[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 155 (Friday, August 12, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-19717]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 12, 1994]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. Stn 50-528, Stn 50-529, and Stn 50-530]

 

Arizona Public Service Co.; Palo Verde Nuclear Generating 
Station, Units 1, 2, and 3 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. NPF-41, NPF-51, and NPF-
74, issued to Arizona Public Service Company, (the licensee), for 
operation of the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 
3 (Palo Verde), located in Maricopa County, Arizona.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The exemption would allow implementation of a hand geometry 
biometric system of site access control so that photograph 
identification badges can be taken offsite.
    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application dated April 29, 1994, for exemption from certain 
requirements of 10 CFR 73.55, ``Requirements for physical protection of 
licensed activities in nuclear power reactors against radiological 
sabotage.''

The Need for the Proposed Action

    Pursuant to 10 CFR 73.55(a), the licensee shall establish and 
maintain an onsite physical protection system and security 
organization. Paragraph 1 of 10 CFR 73.55(d), ``Access Requirements,'' 
specifies that the ``licensee shall control all points of personnel and 
vehicle access into a protected area.'' Title 10 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations, paragraph 73.55(d)(5), specifies that ``A numbered picture 
badge identification system shall be used for all individuals who are 
authorized access to protected areas without escort.'' Paragraph 
73.55(d)(5) also states that an individual not employed by the licensee 
(i.e., a contractor) may be authorized access to protected areas 
without 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 into protected areas of the Palo Verde 
units is controlled through the use of a photograph on a combination 
badge and keycard (hereinafter, these are referred to as the badge). 
The security officers at each entrance station use the photograph on 
the badge to visually identify the individual requesting access. The 
badges for both licensee employees and contractor personnel who have 
been granted unescorted access are issued upon entrance at each 
entrance/exit location and are returned upon exit. The badges are 
stored and are retrievable at each entrance/exit location. In 
accordance with 10 CFR 73.55(d)(5), contract individuals are not 
allowed to take badges offsite. In accordance with the plants' physical 
security plans, neither licensee employees nor contractors are allowed 
to take badges offsite.
    The licensee proposes to implement an alternative unescorted access 
control system which would eliminate the need to issue and retrieve 
badges at each entrance/exit location and would allow all individuals 
with unescorted access to keep their badges with them when departing 
the site. An exemption from 10 CFR 73.55(d)(5) is required to permit 
contractors to take their badges offsite instead of returning them when 
exiting the site.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The staff has completed its evaluation of the licensee's 
application. Under the proposed system, individuals who are authorized 
for unescorted entry into protected areas would have the physical 
characteristics of their hand (hand geometry) registered with their 
badge number in the access control system. When an individual enters 
the badge into the card reader and places the hand on the measuring 
surface, the system would record the individual's hand image. The 
unique characteristics of the extracted hand image would be compared 
with the previously stored template to verify authorization for entry. 
Individuals, including licensee employees and contractors, would be 
allowed to keep their badge with them when they depart the site.
    Based on a Sandia report entitled ``A Performance Evaluation of 
Biometric Identification Devices'' (SAND91-0276 UC-906 Unlimited 
Release, Printed June 1991) and on the licensee's experience with the 
current photo identification system, the licensee demonstrated that the 
proposed hand geometry system would provide enhanced site access 
control. Since both the badge and hand geometry would be necessary for 
access into the protected area, the proposed system would provide for a 
positive verification process. Potential loss of a badge by an 
individual, as a result of taking the badge offsite, would not enable 
an unauthorized entry into the protected area. The licensee will 
implement a process for testing the proposed system to ensure continued 
overall level of performance equivalent to that specified in the 
regulation. The Physical Security Plans for Palo Verde will be revised 
to include implementation and testing of the hand geometry access 
control system and to allow licensee employees and contractors to take 
their badges offsite.
    The access will continue to be under the observation of security 
personnel. A numbered picture badge identification system will continue 
to be used for all individuals who are authorized access to protected 
areas without escorts. Badges will continue to be displayed by all 
individuals while inside the protected area. Accordingly, the 
Commission concludes that this proposed action would result in no 
significant radiological environmental impact.
    With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed 
change does not affect nonradiological plant effluents and has no other 
environmental impact. Therefore, the Commission concludes that there 
are no significant nonradiological environmental impacts associated 
with the proposed action.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    As an alternative to the proposed action, the staff considered 
denial of the proposed action. Denial of the application would result 
in no change in current environmental impacts. The environmental 
impacts of the proposed action and the alternative action are similar.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the Palo 
Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    The NRC staff consulted with the Arizona State official 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 action.
    For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the 
licensee's letter dated April 29, 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 Phoenix Public Library, 12 East 
McDowell Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85004.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 5th day of August 1994.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Steven D. Bloom,
Acting Director, Project Directorate IV-2, Division of Reactor 
Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-19717 Filed 8-11-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4590-01-M