[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 107 (Monday, June 5, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29718-29719]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-13632]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-348 and 50-364]
Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2; 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-2 and NPF-8. These
licenses are issued to the Southern Nuclear Operating Company (SNC) and
the Alabama Power Company for operation of the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear
Plant, Units 1 and 2 (Farley), located in Houston County, Alabama.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of Proposed Action
The proposed action is in accordance with the SNC's application
dated April 3, 1995, 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 exemption
would allow implementation of a hand geometry biometrics system to
control site access at Farley so that photo identification badges for
non-SNC employees that have been granted unescorted access into
protected and vital areas may be taken offsite.
The Need for the Proposed Action
Pursuant to 10 CFR 73.55, paragraph (a), SNC shall establish and
maintain an onsite physical protection system and security
organization. Regulation 10 CFR 73.55(d), ``Access Requirements,''
paragraph (1), specifies that the ``licensee shall control all points
of personnel and vehicle access into a protected area.'' Regulation 10
CFR 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.'' Regulation 10
CFR 73.55(d)(5) also states that an individual not employed by the
licensee (i.e., contractors) 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 at the Farley
plant is controlled through the use of a photograph on a badge/keycard
(hereafter referred to as a ``badge''), which is stored at the access
point when not in use. The security officers at each entrance station
use the photograph on the badge to visually identify the individual
requesting access. The badges for both SNC employees and contractor
personnel who have been granted unescorted access are given to the
individuals at the entrance location upon entry and are returned upon
exit. In accordance with 10 CFR 73.55(d)(5), the badges are not allowed
to be taken offsite.
Southern Nuclear proposes to implement an alternate unescorted
access control system that would eliminate the need to issue and
retrieve badges at the entry point and would allow all individuals with
unescorted access to keep their badges 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 Commission has completed its evaluation of SNC's application.
Under the proposed system, each individual who is authorized unescorted
access 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 hand image
would be compared with the previously stored template to verify
authorization for entry. Individuals, including SNC employees and
contractors, would be allowed to keep their badge when departing the
site.
Based on the Sandia report, ``A Performance Evaluation of Biometric
Identification Devices,'' SAND91-0276UC-906, Unlimited Release,
June 1991, that concluded hand geometry equipment possesses strong
performance and high detection characteristics, and on its own
experience with the current photo-identification system, SNC determined
that the proposed hand geometry system would provide the same level of
assurance as the current system that access is only granted to
authorized individuals. Since both the badge and hand geometry would be
necessary for access into the protected areas, the proposed system
would provide a positive verification process. Potential loss of a
badge by an individual, as a result of taking the badge offsite, would
not enable unauthorized entry into protected areas. Southern Nuclear
has stated it will implement a process for periodically testing the
proposed system to ensure continued overall level of performance
equivalent to that specified in the regulation. The Physical Security
Plan will be revised to include implementation and testing of the hand
geometry access control system and to allow SNC employees and
contractors to take their badges offsite.
Southern Nuclear has determined that the proposed hand geometry
access control process for identifying personnel will provide the same
high assurance objective regarding onsite physical protection as
provided by the photo-identification process now in use.
The access process 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 areas.
Accordingly, the Commission concludes that this proposed action
would result in no significant radiological environmental impacts. With
regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed action does
not affect non-radiological plant effluents and has no other
environmental impact. Therefore, the Commission concludes that there
are no significant non-radiological environmental impacts associated
with the proposed action.
Alternative 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 did not involve the use of any resources not previously
considered in the Final Environmental Statement related to operation of
the Joseph M. [[Page 29719]] Farley Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, dated
June 1972.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
In accordance with its stated policy on May 11, 1995, the staff
consulted with the Alabama State official, James McNees of the Alabama
Department of Public Health, regarding the environmental impact of the
proposed action. The State official had no comments.
Finding of No Significant Impact
The Commission has determined not to prepare an environmental
impact statement for the proposed exemption. Based upon the foregoing
environmental assessment, the Commission has concluded that the
proposed action will not have a significant effect on the quality of
the human environment.
For further details with respect to this action, see the request
for exemption dated April 3, 1995, which is available for public
inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, The Gelman
Building, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC at the local public
document room located at the Houston-Love Memorial Library, 212 W.
Burnshaw Street, Post Office Box 1369, Dothan, Alabama.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 30th day of May 1995.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Herbert N. Berkow,
Director, Project Directorate II-2, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II,
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 95-13632 Filed 6-2-95; 8:45 am]
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