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-11-006

Contact: Viktoria Mitlyng (630) 829-9662

 Prema Chandrathil (630) 829-9663

April 6, 2011

E-Mail: OPA3.RegionIII@nrc.gov 

NRC TO DISCUSS 2010 PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT FOR 

LASALLE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT UNIT 1 AND 2 APRIL 13

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will meet with representatives of Exelon 

Generation Co. on Wednesday, April13, to discuss the agency’s assessment of safety 

performance for last year at the LaSalle nuclear power plant. The dual-unit plant has two reactor 

units in Marseilles, Ill., about 80 miles southwest of Chicago.

The meeting, which will be open to the public, is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. CDT at the 

Brookfield Township Hall, 2099 E. 27th Road in Seneca. The NRC staff will present the results 

of the 2010 assessment, talk about the NRC, and its range of activities, and be available to 

respond to questions or comments from the public before the close of the meeting. 

“The NRC continually reviews the performance of the LaSalle plant and the 

nation’s other commercial nuclear power facilities,” said NRC Region III Administrator Mark 

Satorius. “This meeting allows us to discuss our annual assessment of safety performance with 

members of the local community. The goal of this open house is to explain how the NRC works 

to protect people and the environment and answer questions from residents about nuclear 

regulation.”

A letter sent from the NRC Region III Office to plant officials addresses the performance 

of the plant during the period and will serve as the basis for the meeting discussion. It is 

available on the NRC Web site at: 

http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/LETTERS/lasa_2010q4.pdf.

Overall, the NRC found that the LaSalle plant operated safely in 2010. 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. 

All performance indicators and inspection findings for LaSalle during 2010 were 

determined to be “green.” Performance indicators are a statistical measurement of plant and 

equipment performance. 
LaSalle will continue to receive the detailed inspection regime required for plants that are 

operating well and require no additional oversight. Inspections are performed by two NRC 

Resident Inspectors assigned to the plant and by inspection specialists from the Region III Office 

in Lisle, Ill., and the agency’s headquarters in Rockville, Md. Among the areas of plant 

operations currently being inspected are radiation protection, dry cask spent fuel storage, 

emergency preparedness and strike contingency planning.

The most current performance information for LaSalle is available on the NRC website 

at: http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/LASA1/lasa1_chart.html and 

http://www.nrc.gov/NRR/OVERSIGHT/ASSESS/LASA2/lasa2_chart.html.

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