[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 217 (Thursday, November 10, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-27861]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 10, 1994]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. 50-309]

 

Maine Yankee Atomic Power Co.; Environmental Assessment and 
Finding of No Significant Impact

    The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is 
considering issuance of an exemption from Facility Operating License 
No. DPR-36, issued to Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company, (the 
licensee), for operation of the Maine Yankee Atomic Power Station, 
located in Wiscasset, Maine.

Environmental Assessment

Identification of the Proposed Action

    The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
application dated August 5, 1994, for an exemption from certain 
requirements of 10 CFR Part 73, Appendix B, ``General Criteria for 
Security Personnel.'' The requested exemption would relieve two 
security officers from meeting the distant visual acuity requirements 
in one eye, which was not discovered at the time of their initial 
employment screening in 1989 and 1990.

The Need for the Proposed Action

    Pursuant to 10 CFR Part 73, Appendix B, security personnel who are 
responsible for the protection of special nuclear material on site or 
in transit should, like other elements of the physical security system, 
be required to meet minimum criteria to ensure that they will 
effectively perform their assigned security-related job duties.
    The Code of Federal Regulations at 10 CFR Part 73, Appendix B, 
Section I.B.b.(1)(a), ``Vision,'' specifies, in part that: For each 
individual (security officer), distant visual acuity in each eye shall 
be correctable to 20/30 (Snellen or equivalent) in the better eye and 
20/40 in the other eye with eyeglasses or contact lenses.
    At the time of their employment in 1989 and 1990, the two subject 
security officers were screened using a licensee-generated form that 
was based on the requirements of Appendix B to 10 CFR Part 73. However, 
the form did not properly reflect the correct distant visual acuity 
requirements of the ``other eye.'' On July 28, 1994, the discrepancy 
between the licensee's form and the requirements of 10 CFR Part 73, 
Appendix B, Section I.B.b.(1)(a) was noted for the first officer. A 
review of the visual examination records for all security officers 
found a second instance in which the distant visual acuity requirement 
was not met for another security officer.
    The licensee has provided expert professional medical opinions 
asserting that each officer has normal peripheral vision, normal 
peripheral depth perception, and normal binocular acuity. Further, each 
security officer uses the right eye for firearms siting and each 
currently tests 20/20 in the right eye. Finally, the licensee has 
committed to have each security officer's vision tested by its 
optometrist every 6 months to ensure no significant visual 
deterioration occurs. The criteria to establish that no significant 
visual deterioration has occurred will be:
    1. Vision in the better eye will be at least 20/30 corrected or 
uncorrected.
    2. Vision in the other eye will be monitored. If eyesight in the 
other eye should worsen, immediate testing will be performed to 
demonstrate that the individual is physically capable of meeting all 
the requirements of the Maine Yankee Security Training and 
Qualification Plan prior to being reassigned duties of an armed 
security officer. (This testing will include the complete firearms 
qualification course.)
    3. The remaining vision criteria of 10 CFR Part 73, Appendix B, 
will be met or exceeded.

Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action

    The Commission has completed its evaluation of the proposed action, 
including the expert professional medical opinions, vision screening 
results, firearms qualifications, and the proposed alternate 
qualification criteria the licensee has documented. The expert 
professional medical opinions assert that the diminished central visual 
acuity for each officer's left eye has existed since birth for one, and 
since about the age of four, for the other. Thus, the early age of 
onset and the nature of both conditions contribute to relative 
functional normality for each officer. Further, each officer has normal 
peripheral vision, normal peripheral depth perception, and normal 
binocular acuity.
    The underlying purpose for requiring vision criteria for security 
officers is to ensure that they can effectively perform their assigned 
security-related job duties. Expert professional opinions assert that 
each officer has relative functional normality and that an exception 
could thus be made because of the longevity of their vision loss (they 
have adapted and effectively compensate for diminished central visual 
acuity in their left eye).
    Accordingly, the Commission concludes that an exemption to allow 
continued service of the two subject employees as security officers at 
Maine Yankee Atomic Power Station would not result in a reduction in 
the physical protection capabilities for the protection of special 
nuclear material--either on site or in transit--or of Maine Yankee 
Atomic Power Station. Consequently, the Commission concludes that there 
are no significant radiological 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 action would be to deny the 
request. Denial of the requested action would not significantly enhance 
the environment in that the proposed action will result in visual 
capabilities for two security officers that are substantially 
equivalent to the existing requirements.

Alternative Use of Resources

    This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement Related to 
Operation of Maine Yankee Atomic Power Station.

Agencies and Persons Consulted

    The NRC staff reviewed the licensee's request and did not consult 
other agencies or persons.

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 August 5, 1994, which is available for public 
inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, The Gelman 
Building, 2120 L Street NW., Washington, DC 20555, at the local public 
document room located at the Wiscasset Public Library, High Street, 
P.O. Box 367, Wiscasset, Maine 04578.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 3rd day of November, 1994.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Walter R. Butler,
Director, Project Directorate I-3, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II, 
Office of Nuclear Reator Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-27861 Filed 11-9-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M