97-11854. Florida Power Corporation; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact  

  • [Federal Register Volume 62, Number 88 (Wednesday, May 7, 1997)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 24982-24983]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 97-11854]
    
    
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    NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
    
    [Docket No. 50-302]
    
    
    Florida Power Corporation; 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 No. DPR-72 issued to Florida 
    Power Corporation, (the licensee), for operation of the Crystal River 
    Unit 3 Nuclear Generating Plant (CR3) located in Citrus County, 
    Florida.
    
    Environmental Assessment
    
    Identification of Proposed Action
    
        The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's 
    application dated June 22, as supplemented November 22, 1995 and 
    January 31, 1996 for 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 
    exemption would allow implementation of a hand geometry biometric 
    system to the site access control such that photograph identification 
    badges can be taken offsite.
    
    The Need for the Proposed Action
    
        Pursuant to 10 CFR 73.55, paragraph (a), the licensee shall 
    establish and maintain an onsite physical protection system and 
    security organization.
        10 CFR 73.55(d), ``Access Requirements,'' paragraph (1), specifies 
    that ``licensee shall control all points of personnel and vehicle 
    access into a protected area.'' 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.'' 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 of CR3 is controlled through the 
    use of a photograph on a badge and a separate keycard (hereafter, these 
    are referred to as ``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 contract 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), contractors are 
    not allowed to take badges offsite. In accordance with the plant's 
    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 Commission has completed its evaluation of the licensee's 
    application. Under the proposed system, each individual who is 
    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 its 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 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 protected areas. The licensee will implement 
    a process for testing the proposed system to ensure a continued overall 
    level of performance equivalent to that specified in the regulation. 
    The Physical Security Plans for the facility 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 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.
        The change will not increase the probability or consequences of 
    accidents, no changes are being made in the types of any effluents that 
    may be released offsite, and there is no significant increase in the 
    allowable individual or cumulative occupational radiation exposure. 
    Accordingly, the
    
    [[Page 24983]]
    
    Commission concludes that there are no significant radiological 
    environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
        With regard to potential non-radiological impacts, the proposed 
    action involves features located within the restricted area as defined 
    in 10 CFR Part 20. The proposed change 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.
    
    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 Statements related to operation 
    of CR3, dated May 1973.
    
    Agencies and Persons Consulted
    
        In accordance with its stated policy, on April 28, 1997 the staff 
    consulted with the Florida State Official, Mr. Mike Stephens of the 
    Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, 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 concludes 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 June 22, 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 
    Coastal Region Library, 8619 W. Crystal Street, Crystal River, Florida 
    32629.
    
        Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 1st day of May 1997.
    
        For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
    Frederick J. Hebdon,
    Director, Project Directorate II-3, Division of Reactor Projects--I/II, 
    Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
    [FR Doc. 97-11854 Filed 5-6-97; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 7590-01-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
05/07/1997
Department:
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
97-11854
Pages:
24982-24983 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 50-302
PDF File:
97-11854.pdf