The amended time horizons in the site selection procedure call for an evaluation of the procedure. Such is the conclusion of the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BASE), which has commented on the report of the Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal (Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung (BGE) mbH) regarding the schedule of the site selection procedure for the deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste.

At the end of 2022, BGE had updated the schedule for the search for a final repository site, and reported that the procedure would take much longer than previously assumed. BASE has analysed the report, and submitted its assessments in a statement to the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV).

Insufficient consideration of public participation

In its analysis, BASE states that the information provided by BGE mbH, the implementer designated by law, represents a starting point for further technical discussion. Additional investigation is needed to assess the actual duration of the overall future procedure. The information lacks substance, especially with regard to the later phases II and III, and it is subject to increasing uncertainties.

Furthermore, the statements of the company focus on its own work - which defines the time horizon of the process as a whole. Yet, the needs and tasks of other stakeholders are not sufficiently taken into account in their considerations. This applies, in particular, to public participation, which was envisaged by the legislator as an integral part of all phases of the procedure. It is considered with unrealistically short time requirements of one year per phase only.

BASE recommends evaluation of the procedure

In its statement, BASE thus concludes that the site selection procedure carried out so far must be evaluated. The aim must be to carry out an honest analysis, to draw up a realistic timetable for realising a repository for high-level radioactive waste, while considering the needs of all stakeholders.

Possibilities for streamlining and parallelisation as well as alternative procedures should be examined in this context. In particular, a solid project plan is needed for the current procedural step, all the way to the submission of the proposal by the implementer, to ensure that public participation for the affected regions can be prepared and initiated as early as possible.

Thought must go into developing and facilitating increased advisory activity on the part of BASE within the permissible framework. This should be possible even before the submission of the siting region proposal by the implementer, without creating binding effects for the independence of the examination by the authority as laid down in the law.

Digital event on Thursday, 23 March

For the first time since the relaunch of the search for a repository site in 2017, the implementer designated by law has presented time estimates. What needs to be done now is to establish a new, reliable timeline for the site search process - together with all stakeholders.

On Thursday, 23/03/2023, BASE will answer questions about the statement to all interested parties. At a digital event (in German) from 5 to 7 pm, following a short introduction to the statement, BASE experts will be available for discussion.