ML16161A249
| ML16161A249 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Oconee, Mcguire, Catawba, McGuire  |
| Issue date: | 04/03/1997 |
| From: | Berkow H NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML16161A250 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9704080002 | |
| Download: ML16161A249 (6) | |
Text
7590-01-P UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OCONEE NUCLEAR STAION. UNITS 1. 2. AND 3 DOCKET NOS. 50-269. 50-270. AND 50-287 CATAWBA NUCLEAR STATION. UNITS 1 AND 2 DOCKET NOS. 50-369 AND 50-370 MCGUIRE NUCLEAR STATION. UNITS I AND 2 DOCKET NOS. 50-413 AND 50-414 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 in Facility Operating Licenses issued to Duke Power Company, et al. (the licensee). License Nos. DPR-38, DPR-47, and DPR-55 are for operation of the Oconee Nuclear Station, Units 1, 2, and 3, located in Oconee County, South Carolina. License Nos. NPF-35 and NPF-52 are for operation of the Catawba Nuclear Station located in York County, South Carolina. License Nos. NPF-9 and NPF-17 are for operation of the McGuire Nuclear Station located in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Identification of Proposed Action:
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's application dated August 23, 1996, 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 exemption would allow implementation of a hand geometry biometrics system to control site access at 970409000~2 97040' PDR ADOCK 05000269 PDR
-2 the Oconee, Catawba, and McGuire nuclear stations so that photo identification badges may be kept and taken offsite by individuals not employed by the licensee who have been granted unescorted access into protected and vital areas.
The Need for the Proposed Action:
Pursuant to 10 CFR 73.55, paragraph (a), Duke Power Company shall establish and maintain an onsite physical protection system and security organization. Regulation 10 CFR 73.55(d), "Access Requirements," paragraph (1), specifies that the *licensee shall control all points of personnel and vehicle access into a protected area." Regulation 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.'
Regulation 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 at the Oconee, Catawba, and McGuire nuclear stations is controlled through the use of a photograph on a badge/keycard (hereafter referred to as a "badge*), which is stored at the access point when not in use. The security officers at each entrance station use the photograph on the'badge to visually identify the individual requesting access. The badges for licensee employees and contractor personnel who have been granted unescorted access are given to the individuals at the entrance location upon entry and are returned upon exit.
-3 In accordance with 10 CFR 73.55(d)(5), contractor badges are not allowed to be taken offsite.
The licensee proposes to implement an alternate unescorted access control system that would eliminate the need to issue and retrieve badges at the entry point and would allow all individuals with unescorted access to keep their badges 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 unescorted access would have the physical characteristics of his/her hand (i.e., hand geometry) registered with his/her badge number in the access control system. When an individual enters the badge into the card reader and places his/her hand on the measuring surface, the system would record the individual's hand image. The unique characteristics of the 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 badges when departing the site.
A Sandia report, 8A Performance Evaluation of Biometric Identification Devices," SAND91-0276*UC-906, Unlimited Release, June 1991, concluded that hand geometry equipment possesses strong performance and high detection characteristics. Also, based on its own experience with the current photo identification system, the licensee determined that the proposed hand geometry system would provide the same level of assurance as the current system that
-4 access is only granted to authorized individuals. Since both the badge and hand geometry would be necessary for access into the protected areas, 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 unauthorized entry into protected areas. The licensee has determined that the proposed hand geometry access control process for identifying personnel will provide the same high assurance objective regarding onsite physical protection as provided by the photo-identification process now in use. 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 licensee has stated it will implement a process for periodically testing the proposed system to ensure continued overall level of performance equivalent to that specified in the regulation. The Physical Security Plan 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.
Accordingly, the Commission concludes that this proposed action would result in no significant radiological environmental impacts. With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed action does not affect non radiological 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.
-5 Alternative to the Proosed 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 the Oconee, Catawba, and McGuire nuclear stations.
Agencies and Persons Consulted:
In accordance with its stated policy, on April 1 and April 4, 1997, the staff consulted with the South Carolina and North Carolina State officials, respectively, regarding the environmental impact of the proposed action. The State officials 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 has concluded 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 August 23, 1996, which is available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, The Gel-man Building, 2120 L Street, NW, Washington, DC and at the local public document rooms located at the Oconee County Library, 501 West South Broad Street, Walhalla, South Carolina for the Oconee Nuclear Station; the York County Library, 138 East Black Street,
-6 Rock Hill, South Carolina 29730 for the Catawba Nuclear Station; and the J. Nurrey Atkins Library, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Boulevard, North Carolina 28223 for the NcGuire Nuclear Station.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 3rd day of April 1997.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION N. Berkow, Director Project Directorate 11-2 Division of Reactor Projects -
I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation