Press Release-III-11-006, NRC to Discuss 2010 Performance Assessment for LaSalle Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 and 2 April 13

Press Release-III-11-006: NRC to Discuss 2010 Performance Assessment for LaSalle Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 and 2 April 13

ML111020039
Person / Time
Site:	LaSalle
Issue date:	04/06/2011
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region II
To:
Category:Press Release
References
Press Release-III-11-006
Download: ML111020039 (2)

Text

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 April 6, 2011

Contact:

Viktoria Mitlyng (630) 829-9662 E-Mail: OPA3.RegionIII@nrc.gov Prema Chandrathil (630) 829-9663 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 agencys 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 nations 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 agencys 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.

News releases are available through a free listserv subscription at the following Web address:

http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/listserver.html. The NRC homepage at www.nrc.gov also offers a SUBSCRIBE link. E-mail notifications are sent to subscribers when news releases are posted to NRC's website.