95-18931. Commonwealth Edison Company, Iowa-Illinois Gas and Electric Company, Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 and 2; Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact  

  • [Federal Register Volume 60, Number 148 (Wednesday, August 2, 1995)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 39464-39465]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 95-18931]
    
    
    
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    NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
    [Docket Nos. 50-254 and 50-265]
    
    
    Commonwealth Edison Company, Iowa-Illinois Gas and Electric 
    Company, Quad Cities Nuclear Power 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 from certain requirements of its 
    regulations to Facility Operating License Nos. DPR-29 and DPR-30, 
    issued to Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd, the licensee), for 
    operation of Quad Cities Nuclear Power Station, Units 1 and 2, located 
    in Rock Island County, Illinois.
    
    Environmental Assessment
    
    Identification of the 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 of site access control in conjunction with photograph 
    identification badges, and would allow the badges to be taken off site.
    
    [[Page 39465]]
    
    
    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 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 Quad Cities 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, stored, 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 the 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 contractor who 
    have unescorted access to keep their picture badges in their possession 
    when departing the Quad Cities 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 Quad 
    Cities 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 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.
    
    Alternative Use of Resources
    
        This action does not involve the use of any resources not 
    previously considered in the Final Environmental Statement for the Quad 
    Cities Station, Units 1 and 2.
    
    Agencies and Persons Consulted
    
        In accordance with its stated policy, on July 20, 1995, the staff 
    consulted with the Illinois State Official, Mr. Mike Parker, Chief, 
    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 June 21, 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 Dixon Public 
    Library, 221 Hennepin Avenue, Dixon, Illinois 61021.
    
        Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 25th day of July 1995.
    
        For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
    Robert M. Pulsifer,
    Project Manager, Project Directorate III-2, Division of Reactor 
    Projects--III/IV, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
    [FR Doc. 95-18931 Filed 8-1-95; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 7590-01-M
    
    

Document Information

Published:
08/02/1995
Department:
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
95-18931
Pages:
39464-39465 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket Nos. 50-254 and 50-265
PDF File:
95-18931.pdf