[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 27, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-18248]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: July 27, 1994]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. 50-317 and 50-318]
Baltimore Gas & Electric Co.; 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. DPR-53 and DPR-69,
issued to Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (the licensee), for
operation of the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Unit Nos. 1 and 2,
located in Calvert County, Maryland.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of Proposed Action
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application dated March 23, 1994, for an 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 requested exemption would allow the
implementation of a hand geometry biometric system of site access
control in conjunction with photograph identification badges, and would
allow the badges to be taken offsite.
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.
The Code of Federal Regulations at 10 CFR 73.55(d), ``Access
Requirements,'' specifies in part that: ``The licensee shall control
all points of personnel and vehicle access into a protected area.'' The
Code of Federal Regulations at 10 CFR 73.55(d)(5), specifies in part
that: ``A numbered picture 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 Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Unit Nos. 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, stored, and retrieved at
the entrance/exit location to the protected area. These picture badges
are not taken offsite. This current practice is in accordance with the
applicable requirements of 10 CFR Part 73 discussed above.
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 all individuals, including contractors, who
have unescorted access to keep their picture badges in their possession
when departing the Calvert Cliffs site. Thus, an exemption is required
from 10 CFR 73.55(d)(5) to allow contractors who have unescorted access
to keep their picture badges in their possession when departing the
Calvert Cliffs site.
Environmental Impact 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 offsite, 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
offsite 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 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.
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 proposed action will
result in a process that is equivalent to the existing identification
verification process.
Alternate Use of Resources
This action does not involve the use of any resources not
previously considered in the April 1973 Final Environmental Statement
for the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, Unit Nos. 1 and 2.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
The NRC staff consulted with the State of Maryland, Department of
Natural Resources, regarding the environmental impact of this 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 exemption.
For further details with respect to this action, see the licensee's
letter dated March 23, 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 Calvert County Library, Prince Frederick, Maryland
20678.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 19th day of July 1994.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Francis J. Williams,
Acting Project Director, Project Directorate I-1, Division of Reactor
Projects--I/II, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-18248 Filed 7-26-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-M
