MARSEILLES — Groups of men and women equipped with hard hats and ear plugs snaked their way through the belly of the La Salle County Generating Station Friday morning.

The groups, made up of employees, local dignitaries and Exelon retirees, took part in tours offered in conjunction with the station's 30th anniversary, which was celebrated on site with a ceremony. The station's first reactor began critical operations on June 21, 1982.

The tours gave participants a chance to see one of the station's diesel generators, as well as take a peek at the refuel floor, where spent fuel is pooled.