand geometry) registered with their picture badge number in a
computerized access control system. Therefore, all authorized
individuals must not only have their picture badges to gain access into
the protected area, but must also have their hand geometry confirmed.
All other access processes, including search function capability
and access revocation, will remain the same. A security officer
responsible for access control will continue to be positioned within a
bullet-resistant structure. The proposed system is only for individuals
with authorized unescorted access and will not be used for individuals
requiring escorts.
The underlying purpose for requiring that individuals not employed
by the licensee must receive and return their picture badges at the
entrance/exit is to provide reasonable assurance that the access badges
could not be compromised or stolen with a resulting risk that an
unauthorized individual could potentially enter the protected area.
Although the proposed exemption will allow individuals to take their
picture badges offsite, the proposed measures require not only that the
picture badge be provided for access to the protected area, but also
that verification of the hand geometry registered with the badge be
performed as discussed above. Thus, the proposed system provides an
identity verification process that is equivalent to the existing
process.
Accordingly, the Commission concludes that the exemption to allow
individuals not employed by the licensee to take their picture badges
offsite will not result in an increase in the risk that an unauthorized
individual could potentially enter the protected area. Accordingly, the
Commission concludes that there are no significant radiological impacts
associated with the proposed action.
The proposed exemption does not affect nonradiological plant
effluents and has no other environmental impact. Accordingly, the
Commission concludes that there are no significant nonradiological
environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
Since the Commission has concluded there is no measurable
environmental impact associated with the proposed action, any
alternatives with equal or greater environmental impact need not be
evaluated. The principal alternative to the proposed action would be to
deny the requested action. Denial of the requested action would not
significantly enhance the environment in that the proposed action will
result in a process that is equivalent to the existing identification
verification process.
[[Page 42925]]
Alternate Use of Resources
This action does not involve the use of any resources not
previously considered in the April 1973 Final Environmental Statement
for the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy, on July 17, 1995, the staff
consulted with the Massachusetts State official, James Muckerheide of
the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency regarding the
environmental impact of the proposed action. The State official had no
comments.
Finding of No Significant Impact
Based upon the environmental assessment, the Commission concludes
that the proposed action will not have a significant effect on the
quality of the human environment. Accordingly, the Commission has
determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the
proposed exemption.
For further details with respect to this action, see the licensee's
letter dated June 21, 1995, which is available for public inspection at
the Commission's Public Document Room, The Gelman Building, 2120 L
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20555, and at the local public document
room located at the Plymouth Public Library, 11 North Street, Plymouth,
MA 02360.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 8th day of August 1995.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Ledyard B. Marsh,
Director, Project Directorate I-1, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II,
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 95-20379 Filed 8-16-95; 8:45 am]
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