[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 27, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-18248]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 27, 1994]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-317 and 50-318]

 

Baltimore Gas & Electric Co.; 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 Nos. DPR-53 and DPR-69, 
issued to Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (the licensee), for 
operation of the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Unit Nos. 1 and 2, 
located in Calvert County, Maryland.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of Proposed Action

    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application dated March 23, 1994, 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 Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Unit Nos. 1 and 
2, 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 Calvert Cliffs 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 
Calvert Cliffs site.

Environmental Impact 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. Consequently, 
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.

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 Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Unit Nos. 1 and 2.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    The NRC staff consulted with the State of Maryland, Department of 
Natural Resources, regarding the environmental impact of this 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 March 23, 1994, 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 Calvert County Library, Prince Frederick, Maryland 
20678.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 19th day of July 1994.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Francis J. Williams,
Acting Project Director, Project Directorate I-1, Division of Reactor 
Projects--I/II, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-18248 Filed 7-26-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M