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-12-012

Contact: Viktoria Mitlyng (630) 829-9662

 Prema Chandrathil (630) 829-9663

March 29, 2012

E-Mail: OPA3.RegionIII@nrc.gov 

NRC SCHEDULES OPEN HOUSE ON APRIL 5 

TO DISCUSS LASALLE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT PERFORMANCE FOR 2011

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff will conduct an open house on Thursday, April 5,

regarding the agency’s assessment of safety performance for last year at the LaSalle nuclear power plant.

The open house will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. CDT at the Brookfield Township Hall, 2099 E. 

27th Road, in Seneca. Members of the public will have the opportunity to speak one-on-one with NRC 

staff about the plant’s safety performance during 2011, the agency’s oversight of the plant and other areas 

of NRC regulation that are of interest to members of the community. 

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

about 80 miles southwest of Chicago.

“The NRC continually reviews the performance of the LaSalle plant and the nation’s other 

nuclear power facilities,” said Acting Regional Administrator for NRC Region III Cynthia Pederson. 

“This meeting will allow us to speak directly with the local community about the plant’s performance last 

year and the NRC’s actions to make sure the plant continues to operate safely, including additional 

inspections in response to the events at the Fukushima Daiichi facilities to evaluate the safety of US 

nuclear plants. Those reviews showed that LaSalle and other US plants continue to operate safely. ”

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_2011q4.pdf : 

Overall, the NRC found that the LaSalle plant operated safely in 2011. The NRC uses colorcoded 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 2011 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 independent spent fuel storage installation, radiation protection and emergency 

preparedness.

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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