95-31479. Commonwealth Edison Company (Byron Station, Units 1 and 2) Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact  

  • [Federal Register Volume 60, Number 250 (Friday, December 29, 1995)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 67369-67370]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 95-31479]
    
    
    
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    NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
    [Docket Nos. STN 50-454 and STN 50-455]
    
    
    Commonwealth Edison Company (Byron Station, 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 to Facility Operating License Nos. 
    NPF-37 and NPF-66, issued to Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd, the 
    licensee), for operation of the Byron Station, Units 1 and 2, located 
    in Ogle County, Illinois.
    
    Environmental Assessment
    
    Identification of Proposed Action
    
        The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
    application for an exemption from certain requirements of 10 CFR 73.55, 
    ``Requirements for Physical Protection of Licensed Activities in 
    Nuclear Power Reactors Against Radiological Sabotage.'' The requested 
    exemption would allow the implementation of a hand geometry biometric 
    system off site access control in conjunction with photograph 
    identification badges, and would allow the badges to be taken off site.
    
    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.
        In 10 CFR 73.55(d), ``Access Requirements,'' it specifies in part 
    that ``The licensee shall control all points of personnel and vehicle 
    access into a protected area.'' In 10 CFR 73.55(d)(5), it specifies in 
    part that ``A numbered pictured 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 Byron Station, Units 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, sorted, and retrieved at the entrance/exit location 
    to the protected area. In accordance with 10 CFR 73.55(d)(5), 
    contractor personnel are not allowed to take their picture badges off 
    site. In addition, in accordance with plant's physical security plan, 
    the licensee's employees are also not allowed to take their picture 
    badges off site. 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 contractors who have 
    unescorted access to keep their picture badges in their possession when 
    departing the Byron site. In addition, the site security plans will be 
    revised to allow implementation of the hand geometry system and to 
    allow employees and contractors with unescorted access to keep their 
    picture badges in their possession when leaving the Byron 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 off site, 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 
    off site 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 non-radiological plant 
    effluents and has no other environmental impact. Accordingly, the 
    Commission concludes that there are no significant non-radiological 
    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 
    
    [[Page 67370]]
    proposed action will result in a process that is equivalent to the 
    existing identification verification process.
    
    Alternative Use of Resources
    
        This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
    previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the 
    Byron Station, Units 1 and 2.
    
    Agencies and Persons Consulted
    
        In accordance with its state policy, on December 20, 1995, the 
    staff consulted with the Illinois State official, Mr. Frank Niziolek, 
    Head, Reactor Safety Section; Division of Engineering; Illinois 
    Department of Nuclear Safety, regarding the environmental impact of the 
    proposed action. The State official had no comments.
    
    Finding of No Significant Impact
    
        Based upon the foregoing 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 November 6, 1995, which is available for public inspection 
    at the Commission's Public Document Room, 2120 L Street, NW., 
    Washington, DC, and at the local public document room located at the 
    Byron Public Library, 109 N. Franklin, P.O. Box 434, Byron, Illinois.
    
        Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 22nd day of December 1995.
    
        For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
    Robert A. Capra,
    Director, Project Directorate III-2, Division of Reactor Projects--III/
    IV Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
    [FR Doc. 95-31479 Filed 12-28-95; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
    
    

Document Information

Published:
12/29/1995
Department:
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
95-31479
Pages:
67369-67370 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket Nos. STN 50-454 and STN 50-455
PDF File:
95-31479.pdf