NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs Region III

2443 Warrenville Road

Lisle IL 60532

Site: www.nrc.gov

Blog: http://public-blog.nrc-gateway.gov

No. III-13-012

Contact: Viktoria Mitlyng (630) 829-9662

 Prema Chandrathil (630) 829-9663

April 12, 2013

E-Mail: OPA3.Resource@nrc.gov 

NRC SCHEDULES OPEN HOUSE APRIL 18 

TO DISCUSS PERFORMANCE OF LASALLE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will hold a public open house on April 18 to 

discuss the agency’s annual assessment of safety performance for the LaSalle nuclear power 

plant. The two-unit plant is operated by Exelon Generation Co., and is located in Marseilles, Ill., 

approximately 55 miles southwest of Naperville.

During the open house, which is scheduled for 4 to 6 p.m. CDT at the Brookfield 

Township Hall, 2099 E. 27th Rd. in Seneca, attendees will have an opportunity to hold one-onone discussions with NRC staff members about the plant’s 2012 performance and the agency’s 

oversight of the facility. NRC staff on hand will include the inspectors assigned to the plant on a 

full-time basis and staff from the Region III office in Lisle, Ill.

“When the NRC evaluates LaSalle’s performance for the previous year, we take a look at 

any and all issues that might be of concern,” said Region III Administrator Charles Casto. “Then 

we map out our inspection plans for that specific facility, issue inspection reports, and hold 

public meetings near the plant in order to discuss our oversight and answer questions from local 

residents.”

The annual assessment letter sent from the NRC Region III office to Exelon addresses the 

performance of the plant during 2012 and will serve as the basis for the discussion.

Overall, the LaSalle facility operated safely in 2012. At the conclusion of last year, all 

performance indicators and inspection findings for the facility were green or of very low risk. As 

a result, LaSalle will continue to receive the NRC’s normal level of oversight during 2013.

The NRC uses color-coded inspection findings and performance indicators to assess 

nuclear plant performance. The colors start with “green” and then increase to “white,” “yellow,” 

or “red,” commensurate with the safety significance of the issues involved. Performance 

indicators are statistical measurements of plant and equipment performance.
Inspections are performed by two NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to the plant, 

inspection specialists from the Region III Office in Lisle, Ill., and specialists from the agency’s 

headquarters in Rockville, Md. Among the areas of performance to be inspected this year by 

NRC inspectors are activities associated with radiological safety, equipment designs, and 

emergency preparedness.

The most current performance information for LaSalle Unit 1 and Unit 2 is available on 

the NRC website.

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