ML20082E628
| ML20082E628 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Grand Gulf  |
| Issue date: | 03/27/1995 |
| From: | Oconnor P NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20082E630 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9504110284 | |
| Download: ML20082E628 (6) | |
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i 7590-01 j
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION t
ENTERGY OPERATIONS. INC.
DOCKET NO. 50-416 i
i GRAND GULF NUCLEAR STATION. UNIT 1-l j-ENVIRONMENTAL-ASSESSMENT AND FINDING OF 1
I NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT i
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The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering i
issuance of an exemption from certain requirements of its regulations to 1
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Facilit.y Operating License No. NPF-29, issued _ to Entergy Operations, _Inc. (the j
licensee), for operation of the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Unit 1 (GGNS),
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located in Claiborne County, Mississippi.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 3
l jdentification of Proposed Action:
i The proposed action is in accordance with the licensee's application-1 i-dated October 24, 1994, for exemption from certain requirements of _10 CFR j
73.55, " Requirements for physical protection of licensed activities in nuclear l
power reactors against radiological sabotage." - The exemption would allow i
implementation of a hand geometry biometric system for site access control such that picture badges and access control cards for certain non-employees j
can be taken offsite.
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j The Need for the Proposed Action:
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Pursuant to 10 CFR 73.55, paragraph (a), the licensee shall establish and
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j maintain an onsite physical protection system and security organization.
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10 CFR 73.55(d), " Access Requirements," paragraph (1), specifies that l
" licensee shall control all points of personnel and vehicle access into a protected area." 10 CFR 73.55(d)(5) specifies that "A numbered picture badge J
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PDR ADOCK 05000416 P
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Y identification system shall be used for all individuals who are authorized access to protected areas without escort." 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, employee and contractor identification badges, coupled with their associated access control cards, are issued and retrieved on the occasion of each entry to and exit from the protected areas of the Grand Gulf site.
Station security personnel are required to maintain control of the badges while the individuals are offsite.
This practice has been in effect at the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station since the operating license was issued.
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Security personnel retain each identification badge, as well as the associated access control card, when not in use by the authorized individual, within appropriately designed storage receptacles inside a bullet-resistant enclosure. An individual who meets the access authorization requirements is issued an individual picture identification card and an individual access control card which allows entry into preauthorized areas of the station.
While entering the plant in the present configuration, an authorized individual is " screened" by the required detection equipment and by the issuing security officer. Having received the badge, the individual proceeds to the access portal, inserts the access control card into the card reader, enters a personal identification number (PIN), and passes through the turnstile which unlocks if the preset criteria are met.
Once inside the station, the individual's PIN is not required in order to further utilize the access authorization card.
' This present procedure is labor intensive since security personnel are required to verify badge issuance, ensure badge retrieval, and maintain the badges in orderly storage until the next entry into the protected area. The regulations permit employees to remove their badges from the site, but 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 Imoacts of the Procosed Action:
The Commission has completed its evaluation of the licensee's application.
Under the proposed system, all individuals authorized to gain unescorted access will have the physical characteristics of their hand (hand geometry) recorded with their badge number.
Since the hand geometry is unique to each individual and its application in.the entry screening function would preclude unauthorized use of a badge, the requested exemption would allow employees and contractors to keep their badges at the time of exiting the protected area. The process of verifying badge issuance, ensuring badge retrieval, and maintaining badges could be eliminated while the balance of the access procedure would remain intact.
Firearm, explosive, and metal detection equipment and provisions for conducting searches will remain as well.
The security officer responsible for the last access control function (controlling admission to the protected area) will also remain isolated within a bullet-resistant structure in order to assure his or.her ability to respond or to summon assistance.
Use of a hand geometry biometrics system exceeds the present verification methodology's capability to discern an individual's identity.
Unlike the photograph identification badge, hand geometry is nontransferable. During the initial access authorization or registration process, hand measurements are
. With regard to potential nonradiological impacts, the proposed action does involve-features located entirely within the restricted area as defined in 10 CFR Part 20.: It 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 i
the proposed action.
Alternative 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. 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 are similar.
Alternative Use of Resources:
This action does not involve the use of any resources not previously considered in the Final Environmental Statements related to operation of Grand Gulf Nuclear Station, Unit 1.
Aaencies and Persons Consulted:
In accordance with its stated policy, the staff consulted with the Mississippi 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.
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. For further details with respect to this proposed action, see the request for exemption dated May 27, 1994, which is available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, 2120 L Street, NW., Washington, DC, and j
at the local public document room located at the Judge George W. Armstrong Library, 220 S. Commerce Street, Natchez, Mississippi 39120.
l Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 27thday of March 1995.
FOR THE NUCLEAo REGULATORY COMMISSION ouA-Paul W. O'Connor, Senior Project Manager Project Directorate IV-1 Division of Reactor Projects III/IV Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 4
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