No: III-14-016 May 7, 2014

CONTACT: Viktoria Mitlyng 630-829-9662

 Prema Chandrathil 630-829-9663

NRC Schedules Open House May 14 to Discuss Performance of 

LaSalle Nuclear Power Plant

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will hold a public open house on May 14 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 Road in Seneca, Ill, attendees will have an opportunity to hold one-on-one discussions with 

NRC staff members about the plant’s 2013 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.

“NRC inspectors spend a significant amount of time monitoring a wide range of plant activities 

to ensure the plant operates safely. Our hands-on approach is a key factor in protecting the public and 

environment,” said NRC Region III Administrator Cynthia D. Pederson. “We hold public meetings near 

the plant every year to make our inspectors available and accessible to answer questions and have open 

discussions about NRC oversight with those who live near the plant.”

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

performance of the plant during 2013 and will serve as the basis for the discussion.

Overall, the LaSalle facility operated safely in 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. The NRC’s action matrix reflects overall plant 

performance and agency response. There are five columns in the matrix with Column 1 requiring a 

baseline level of inspections. A move to the other columns results in an increased level of NRC 

oversight and inspections.

At the conclusion of last year, all performance indicators and inspection findings for LaSalle 

Unit 1 were green and the unit remained in Column 1 of the action matrix. As a result, LaSalle Unit 1 
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will continue to receive the NRC’s normal level of oversight during 2014. LaSalle Unit 2 had one white 

performance indicator due to two unplanned shutdowns with complications. Unit 2 also had one white 

finding of low to moderate risk significance for failing to follow existing procedural steps. This finding 

resulted in Unit 2 being moved to Column 2 of the action matrix. The NRC conducted a supplemental 

inspection to follow up on the issue and the report, once completed, will be available to the public.

Inspections are performed by two NRC Resident Inspectors assigned to the plant, inspection 

specialists from the Region III, 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.