[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 155 (Friday, August 12, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-19717]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: August 12, 1994]
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket Nos. Stn 50-528, Stn 50-529, and Stn 50-530]
Arizona Public Service Co.; Palo Verde Nuclear Generating
Station, Units 1, 2, and 3 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-41, NPF-51, and NPF-
74, issued to Arizona Public Service Company, (the licensee), for
operation of the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and
3 (Palo Verde), located in Maricopa County, Arizona.
Environmental Assessment
Identification of the Proposed Action
The exemption would allow implementation of a hand geometry
biometric system of site access control so that photograph
identification badges can be taken offsite.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's
application dated April 29, 1994, 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 Need for the Proposed Action
Pursuant to 10 CFR 73.55(a), the licensee shall establish and
maintain an onsite physical protection system and security
organization. Paragraph 1 of 10 CFR 73.55(d), ``Access Requirements,''
specifies that the ``licensee shall control all points of personnel and
vehicle access into a protected area.'' Title 10 of the Code of Federal
Regulations, paragraph 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.'' Paragraph
73.55(d)(5) also states that an individual not employed by the licensee
(i.e., a contractor) 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 the Palo Verde
units is controlled through the use of a photograph on a combination
badge and keycard (hereinafter, these are referred to as the 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 contractor 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), contract individuals are not
allowed to take badges offsite. In accordance with the plants' 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 staff has completed its evaluation of the licensee's
application. Under the proposed system, individuals who are 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 the licensee's 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 for 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 the protected area. The licensee will
implement a process for testing the proposed system to ensure continued
overall level of performance equivalent to that specified in the
regulation. The Physical Security Plans for Palo Verde 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 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 area. Accordingly, the
Commission concludes that this proposed action would result in no
significant radiological environmental impact.
With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed
change does not affect nonradiological plant effluents and has no other
environmental impact. Therefore, the Commission concludes that there
are no significant nonradiological environmental impacts associated
with the proposed action.
Alternatives 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 does not involve the use of any resources not
previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the Palo
Verde Nuclear Generating Station, Units 1, 2, and 3.
Agencies and Persons Consulted
The NRC staff consulted with the Arizona State official regarding
the environmental impact of the 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 action.
For further details with respect to the proposed action, see the
licensee's letter dated April 29, 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 Phoenix Public Library, 12 East
McDowell Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85004.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 5th day of August 1994.
For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Steven D. Bloom,
Acting Director, Project Directorate IV-2, Division of Reactor
Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 94-19717 Filed 8-11-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4590-01-M
