ML17291A906
| ML17291A906 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Columbia  |
| Issue date: | 07/03/1995 |
| From: | Mckenna E NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17291A907 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9507200312 | |
| Download: ML17291A906 (9) | |
Text
7590-01 UN TED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION ASHINGTON PUBLIC POWER SUPPL S STE OCKET NO. 50-39 PPSS NUCLEAR ROJ CT NO.
2 NV RON NTAL SS SSMENT ND I
D NG OF NO SIGNIFICANT M
C 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. NPF-21, issued to Washington Public Power Supply System (WPPSS, or the licensee) for operation of the WPPSS Nuclear Project No. 2, located in Benton County, Washington.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT dentification of the Pro osed Aetio :
The exemption would allow implementation of a hand geometry biometric system of site access control so that photograph identification badges can be taken offsite by personnel badged at the site but not employed by the Supply System.
The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's application, dated March 1, 1995, 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 Pro osed Action:
Pursuant to 10 CFR 73.55(a),
the licensee is required to establish and maintain an onsite physical protection system and security organization.
Section 73.55(d)(l) of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, "Access 95072003i2 950703 PDR ADQCK 050003~7 P
I S
Requirements,"
specifies that "the licensee shall control all points of personnel and vehicle access into a protected area."
Section 73.55(d)(5) further specifies that "a numbered picture badge identification system shall be used for all individuals who are authorized access to protected areas without escort."
This paragraph also states that an individual not employed by the licensee, but who requires frequent and extended access to protected and vital areas, may be authorized access to such areas without escort provided that he 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 WNP-2 site is controlled through use of a photograph on a badge with a keycard attached (hereafter, these are referred to as the badge).
The security officers at the entrance station use the photograph on the badge to visually identify the individual requesting access.
The individual is then given the badge to allow access.
Another security officer collects the badges upon exit from the protected area.
The badges are then placed in a badge rack located at the badge issue station and stored at the entrance station until the individual again needs access into the protected area.
The licensee proposes to implement an alternative unescorted access control system which would eliminate the need to issue and retrieve badges at the 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 allow contractors to take their badges offsite instead of returning them when exiting the site.
r,
nvironmental Im acts of the Pro osed Action:
The staff has completed its evaluation of the licensee's application.
Under the proposed
- system, individuals who are authorized for unescorted entry into the protected area would have the physical characteristics of their hand (hand geometry) registered with their badge number in the access control system.
When an individual presents his badge to the card reader and places their hand on the measuring
- surface, the system compares the hand geometry to that registered for the badge number to verify authorization for entry.
This system provides a positive means of assuring that a stolen or lost badge could not be used to gain access.
Individuals, including licensee employees and personnel not employed by the licensee (e.g., contractors),
would be allowed to keep their badge with them when they depart the site.
This would reduce the need for security personnel to issue and retrieve badges at the access point.
The access process will continue to be under the observation of security personnel located within a hardened cubicle who have final control over release of the entrance station turnstiles.
Based on Sandia Report, SAND91-0276 UC-906 (unlimited release),
printed June
- 1991, "A Performance Evaluation of Biometric Identification Devices,"
and on the licensee's experience with the current photo identification system, the licensee has demonstrated that the proposed hand geometry will maintain the same high level of assurance that access will be granted to the protected area to only authorized individuals.
Since both the badge and hand geometry are necessary for access into the protected
- area, the proposed system provides a
positive verification process.
Potential loss of a badge by an individual that takes a badge offsite would not enable unauthorized entry into the protected area.
Badges will continue to be displayed by all individuals while
inside the protected area.
Accordingly, the Commission concludes that there are no significant nonradiological environmental impacts associated with the proposed action.
1 ernatives to t e Pro osed etio 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 action would be to deny the request.
Such action would not change any 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 WNP-2.
A encies and Persons Consulted:
In accordance with its stated policy, on June 19, 1995, the staff consulted with the Washington State official, Nr. R.
R.
Cowley of the Department of Health, State of Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, 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.
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For further details with respect to the proposed
- action, see the licensee's letter dated March.1, 1995, 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 Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Street,
- Richland, Washington 99352.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 3rd day of July 1995.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Eileen M.
cKenna, Acting Director Project Directorate IV-2 Division of Reactor Projects III/IV Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
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